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NFL PicksSun 1:00 PM ET
New England Patriots logo
New England
Patriots
1-2
versus
Buffalo Bills logo
Buffalo
Bills
3-0
NFL · NE at BUF

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New England vs Buffalo consensus picks

NE30%
70%BUF

New England Patriots vs Buffalo Bills Predictions October 4, 2026

Game time: October 4, 2026 at 1:00 PM ET

Venue: Highmark Stadium — Orchard Park, NY

Article updated Sep 30, 2:02 AM EDT

By SportsJaw Editorial Team

The Buffalo Bills will beat the New England Patriots, with a projected score of Bills 27, Patriots 20. Buffalo’s fourth-ranked rushing offense offers a strong counter to New England’s second-ranked pass defense, while the Patriots have struggled to score. Neither Buffalo -6.5 (-115) nor the total of 48.5 (-110 each way) offers a convincing betting edge. The official recommendation is Pass.

New England Patriots vs Buffalo Bills prediction and best bet

Buffalo has the stronger case to win this 2026 NFL matchup because its offense has offered more ways to generate points. Through three games, the Bills average 401.7 yards and an NFL-leading 33.7 points. New England averages 307.0 yards and 12.0 points. Buffalo’s rushing production gives it an alternative if the Patriots’ pass defense makes throwing difficult.

The best betting decision is Pass. New England’s defense has been substantially better than Buffalo’s, and the Bills committed five offensive turnovers in their latest victory. Those weaknesses matter when laying nearly a touchdown. They also complicate the total: stalled possessions can suppress scoring, while giveaways can create short fields for the opponent.

Odds, game time and how to watch

Kickoff: Sunday, October 4, 2026, at 1 p.m. ET.

Venue: Highmark Stadium.

Records: New England is 1-2; Buffalo is 3-0 following a 24-16 victory over the Chargers. This is Buffalo’s first AFC East game of 2026.

SportsJaw spread: New England +6.5 (-105); Buffalo -6.5 (-115).

SportsJaw moneyline: New England +250; Buffalo -300.

SportsJaw total: Over 48.5 (-110); Under 48.5 (-110). This is the teams’ first meeting of the season, with the return matchup scheduled for December 6 at Gillette Stadium.

New England Patriots outlook

New England’s strongest argument starts with its defense. The Patriots allow 278.3 yards per game, fifth in the NFL, and 17.0 points, sixth. Their 170.0 passing yards allowed per game rank second. Those figures give them a credible route to keeping Buffalo within reach, although passing yardage alone cannot tell us how consistently they will contain this particular offense.

The offensive results are much less encouraging. New England has scored three touchdowns through three games and averages 12.0 points. Its 109.3 rushing yards per game rank 14th, while total offense ranks 21st. Running the ball could help manage difficult passing situations, but the scoring record leaves little room for wasted possessions.

Drake Maye has one touchdown pass, six interceptions and nine sacks taken. The Patriots’ minus-five turnover differential is another obstacle. Following the September 27 Jacksonville game, Mike Vrabel identified decision-making, protection, penalties and ball security among the areas needing improvement.

Buffalo’s vulnerable pass defense offers Maye an opening. The forecast gives New England more scoring than its early average, but that requires cleaner execution. A favorable defensive matchup helps only if the Patriots retain possession long enough to exploit it.

Buffalo Bills outlook

Buffalo’s offense combines a fourth-ranked 155.0 rushing yards per game with fourth-ranked total production. Its 13 touchdowns through three games contrast sharply with New England’s three. The running game is particularly relevant here: Buffalo can challenge the Patriots without making every important possession depend on beating their strong pass defense.

The September 27 win over the Chargers was less comfortable than Buffalo’s unbeaten record might suggest. The Bills committed five offensive turnovers and did not take their first lead until the fourth quarter, eventually winning 24-16. Escaping that game was valuable, but repeating those mistakes would give New England a route around its offensive limitations.

