As strange as it may seem, the Bills, having already clinched the AFC East for the first time since 1995, will face the Patriots, who have already been eliminated from playoff contention, on “Monday Night Football” in Week 16.
Welcome to the topsy-turvy year that has been 2020.
The Bills (11-3) have a chance to claim the No. 2 seed in the AFC with a win and a Steelers loss to the Colts in Week 17. They’ve been led by third-year QB Josh Allen, who has looked like a darkhorse MVP candidate at times. Allen his improved his completion percentage significantly from 58.8 percent in 2019 to 68.7 percent in 2020. That bump in accuracy has made a huge difference for Allen, as he’s thrown for a career-best 30 touchdowns to just nine interceptions.
The Patriots (6-8), in their first year without Tom Brady since 1999, haven’t looked like the Patriots fans have been used to seeing over the last decade. They were eliminated from playoff contention after a 22-12 loss to the Dolphins last week, and a loss to the Bills would ensure their first losing season since Brady’s rookie season in 2000.
Sporting News is tracking live scoring updates and highlights from Bills vs. Patriots on “Monday Night Football.” Follow for complete results from the NFL Week 16 game.
MORE: Watch Bills vs. Patriots live with fuboTV (7-day free trial)
Bills vs. Patriots score
Q1
Q2
Q3
Q4
Total
Bills
3
14
—
—
17
Patriots
3
6
—
—
9
Bills vs. Patriots updates, highlights from ‘Monday Night Football’
(All times Eastern)
9:19 p.m. — Patriots punt. Another three and out for New England and the Bills get the ball back at their 33-yard line with 4:42 remaining in the half.
9:12 p.m. — TOUCHDOWN, BILLS. Josh Allen finds Lee Smith for a wide open TD from 4 yards out. Buffalo leads 17-9 with 5:32 left to play in the first half.
Both QBs have had some impressive runs tonight. Allen scrambled for the first here on this 11-yard gain on third down.
9:00 p.m. — TOUCHDOWN, PATRIOTS. A nice answer for New England as Cam Newton somehow escapes the pressure and rumbles into the end zone for a 9-yard score. Folk misses the PAT, so Buffalo still leads, 10-9 with 10:39 remaining in the second quarter.
8:50 p.m. — TOUCHDOWN, BILLS. Zack Moss punches it in from 5 yards out and Buffalo takes the lead, 10-3 with 14:50 left in the second quarter.
8:46 p.m. — END OF 1Q: Bills 3, Patriots 3. Buffalo has it, first and goal at the 5-yard line to start the second quarter. New England had a chance to get the turnover with an interception on the final play of the quarter, but was flagged for offsides on the play.
The Bills were able to extend the drive with this sneaky fake punt as Jaquan Johnson, the upback, completed a pass for the first down.
8:35 p.m. — Patriots punt. Three and out for New England on its second possession and the Bills will get the ball back at their 30-yard line with 5:18 left in the first quarter.
8:30 p.m. — FIELD GOAL, BILLS. Buffalo gets into the red zone but New England comes up with the stop to hold them to a 22-yard field goal attempt. Tyler Bass connects to tie it up at 3-3 with 6:43 remaining in the first quarter.
8:19 p.m. — FIELD GOAL, PATRIOTS. New England missed out on a big trick play as Damierre Byrd dropped a perfect pass from Cam Newton, so it’ll settle for a 45-yard field goal from Nick Folk to take a 3-0 lead with 12:44 left in the first quarter.
8:15 p.m. — Bills win the toss. They’ll defer and the Patriots will receive to start the game.
There’s nothing like a mother’s love — or a mother’s scorn.
Randi Mahomes, mother of Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes, was like all viewers watching the QB struggling to get to his feet on Sunday afternoon: concerned, worried and a little angry by Mahomes’ departure from the field.
But momma Mahomes took it a step further and took to Twitter to question the hit that sidelined her son — and berate the player who made it in the same 240 characters:
#51 Wilson that’s some trash football leading with helmet, pulling his head and pushing helmet.. why are you not thrown out!?? Come on NFL
“#51 Wilson that’s some trash football leading with helmet, pulling his head and pushing helmet.. why are you not thrown out!?? Come on NFL,” the tweet reads.
MORE: Could superstar QB Deshaun Watson be on the move? What you need to know
Mahomes took a hit from linebacker Mack Wilson that left him woozy and wobbly as he tried to get to his feet, eventually needing help from KC medical staff to get off the field. Mahomes would enter concussion protocol and his status for this Sunday’s matchup vs. the Bills is uncertain.
There was no flag on the play, as it was unclear what rule, if any, Wilson violated on the hit. Slow motion replays revealed that Wilson’s helmet made contact with Mahomes’ shoulder pads. Most viewers chalked up the incident to just playing football.
Mahomes didn’t harbor any ill will toward Wilson, who reached out to apologize after the game:
The Chiefs would go on to win on Sunday with heroics from backup QB Chad Henne, who helped punch Kansas City’s ticket to the AFC Championship game.
