Week 1, 2026

played in Buffalo, NY

64 degrees, fair, 4 mph wind

New England Patriots	7	3	7	14	-	31
Buffalo Bills	14	3	7	13	-	37

Scoring Summary
1Q: 14:28 BUF - Marty Maple 49 interception return (Efrain Stewart extra point)
1Q: 11:00 NED - Abraham Small 7 run (T.J. Rhyne extra point)
1Q: 03:22 BUF - Ike Fleming 2 run (Efrain Stewart extra point)
2Q: 00:45 BUF - Efrain Stewart 45 field goal
2Q: 00:03 NED - T.J. Rhyne 44 field goal
3Q: 10:26 BUF - Jonathan Kovel 7 pass from J.C. Giles (Efrain Stewart extra point)
3Q: 05:47 NED - Derrick Hines 4 pass from Dakota Walburn (T.J. Rhyne extra point)
4Q: 10:52 NED - Elijah Redman 11 pass from Dakota Walburn (T.J. Rhyne extra point)
4Q: 05:31 BUF - Richard Langfahl 33 run (Efrain Stewart extra point)
4Q: 03:01 NED - Dana Ignasiak 34 pass from Dakota Walburn (T.J. Rhyne extra point)
4Q: 01:02 BUF - Gary Powers 6 pass from J.C. Giles (Efrain Stewart extra point failed)

Scoring Summary
1Q: 14:28 BUF - Marty Maple 49 interception return (Efrain Stewart extra point)
1Q: 11:00 NED - Abraham Small 7 run (T.J. Rhyne extra point)
1Q: 03:22 BUF - Ike Fleming 2 run (Efrain Stewart extra point)
2Q: 00:45 BUF - Efrain Stewart 45 field goal
2Q: 00:03 NED - T.J. Rhyne 44 field goal
3Q: 10:26 BUF - Jonathan Kovel 7 pass from J.C. Giles (Efrain Stewart extra point)
3Q: 05:47 NED - Derrick Hines 4 pass from Dakota Walburn (T.J. Rhyne extra point)
4Q: 10:52 NED - Elijah Redman 11 pass from Dakota Walburn (T.J. Rhyne extra point)
4Q: 05:31 BUF - Richard Langfahl 33 run (Efrain Stewart extra point)
4Q: 03:01 NED - Dana Ignasiak 34 pass from Dakota Walburn (T.J. Rhyne extra point)
4Q: 01:02 BUF - Gary Powers 6 pass from J.C. Giles (Efrain Stewart extra point failed)

Team Statistics NED BUF
Record 0-1 1-0
First Downs 24 24
- by Rushing 2 7
- by Passing 19 17
- by Penalty 3 0
Total Net Yards 420 390
- Offensive Plays 61 66
- Yards per Play 6.89 5.91
Net Rushing Yards 38 118
- Rushing Attempts 9 28
- Yards per Rush 4.22 4.21
Net Passing Yards 382 272
- Att./Comp./Intrcpt 49 - 34 - 2 33 - 24 - 1
- Gross Passing Yards 398 301
- Sacks/Yards Lost 3/16 5/29
- Yards per Pass Play 7.35 7.16
Fumbles/Lost 0/0 2/1
3rd Down Conversions 4/9 7/13
- Avg. YtG on 3rd Down 8.1 10.2
4th Down Conversions 0/0 0/0
Penalties/Yards 6/33 8/67
Punt Returns/Yards 2/17 3/26
Kick Returns/Yards 6/138 2/58
Interception Ret./Yards 1/10 2/79
2pt Conversions 0/0 0/0
Red Zone Visits 3 3
- Red Zone TDs/FGs 3/0 3/0
Avg. Drive Start OWN 25 OWN 37
Time of Possession 25:43 34:17