Buffalo allows 361.3 yards per game, ranking 25th, and 254.3 passing yards, ranking 27th. Its 26.0 points allowed per game are tied for 21st. Those numbers argue against treating a Patriots scoring improvement as implausible.

The September 28 injury report adds uncertainty. Christian Benford left the Chargers game with a toe injury and was subsequently seen wearing a boot on his right leg; that report supplied no further Week 4 update. Joe Brady said he was not concerned at that time about a Josh Allen lower-body issue. Neither report supplies a final game-day availability determination.

Key matchup factors

The decisive question is whether Buffalo’s rushing production can keep its offense moving against New England’s defensive strength. If it can, the Patriots must generate more points without increasing Maye’s exposure to pressure and interceptions. Both teams’ negative turnover differentials make possession security especially influential.

SportsJaw’s September 30, 05:59 UTC consensus lists Buffalo -6.5 (-115) as the 70% blended leader. Its combined modeled equivalent spread sample contains 420 Buffalo selections and 180 New England selections. Those are not observed sportsbook ticket counts or a 70% chance of covering. The preference supports Buffalo’s popularity, but it neither makes the favorite a bargain nor creates an automatic reason to back New England.

New England Patriots vs Buffalo Bills spread prediction

Spread recommendation: Pass on Buffalo -6.5 (-115) and New England +6.5 (-105). The projected seven-point Buffalo victory sits only half a point beyond the spread. That narrow cushion is difficult to trust against a Patriots defense allowing 17.0 points per game.

Buffalo’s offensive advantage supports the winner forecast. Its defensive production and recent giveaways weaken the cover argument. Conversely, taking New England requires trusting an offense with six Maye interceptions and just three team touchdowns. Neither side offers enough separation between the matchup case and the supplied price.

New England Patriots vs Buffalo Bills total prediction

Total recommendation: Pass on Over 48.5 (-110) and Under 48.5 (-110). The projected 47 points suggest a slight Under preference, but a 1.5-point difference is not a persuasive edge by itself. New England’s defensive results and offensive struggles favor a restrained scoring forecast.

Buffalo’s league-leading scoring average and weaker defensive numbers push the other way. Turnovers could also hand either offense favorable field position. SportsJaw’s blended total consensus favors Over at 53%, despite a three-percentage-point move toward Under since September 29. That modest split leaves the football tradeoffs intact.

New England Patriots vs Buffalo Bills projected score

Game forecast: Bills 27, Patriots 20. Buffalo’s stronger offensive production and useful rushing matchup earn the winner selection. New England’s projected improvement reflects an opportunity against Buffalo’s defense, rather than an assumption that its protection and ball-security problems have disappeared.

The strongest counterargument is the Patriots’ defense: it could keep the game close enough for Buffalo’s mistakes to decide the outcome. The Bills’ five-turnover performance against Los Angeles makes that concern concrete. Confidence is medium in Buffalo winning, with less conviction about the margin or scoring total. The official SportsJaw wager is Pass, and both the spread and total remain passes at the supplied prices.

SportsJawGame Predictions
Predicted score

NE20

BUF27

Projected winner Buffalo BillsConfidenceSlight Lean — Buffalo Bills
Pick on the Spread

Slight Lean — Buffalo Bills -6.5

Editorial pick at publication: Pass on Buffalo Bills -6.5 (-115) and New England Patriots +6.5 (-105)

Pick on the Total

Slight Lean — Under 48.5

Editorial pick at publication: Pass on Over 48.5 (-110) and Under 48.5 (-110)

Sources

  • New England PatriotsGame Preview: Patriots at Bills | NFL Week 4
  • New England PatriotsNew England Patriots Postgame Quotes 9/27
  • Buffalo BillsPrevious-game context: Bills 24, Chargers 16 | Final Score, recap + highlights

SportsJaw Patriots vs Bills game preview analysis and predictions incorporate current odds, injury reports, team statistics and market data. Information is updated regularly, but lines and player availability can change. Please confirm current information before wagering. View history of past Patriots vs Bills matchups or learn how our predictions work.

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