The yearslong odyssey for the Texans to find a true franchise passer culminated in Houston selecting the Deshaun Watson out of Clemson in the first round of the 2017 NFL Draft, but it looks like the pairing will soon come to an end, with tumult surrounding the quarterback and the franchise leading to lots of smoke and trade rumors.
With organizational chaos dooming the Texans the past two seasons, and ownership reportedly over-relying on the voice and opinions of Jack Easterby and reportedly completely ignoring the voice of Watson, it’s hard to fault Watson for wanting out. He’s a top-five quarterback coming off his best season, still young and with a contract that will prove to be a bargain in a few years.
Total organizational instability — from the top down — has led Watson to, reportedly, being incredibly pissed off and ready to move on from the team that drafted him in 2017. Here’s a timeline of reports and other rumors that detail the interworkings of the Texans organization and Watson’s displeasure with the situation.
MORE: Here are Deshaun Watson’s best trade fits, from Jets to Dolphins
Jan. 18: Watson likes Instagram post linking him to Jets
Source: Instagram detectives
We’ve officially reached the “NBA drama” stage of Watson trade rumors, with Instagram users discovering that Watson liked a post of a New York Post back page with a story suggesting the Jets should trade for him. No trade requests have been made yet.
Jan. 18: Texans have no interest in dealing Watson, Panthers interested
Source: Ian Rapoport, NFL Network
NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reports that the Texans have no interest in trading Watson, instead wanting to keep him. Multiple teams, including the Panthers, have called Houston to gauge interest in the passer.
Jan. 18: Watson not answering calls from Texans organization
Source: Sarah Barshop, ESPN
According to Texans beat writer Sarah Barshop, Watson can’t be bothered to answer calls from Texans brass. Adam Schefter also reiterates what we already knew: Watson holds leverage here because of his no-trade clause.
Jan. 18: ‘Great lather’ to get Watson out, but leverage in his favor
Source: Josina Anderson, ESPN
Anderson reminds everyone a key point: Watson has a no-trade clause, and it’s not entirely in the Texans’ best interest to trade away a superstar of Watson’s caliber. In any case, it’s a weak argument, especially if the team is going to continue to do poorly by its star player.
I know there’s a great lather to propel Deshaun Watson’s potential departure from Houston & yes Watson holds a card w/ his no-trade clause, but from the club’s/business perspective it makes sense any decisions or not will be in its best interest. Watson still makes dollars&sense.
Despite all the smoke surrounding Watson and the Texans at the moment, the superstar QB has yet to ask for a trade, per Rapoport. That hasn’t stopped teams from calling to check on Watson’s availability, though,
Jan. 17: Watson has ‘played his last snap for Houston’
Source: Adam Schefter/Chris Mortensen, ESPN
If the weeks of turmoil and confusion have left any doubt about Watson’s future in Houston, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported that some people surrounding the Texans organization feel Watson won’t play another down for the team. A source close to Chris Mortensen added that the only remedy for the situation between Watson and the Texans would be for owner Cal McNair to fire … Cal McNair.
Schefter also added that “Watson’s feelings cannot and should not be underestimated.” Whatever that means.
There is a growing sense from people in and around the Texans’ organization that Deshaun Watson has played his last snap for the team. It’s early in the off-season, there’s a lot of time left, but Watson’s feelings cannot and should not be underestimated.
Despite the Texans making moves to try and appease their disgruntled quarterback, Watson just wants out of H-Town, per SI. A culmination of the coaching and GM search and general organizational dysfunction has led to Watson taking a hard stance on his status with the team: Just get me out of here.
Jan. 15: A single tweet sets NFL world on fire
Source: Deshaun Watson’s Twitter
Coming from a Schefter report that Watson’s anger was “at a 2, but now a 10,” the Texans QB sends out a single tweet that seems to confirm this. A later tweet would actually indicate that these were actually song lyrics. (Sure, Deshaun.)
MORE: Deshaun Watson’s latest tweet sends Twitter back into trade frenzy
Jan. 15: Watson photographed in Falcons gear
Source: Instagram
A curious wardrobe decision by Watson, with a photo on an Instagram story showing Watson in a Falcons jacket, coincidentally, outside of a building in New York City. Watson is a Georgia native and likely grew up a Falcons fan.
It’s just a jacket, but let your imagination run wild.
Jan. 12: Texans request interview for Chiefs OC Eric Bieniemy
Source: Ian Rapoport, NFL Network
The Chiefs OC is a hot commodity on the coaching scene, and was even recommended to Watson by some guy named Patrick Mahomes. While the Chiefs hadn’t initially put in an interview with Bieniemy — missing the window in which coordinators can interview during the playoffs — new GM Nick Caserio is interested in speaking with him. Because of tampering policies, the Texans won’t be allowed to speak with Bieniemy until after the Chiefs are eliminated.
The #Texans have officially requested an interview with #Chiefs OC Eric Bieniemy, source said. Already a busy candidate, Bieniemy adds another to his list.