Team Statistics	NED	BUF
Record	0-1	1-0
First Downs	24	24
- by Rushing	2	7
- by Passing	19	17
- by Penalty	3	0
Total Net Yards	420	390
- Offensive Plays	61	66
- Yards per Play	6.89	5.91
Net Rushing Yards	38	118
- Rushing Attempts	9	28
- Yards per Rush	4.22	4.21
Net Passing Yards	382	272
- Att./Comp./Intrcpt	49 - 34 - 2	33 - 24 - 1
- Gross Passing Yards	398	301
- Sacks/Yards Lost	3/16	5/29
- Yards per Pass Play	7.35	7.16
Fumbles/Lost	0/0	2/1
3rd Down Conversions	4/9	7/13
- Avg. YtG on 3rd Down	8.1	10.2
4th Down Conversions	0/0	0/0
Penalties/Yards	6/33	8/67
Punt Returns/Yards	2/17	3/26
Kick Returns/Yards	6/138	2/58
Interception Ret./Yards	1/10	2/79
2pt Conversions	0/0	0/0
Red Zone Visits	3	3
- Red Zone TDs/FGs	3/0	3/0
Avg. Drive Start	OWN 25	OWN 37
Time of Possession	25:43	34:17

Drive Charts

New England Patriots
Quar	Began	Poss	From	Plays	Yards	Result
1	15:00	0:43	OWN 34	2	0	Interception
1	14:17	3:23	OWN 41	8	59	Touchdown
1	3:15	2:05	OWN 40	3	2	Punt
2	14:45	3:50	OWN 31	8	31	Punt
2	8:29	0:11	OWN 19	1	0	Interception
2	8:04	1:20	OWN 8	3	1	Punt
2	4:36	1:38	OWN 11	4	4	Punt
2	0:39	0:39	OWN 44	1	29	Field Goal
3	10:17	4:36	OWN 20	10	80	Touchdown
3	2:03	1:22	OWN 6	3	7	Punt
4	14:08	3:25	OWN 35	9	65	Touchdown
4	5:19	2:33	OWN 25	5	75	Touchdown
4	0:52	0:52	OWN 12	5	71	Game

Buffalo Bills
Quar	Began	Poss	From	Plays	Yards	Result
1	10:54	7:39	OWN 25	14	75	Touchdown
1	1:10	1:25	OWN 28	3	0	Punt
2	10:55	2:26	OWN 20	4	21	Punt
2	8:18	0:14	OPP 4	1	-4	Fumble
2	6:44	2:08	OWN 36	6	36	Interception
2	2:58	2:19	OWN 46	6	26	Field Goal
3	15:00	4:43	OWN 15	8	85	Touchdown
3	5:41	3:38	OWN 25	7	25	Punt
3	0:41	1:33	OWN 47	3	-20	Punt
4	10:43	5:24	OWN 42	8	58	Touchdown
4	2:46	1:54	OWN 32	6	68	Touchdown

Game MVP: Dakota Walburn, New England Patriots

Rushing Statistics

New England	Att	Yards	Avg	LG	10+	TD
Abraham Small	6	38	6.33	19	1	1
Derek Stone	3	0	0.00	3	0	0

Buffalo	Att	Yards	Avg	LG	10+	TD
Richard Langfahl	10	46	4.60	33	1	1
J.C. Giles	7	33	4.71	14	1	0
Tommy Sampson	6	26	4.33	18	1	0
Ike Fleming	5	13	2.60	9	0	1

Passing Statistics

New England	Att	Comp	Yards	Sk/Yd	TD	LG	Int	Rate
Dakota Walburn	49	34	398	3/16	3	34	2	97.1

Buffalo	Att	Comp	Yards	Sk/Yd	TD	LG	Int	Rate
J.C. Giles	33	24	301	5/29	2	49	1	108.3

Receiving Statistics

New England	Catch	Targ	Yards	Avg	YAC	LG	TD
TE Elijah Redman	10	12	118	11.80	24	32	1
TE Braden Dell	7	12	77	11.00	29	21	0
WR Amos Herrmann	4	5	42	10.50	3	29	0
RB Abraham Small	4	6	35	8.75	29	29	0
WR Dana Ignasiak	3	5	74	24.67	2	34	1
TE Derrick Hines	2	2	10	5.00	0	6	1
RB Derek Stone	2	2	15	7.50	10	12	0
WR Matt Merkerson	2	4	27	13.50	4	22	0
WR Hector Dawson	0	1	0	0.00	0	0	0

