The New England Patriots aren’t used to being on the wrong side of playoff blowouts. Fans had a lot to process as they were battered by the Bills.
The Patriots and Bills met twice in the second half of the regular season and split the season series.
So there was reason to believe their AFC Wild Card matchup on Saturday night could be an intriguing battle of division foes.
Then the Bills turned up the heat on offense and New England had no answers.
By the time halftime rolled around, Buffalo helped a commanding 27-3 lead over the Patriots.
Patriots fans had a time watching their team lose to the Bills
Fans on Twitter went through their own stages of grief over the lopsided scoreline.
Emergency Press Conference - The Patriots Embarrassed Themselves and Every Patriot Fan Tonight. pic.twitter.com/4kYFLyEwQP
— Dave Portnoy (@stoolpresidente) January 16, 2022
Changing seats and switching to whiskey for the 2nd half. That should fix everything. #patriots #bills
— Seton O'Connor (@HiMyNameIsSeton) January 16, 2022
Patriots haven’t been ready to go in about a month
— Brett (@TheBg_12) January 16, 2022
Buffalo hasn’t punted in 6 quarters against the Patriots.
— Savage (@SavageSports_) January 16, 2022
Someone needs to be fired
Patriots can't get anything going in the first half. 127-yards of total offense and just seven first downs. This is just downright ugly. #ForeverNE
— Amina Smith (@aminajadeTV) January 16, 2022
This is me 4 hours ago thinking we could beat the Bills. Anyway, win or lose I’m Patriots Fan till I die. #ForeverNE pic.twitter.com/FyPYQ2O4XF
— K (@kmontiel_) January 16, 2022
I want to see some fight from the Patriots in the second half. If they lose they lose, but give me something more than whatever that first half was.
— Pats Buzz (@PatsBuzz) January 16, 2022
THAT'S IT. THAT SEALS THE DEAL. I'm no longer a Patriots fan. I've been a season ticket holder since 2015 and this is embarrassing. I'll take my fandom to the Cincinnati Bengals where they know how to run a REAL football team.
— bc rich mockingbird collector (@shack_diesel) January 16, 2022
Whole TL talking about scheme but Patriots are losing because their defensive players aren’t as good/playing as well as Buffalo’s offensive players. It’s not schem. Nobody is making egregious mistakes.
— McGarvin (@PatriotsPOV) January 16, 2022
It’s a simple matter of one team being more talented than the other.
Just too much speed on the field for the Patriots to handle. Top priority this offseason has to be getting more athletic on defense.
— Kevin Duffy (@KevinRDuffy) January 16, 2022
The rest of the league enjoyed it a lot more than those in New England.
The rest of the NFL watching the Patriots get crushed pic.twitter.com/5iMjixrPPQ
— Blake Garman (@FrostedBlakes34) January 16, 2022
Excuse me while I go stand in the concourse and greet every patriots fan GOODBYE
— Kristen Kimmick (@Kimmick86) January 16, 2022
Saturday was the first time New England has played a playoff game since Tom Brady left the franchise.
While rookie quarterback Mac Jones has done an admirable job leading the team this season, he threw two interceptions and struggled to get the offense moving.
On the other side of things, Josh Allen looked like an absolute star. He threw three touchdowns in the first half and gave the Patriots defense fits with his legs.
Whether it was the pass or the run, the New England defense simply got roasted by Buffalo at seemingly every turn.