Jan. 12: Andre Johnson speaks, offers Watson advice
Source: Andre Johnson via Twitter
In the words of Deandre Hopkins, when ‘Dre speaks, we listen. The former Texans wide receiver took to Twitter to offer Watson some sage advice: Stand your ground. He also roasted the Texans and their devotion to Jack Easterby, who many question
If I’m @deshaunwatson I will stand my ground. The Texans organization is known for wasting players careers. Since Jack Easterby has walk into the building nothing good has happened in/for the organization and for some reason someone can’t seem to see what’s going on. Pathetic!!!
MORE: Andre Johnson thinks Deshaun Watson is right to turn on ‘pathetic’ Texans
Jan. 10: Watson’s anger reaching boiling point
Source: Adam Schefter, ESPN
Heads exploded when then head coach/GM Bill O’Brien opted to trade star wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins to the Cardinals, with Watson himself taking the trade in stride. ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports that Watson’s anger vaulted from a “2 to a 10” with the organization opting not to hire ESPN analyst and former front-office exec Louis Riddick to its GM role.
Also worth noting: One source said this week that, after Houston traded Pro Bowl wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins last off-season, Deshaun Watson’s anger level was “a 2….This time, it’s a 10.” https://t.co/CsqZYbe3OK
Jan. 10: More details emerge about rift; Dolphins could be a trade destination
Source: Chris Mortensen, ESPN
If Watson were to be moved, then the Dolphins could be a viable destination for a trade, according to ESPN’s Chris Mortensen. Miami, who holds Houston’s first-round pick in the 2021 NFL Draft, would reportedly be open to trading quarterback Tua Tagovailoa and trade assets in exchange for Watson, per Mortensen.
Sources say Watson could play hardball with Texans about a trade. His new $156 million contract includes a no-trade clause but informed speculation from a source is that he would consider the @MiamiDolphins in which Tua Tagovailoa and additional compensation goes to Houston.
A major part of the reported rift between Watson and the Texans surrounded Houston naming a general manager without Watson’s input, a promise that had been supposedly made to Watson during the season. Instead, owner Cal McNair Jr. and Jack Easterby.
MORE: Ranking the NFL’s head-coaching vacancies
Jan. 5: J.J. Watt offers an ominous apology
Source: JJ Watt’s mouth
After the Texans fell in Week 17 to the Titans in Week 17, NFL cams caught JJ Watt and Deshaun Watson in a candid moment as the two were walking off the field. “I’m sorry, I’m sorry,” Watt said. “We wasted one of your years.” The Texans would finish 4-12.
Oct. 5: Texans fire Bill O’Brien
Source: “Literally us, the Houston Texans.”
Well, about a year, many losses and one too many trades too late, the Texans decided to fire head coach/general manager Bill O’Brien after a sluggish start to their 2020 season. The team would name Romeo Crennel the interim head coach.
O’Brien’s tenure as HC would be mired in personnel controversies and several lopsided trades that leave the Texans without a first-round pick in 2021.
April 2019: Jack Easterby hired by Houston
Source: The Texans
“I think the best way to tell the story is by starting at the end, briefly, then going back to the beginning, and then periodically returning to the end, maybe giving different characters’ perspectives throughout.” — “The Other Guys,” 2010
Arguably the genesis of the chaos in Houston was the hiring of Patriots team chaplain — later “character coach,” whatever that is — as its executive vice president of football operations.
Easterby’s meteoric rise to a such a high office in an NFL franchise is met with skepticism from all avenues, and would come back to haunt the team later.
The Mets have fired general manager Jared Porter after an ESPN report released Monday detailed lewd, harrassing and inappropriate text messages sent to a foreign reporter in 2016.
New Mets owner Steve Cohen took to Twitter to announce the news, referencing the “importance of integrity” from his introductory press conference with the team.
We have terminated Jared Porter this morning . In my initial press conference I spoke about the importance of integrity and I meant it.There should be zero tolerance for this type of behavior.
“We have terminated Jared Porter this morning,” Cohen’s tweet reads. “In my initial press conference I spoke about the importance of integrity and I meant it. There should be zero tolerance for this type of behavior.”
On Jan. 19, ESPN’s Mina Kimes and Jeff Passan reported that Porter sent 60 text messages to a foreign correspondent covering the Cubs when Porter was a member of Chicago’s front office in 2016. The messages included an image of a bare penis. Porter declined to comment on the report.
The reporter, who has now left the journalism field according to ESPN, did not come forward out of fear of her career being harmed and repercussions in her home country.
“My No. 1 motivation is I want to prevent this from happening to someone else,” she told ESPN. “Obviously, he’s in a much greater position of power. I want to prevent that from happening again. The other thing is, I never really got the notion that he was truly sorry.”
Porter had apologized to the reporter for the messages in 2016 after realizing they were “extremely inappropriate, very offensive, and getting out of line.”
Porter told ESPN on Monday that he had texted with the woman but said that “the more explicit ones are not of me. Those are like, kinda like joke-stock images.”
Porter, 41, was hired by the Mets in December. He had been with the Diamondbacks prior to taking the Mets job.