Buffalo	Catch	Targ	Yards	Avg	YAC	LG	TD
WR Gregory Wagner	7	10	120	17.14	28	49	0
TE Brady Grant	5	7	56	11.20	27	32	0
TE Jonathan Kovel	3	3	23	7.67	0	15	1
WR Collin Ganser	2	5	28	14.00	4	17	0
RB Richard Langfahl	2	2	42	21.00	33	31	0
RB Tommy Sampson	2	3	14	7.00	0	7	0
WR Gary Powers	1	1	6	6.00	1	6	1
FB A.J. Bressany	1	1	11	11.00	0	11	0
TE Roosevelt Greene	1	1	1	1.00	0	1	0

Interception Statistics

New England	Ints	Yards	Avg	TD
S Arnie Gillette	1	10	10.00	0

Buffalo	Ints	Yards	Avg	TD
CB Marty Maple	1	49	49.00	1
S Gus Spencer	1	30	30.00	0

Fumble Statistics

New England	Recov	Force
Anthony Harmon	1	0
Nicky Ihler	0	1
Amari Rodriguez	0	1

Buffalo	Fumb	Recov	Force	TD
Tommy Sampson	1	1	0	0
J.C. Giles	1	0	0	0

Punting Statistics

New England	Punt	Yards	Avg	Net	LG	In20
Herb Beverly	5	228	45.6	36.4	57	1

Buffalo	Punt	Yards	Avg	Net	LG	In20
Don Perliman	4	180	45.0	40.8	50	2

Kicking Statistics

New England	FGs	40+Yd	50+Yd	LG	PAT
T.J. Rhyne	1/1	1/1	0/0	44	4/4

Buffalo	FGs	40+Yd	50+Yd	LG	PAT
Efrain Stewart	1/1	1/1	0/0	45	4/5

Punt Return Statistics

New England	Ret	Yards	Avg	TD
Matt Merkerson	2	17	8.5	0

Buffalo	Ret	Yards	Avg	TD
Marty Maple	3	26	8.7	0

Kick Return Statistics

New England	Ret	Yards	Avg	TD
Elias Eyrich	6	138	23.0	0

Buffalo	Ret	Yards	Avg	TD
Collin Ganser	1	34	34.0	0
Francisco Boerigter	1	24	24.0	0

Defensive Statistics

New England	Tack	Asst	Sack	RPlay	PPlay
ILB Randall Bonk	8	6	1.0	27	36
S Cristian Gonzalez	7	1	0.0	11	20
CB Jason Burns	7	0	0.0	26	37
S Elias Eyrich	4	3	0.0	17	19
OLB Carl Houston	4	1	0.0	24	28
S Arnie Gillette	4	0	0.0	16	21
CB Anthony Harmon	3	1	0.0	27	34
OLB Heath Cote	3	1	0.0	14	17
DE Brenden Rosas	2	0	2.0	6	21
ILB Cary Schneider	2	1	0.0	12	16
DT Nicky Ihler	2	0	0.0	15	21
DE Sammie Sherman	2	0	0.0	23	21
OLB Amari Rodriguez	1	2	1.0	13	17
DT Tre King	1	0	1.0	14	17
S Leonardo Trabosh	1	1	0.0	12	22
DE Burt Worrall	1	0	0.0	14	21
OLB Warren Mitchell	1	0	0.0	5	7
WR Dana Ignasiak	1	0	---	---	---

Buffalo	Tack	Asst	Sack	RPlay	PPlay
OLB Ricardo Sawyer	8	1	1.0	9	52
ILB Donnie Burkhardt	7	0	1.0	9	44
CB Francisco Boerigter	6	1	0.0	9	49
CB Marty Maple	5	2	1.0	9	52
S Troy Bannan	4	0	0.0	9	52
S Gus Spencer	3	2	0.0	9	52
ILB Quentin Clayton	3	1	0.0	5	20
CB R.J. Altuna	2	1	0.0	4	23
OLB Sean George	1	2	0.0	4	27
TE Brady Grant	1	0	---	---	---
ILB J.T. Thornton	1	0	0.0	0	1
DT Cooper Brost	1	0	0.0	8	39
DE Jimmy Berns	0	1	0.0	9	43

Pass Rush Statistics

New England	Sack	Hurry	Knock	PPlay
DE Brenden Rosas	2.0	0	1	21
DT Tre King	1.0	1	0	17
OLB Amari Rodriguez	1.0	0	0	17
ILB Randall Bonk	1.0	0	0	36
DE Tucker Allen	0.0	1	0	10

