Bills Central

One shocking Bills' veteran earns high analytical grade in loss to Patriots

With only one catch all season entering the game, Buffalo Bills' receiver Curtis Samuel earned a high PFF grade after catching a TD vs. Patriots.

Richie Whitt

Bills receiver Curtis Samuel (1) scores a touchdown against the Patriots last Sunday night.
Bills receiver Curtis Samuel (1) scores a touchdown against the Patriots last Sunday night. / Gregory Fisher-Imagn Images
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Sure, it stings to lose to the AFC East rival New England Patriots. Especially a heavily-hyped game on national TV that ended the Buffalo Bills' 14-game home winning streak and ruined their perfect season.

But after the dust has settled, was the 23-20 loss as bad as it initially felt?

The Bills committed three turnovers - two in the Red Zone - and 11 penalties and still the Pats needed a 52-yard field goal in the final :30 to win the game. In the big picture, it's a tiny hiccup and Buffalo remains the clear favorite to win not only the division but also Super Bowl LX in February.

MORE: After loss to Patriots, Bills no longer perfect but remain Super Bowl LX favorites

As for the game itself, quarterback Josh Allen threw late over the middle for a key interception and the Bills' secondary let former teammate Stefon Diggs run wild all night. After scoring 30+ points in their first four games, the offense managed only 20.

Not all of the Bills played poorly, of course, and that is reflected in Pro Football Focus' grades. A look at Buffalo's top five offensive players in the Sunday Night Football loss:

Dion Dawkins, OT

69.0: The Bills averaged 4.1 yards per rush and Allen was sacked just once.

Curtis Samuel, WR

71.3: The forgotten man raised eyebrows with a touchdown catch.

MORE: Sean McDermott updates Josh Allen's health status after Bills' QB 'took some shots'

Josh Allen, QB

77.5: Threw only nine incompletions, but he was credited with two turnovers.

Jackson Hawes, TE

82.6: Rookie keeps getting high marks without catching a single pass.

Dalton Kincaid, TE

87.3: Continuing his Pro Bowl-caliber season, he caught all six passes thrown his way for a team-high 108 yards.

Bills tight end Dalton Kincaid (86) reacts after a catch against the Patriots in Week 5.
Bills tight end Dalton Kincaid (86) reacts after a catch against the Patriots in Week 5. / Gregory Fisher-Imagn Images

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Richie Whitt
RICHIE WHITT

Richie Whitt has been a sports media fixture in Dallas-Fort Worth since graduating from UT-Arlington in 1986. His career is highlighted by successful stints in print (Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Dallas Observer), TV (NBC5) and radio (105.3 The Fan). During his almost 40-year tenure, he's blabbed and blogged on events ranging from Super Bowls to NBA Finals to World Series to Stanley Cups to Olympics to Wimbledons to World Cups. Whitt has been covering the NFL since 1989, and in 1993 authored The 'Boys Are Back, a book chronicling the Dallas Cowboys' run to Super Bowl XXVII.