Patriots win 26-29 in Buffalo as Stevenson's two-point conversion sinks the Bills

Twenty-nine points won it for New England at Highmark Stadium, and the last two mattered more than the other twenty-seven. With the game hanging at 26-27 in the fourth quarter, the Patriots skipped the extra point after Efton Chism III's go-ahead touchdown and turned to Rhamondre Stevenson, whose two-point conversion stood as the final margin: 26-29.

Romeo Doubs set the tone in Q1, a touchdown and extra point for 0-7. Buffalo's answer was a second-quarter burst: James Cook III's touchdown levelled it at 7-7, Stevenson's touchdown restored New England's lead at 7-14, Josh Allen's touchdown tied it at 14-14, and Tyler Bass's field goal sent the Bills into the break up 17-14.

The pattern repeated after the break. Doubs struck again in Q3 to edge New England back in front, 17-21, and Bass cut it to 20-21 with his second field goal in Q4. Keon Coleman's touchdown, which arrived without the extra point, pushed Buffalo to 26-21. New England's reply was decisive: Chism III's touchdown made it 26-27, the two-point conversion stretched the lead to 26-29, and the Bills never scored again.

Stevenson was in the middle of every decisive moment. His Q2 touchdown kept New England afloat through Buffalo's best stretch, and when the Patriots chose two points over an extra point late in Q4, he delivered them — the difference between a one-point lead and the three that ended it. Doubs added two touchdowns and Chism III the go-ahead score, but the final number on the board carried Stevenson's name.

Buffalo led at halftime and led in the fourth quarter. Neither lead survived a visitor who, with one point safe and two on offer, took the two.