Buffalo	Sack	Block	Hurry	Knock	PPlay
OLB Ricardo Sawyer	1.0	1	2	0	52
CB Marty Maple	1.0	0	0	0	52
ILB Donnie Burkhardt	1.0	0	0	0	44
DE Danny McGinnis	0.0	0	2	0	46
DT Jeremy Sawyer	0.0	0	1	0	5
DT Cooper Brost	0.0	0	1	0	39
OLB Howie Palacios	0.0	0	0	1	30

Pass Defense Statistics

New England	Caught	Defnsd	Intrcp	PPlay
S Cristian Gonzalez	5	1	0	20
CB Jason Burns	5	0	0	37
S Arnie Gillette	3	2	1	21
ILB Randall Bonk	3	0	0	36
S Elias Eyrich	2	0	0	19
CB Anthony Harmon	2	0	0	34
DE Burt Worrall	1	0	0	21
S Leonardo Trabosh	1	0	0	22
OLB Carl Houston	1	0	0	28
ILB Cary Schneider	1	0	0	16

Buffalo	Caught	Defnsd	Intrcp	PPlay
CB Francisco Boerigter	6	0	0	49
S Troy Bannan	5	0	0	52
ILB Donnie Burkhardt	5	0	0	44
CB Marty Maple	4	0	1	52
OLB Ricardo Sawyer	4	0	0	52
ILB Quentin Clayton	3	0	0	20
S Gus Spencer	2	1	1	52
CB R.J. Altuna	2	0	0	23
ILB J.T. Thornton	1	0	0	1
DT Cooper Brost	1	0	0	39
OLB Sean George	1	0	0	27

Blocking Statistics

New England	KeyBl	BlOpp	RPly	SckA	PPly
Cary Fleming	1	4	9	0	52
Brady Wheeler	1	3	9	0	52
Jose Berkebile	0	1	4	0	20
Rico Hoskins	0	1	9	0	52
Martin Way	0	0	9	2	52
Josue Mueller	0	0	5	1	32

Buffalo	KeyBl	BlOpp	RPly	SckA	PPly
Dustin Foreman	3	6	28	3	38
Paul Newhart	1	3	28	1	38
A.J. Bressany	1	1	7	0	3
Percy Lubienski	0	5	28	0	38
Nicholas Nguyen	0	4	28	1	38
Brady Grant	0	1	26	0	37
Jaylen Alston	0	1	28	0	38

Special Teams Tackles

New England	Tackles	STPlays
Derrick Hines	1	22
Amari Rodriguez	1	21
Pat Clemons	1	17
Derek Stone	1	17
Matt Merkerson	1	16

Buffalo	Tackles	STPlays
Brady Grant	4	11
Gary Powers	2	16
A.J. Bressany	1	18
Braxton Small	1	17

Participation

New England	RPlyOff	PPlyOff	RPlyDef	PPlyDef	STPly	Total Plays
Jason Burns	---	---	26	37	11	74
Matt Merkerson	9	47	---	---	16	72
Rico Hoskins	9	52	---	---	6	67
Cary Fleming	9	52	---	---	4	65
Randall Bonk	---	---	27	36	1	64
Anthony Harmon	---	---	27	34	1	62
Dakota Walburn	9	52	---	---	---	61
Amos Herrmann	9	52	---	---	---	61
Brady Wheeler	9	52	---	---	---	61
Martin Way	9	52	---	---	---	61
Carl Houston	---	---	24	28	---	52
Amari Rodriguez	---	---	13	17	21	51
Elijah Redman	9	41	---	---	---	50
Leonardo Trabosh	---	---	12	22	15	49
Elias Eyrich	---	---	17	19	9	45
Johnathan Kennedy	---	---	17	20	8	45
Sammie Sherman	---	---	23	21	---	44
Josue Mueller	5	32	---	---	6	43
Heath Cote	---	---	14	17	12	43
Braden Dell	5	25	---	---	10	40
Derek Stone	3	19	---	---	17	39
Derrick Hines	0	16	---	---	22	38
Abraham Small	6	31	---	---	1	38
Arnie Gillette	---	---	16	21	---	37
Nicky Ihler	---	---	15	21	---	36
Burt Worrall	---	---	14	21	1	36
Dana Ignasiak	4	22	---	---	7	33
Brenden Rosas	---	---	6	21	5	32
Tre King	---	---	14	17	1	32
Cristian Gonzalez	---	---	11	20	1	32
Cary Schneider	---	---	12	16	---	28
Jose Berkebile	4	20	---	---	2	26
Hector Dawson	0	6	---	---	17	23
Tucker Allen	---	---	11	10	---	21
Pat Clemons	0	0	---	---	17	17
Chuck Robinson	---	---	0	2	13	15
Warren Mitchell	---	---	5	7	1	13
Jordan Blackmon	---	---	2	8	---	10
Toby Douglas	---	---	2	3	4	9
Herb Beverly	0	0	---	---	6	6
Riley Makowski	0	0	---	---	6	6
T.J. Rhyne	0	0	---	---	6	6
Dustin Thompson	0	0	---	---	6	6
Levon Lindsay	0	1	---	---	---	1
Scottie Oliveira	0	0	---	---	---	0
Robbie Conway	---	---	0	0	---	0

Buffalo	RPlyOff	PPlyOff	RPlyDef	PPlyDef	STPly	Total Plays
Brady Grant	26	37	---	---	11	74
Dustin Foreman	28	38	---	---	5	71
Paul Newhart	28	38	---	---	5	71
Percy Lubienski	28	38	---	---	5	71
Nicholas Nguyen	28	38	---	---	5	71
Collin Ganser	25	32	---	---	12	69
Marty Maple	---	---	9	52	6	67
J.C. Giles	28	38	---	---	---	66
Gregory Wagner	28	38	---	---	---	66
Jaylen Alston	28	38	---	---	---	66
Francisco Boerigter	---	---	9	49	6	64
Ricardo Sawyer	---	---	9	52	2	63
Troy Bannan	---	---	9	52	1	62
Gus Spencer	---	---	9	52	1	62
Danny McGinnis	---	---	9	46	1	56
Howie Palacios	---	---	5	30	20	55
Donnie Burkhardt	---	---	9	44	1	54
Jimmy Berns	---	---	9	43	1	53
Jonathan Kovel	10	20	---	---	22	52
Gary Powers	15	19	---	---	16	50
Cooper Brost	---	---	8	39	1	48
Richard Langfahl	12	12	---	---	14	38
R.J. Altuna	---	---	4	23	7	34
Sean George	---	---	4	27	1	32
A.J. Bressany	7	3	---	---	18	28
Levon Murphy	---	---	0	9	16	25
Quentin Clayton	---	---	5	20	---	25
Braxton Small	---	---	0	5	17	22
Kurt Lafrance	0	3	---	---	18	21
Tommy Sampson	8	13	---	---	---	21
Ike Fleming	7	9	---	---	3	19
Kaleb May	---	---	0	5	10	15
Toby Chandler	---	---	0	10	5	15
Jason Booker	---	---	1	8	---	9
Efrain Stewart	0	0	---	---	8	8
Roosevelt Greene	2	4	---	---	---	6
Johnathan Meier	0	0	---	---	5	5
Carlos Flowers	---	---	0	0	5	5
Jeremy Sawyer	---	---	0	5	---	5
Don Perliman	0	0	---	---	5	5
J.T. Thornton	---	---	0	1	---	1
Ron Nord	0	0	---	---	---	0
Dexter Garrett	0	0	---	---	---	0
Bill Kemp	0	0	---	---	---	0
C.J. Humphries	0	0	---	---	---	0
Phillip Cooley	---	---	0	0	---	0

Directional Rushing Statistics

Distance	Att	Yards	Avg
Left	1	19	19.0
Middle	6	12	2.0
Right	2	7	3.5
None	0	0	0.0

Distance	Att	Yards	Avg
Left	7	69	9.9
Middle	18	50	2.8
Right	3	-1	-0.3
None	0	0	0.0

Detailed Passing Statistics

New England	Att	Cmp	20+	BdTh	Drop	Dfns	Hurr	Knck	Intc
Dakota Walburn	49	34	7	2	3	1	6	1	2

Buffalo	Att	Cmp	20+	BdTh	Drop	Dfns	Hurr	Knck	Intc
J.C. Giles	33	24	4	2	1	3	2	1	1

Directional Passing Statistics

Distance	Att	Comp	Yards	Avg
Screen	9	8	74	8.2
Short (0-8 Yds)	15	13	96	6.4
Medium (9-18 Yds)	17	9	107	6.3
Long (19+ Yds)	8	4	121	15.1

Distance	Att	Comp	Yards	Avg
Screen	5	2	28	5.6
Short (0-8 Yds)	12	12	99	8.3
Medium (9-18 Yds)	8	6	68	8.5
Long (19+ Yds)	8	4	106	13.3

Detailed Receiving Statistics

New England	Targt	Caugt	Dropd	Yards	20+	PPlay
TE Elijah Redman	12	10	0	118	1	41
TE Braden Dell	12	7	1	77	1	25
RB Abraham Small	6	4	1	35	1	31
WR Amos Herrmann	5	4	0	42	1	52
WR Dana Ignasiak	5	3	0	74	2	22
WR Matt Merkerson	4	2	1	27	1	47
TE Derrick Hines	2	2	0	10	0	16
RB Derek Stone	2	2	0	15	0	19
WR Hector Dawson	1	0	0	0	0	6

Buffalo	Targt	Caugt	Dropd	Yards	20+	PPlay
WR Gregory Wagner	10	7	0	120	2	38
TE Brady Grant	7	5	0	56	1	37
WR Collin Ganser	5	2	1	28	0	32
TE Jonathan Kovel	3	3	0	23	0	20
RB Tommy Sampson	3	2	0	14	0	13
RB Richard Langfahl	2	2	0	42	1	12
WR Gary Powers	1	1	0	6	0	19
FB A.J. Bressany	1	1	0	11	0	3
TE Roosevelt Greene	1	1	0	1	0	4

Red-Zone Rushing Statistics

New England	Att	Yards	Avg	Overall Avg
Abraham Small	2	11	5.50	6.33

Buffalo	Att	Yards	Avg	Overall Avg
Ike Fleming	2	3	1.50	2.60
J.C. Giles	1	4	4.00	4.71

Red-Zone Passing Statistics

New England	Att	Comp	Yards	Avg/Att	Overall Avg
Dakota Walburn	4	3	21	5.25	8.12

Buffalo	Att	Comp	Yards	Avg/Att	Overall Avg
J.C. Giles	3	3	21	7.00	9.12

Red-Zone Receiving Statistics

New England	Target	Catch	Yards	Avg/Targ	Overall Avg
TE Elijah Redman	2	2	17	8.50	9.83
WR Hector Dawson	1	0	0	0.00	0.00
TE Derrick Hines	1	1	4	4.00	5.00

Buffalo	Target	Catch	Yards	Avg/Targ	Overall Avg
WR Gary Powers	1	1	6	6.00	6.00
TE Jonathan Kovel	1	1	7	7.00	7.67
WR Gregory Wagner	1	1	8	8.00	12.00

Third Down Rushing Statistics

New England	Rushes	Conversions

Buffalo	Rushes	Conversions
J.C. Giles	3	2

Third Down Passing Statistics

New England	Att	Comp	Conversions
Dakota Walburn	8	6	4

Buffalo	Att	Comp	Conversions
J.C. Giles	8	6	5

Third Down Receiving Statistics

New England	Targ	Catch	Conversions
TE Braden Dell	4	2	1
TE Derrick Hines	1	1	1
RB Derek Stone	1	1	0
WR Matt Merkerson	1	1	1
WR Dana Ignasiak	1	1	1

Buffalo	Targ	Catch	Conversions
TE Brady Grant	4	3	2
WR Collin Ganser	3	2	2
WR Gregory Wagner	1	1	1

Section Attendance
Stadium 67,700 (70,000 capacity)
Upper Deck 20,100 (21,400)
End Zone 14,600 (15,400)
Mezzanine 8,900 (8,900)
Sideline Seats 13,400 (13,600)
Club Seats 7,400 (7,400)
Luxury Boxes 3,300 (3,300)

Section	Attendance
Stadium	67,700 (70,000 capacity)
Upper Deck	20,100 (21,400)
End Zone	14,600 (15,400)
Mezzanine	8,900 (8,900)
Sideline Seats	13,400 (13,600)
Club Seats	7,400 (7,400)
Luxury Boxes	3,300 (3,300)