ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. — On a day when anxiety hung heavy on the Bills’ sidelines due to the evaluation of quarterback Josh Allen’s throwing arm, cornerback Taron Johnson emerged as the game-changing hero, helping propel Buffalo to a close 24-21 victory over the New England Patriots on Sunday.

Johnson recovered a loose ball in the end zone after a backwards pass from Drake Maye deflected off Rhamondre Stevenson, securing the touchdown that highlighted a strong defensive performance from Buffalo. The team managed to force turnovers on each of the Patriots’ first three possessions in the second half, while running back James Cook contributed significantly with a long 46-yard touchdown run and a 4-yard reception score, turning the tide from an early 14-0 deficit.

Allen, who is a strong contender for MVP honors this season, eased fans’ concerns by returning to action after his scary injury. “I lost some feeling in my hand. Just hit the funny bone nerve,” he explained, recalling the moment he got hurt during a 7-yard run in the fourth quarter. He acknowledged that without Johnson’s touchdown, he might have missed a series while recovering.

“It took a solid five to ten minutes for the sensation to return, just trying to get blood flow back into my hand,” Allen said, admitting that the freezing temperatures didn’t help his situation. “It was a peculiar feeling, but I’m just relieved it’s back to normal now.” He also mentioned a previous injury to his non-throwing left hand from earlier in the season, assuring fans that he is fine. The victory maintained Buffalo’s slim hopes of chasing down the top seed in the AFC playoffs, while they remain the champions of the East with a 12-3 record.

Buffalo’s win also extended their home turf winning streak to 10 games, continuing from the previous year, although their remarkable streak of scoring 30 or more points in eight consecutive games unfortunately came to an end. The Bills faced a challenging first half, with the Patriots capitalizing on every opportunity and controlling more than 20 minutes of possession. The Bills were also missing vital components on defense, with four starters sidelined, including three cornerbacks.

“We didn’t set the tone the way we wanted early on, but we made the right adjustments and managed to play more like ourselves as the game progressed,” linebacker Terrel Bernard said. “It was a valuable lesson for us on the importance of starting strong.”

On the other hand, the Patriots (3-12) suffered their fifth consecutive loss and are at risk of finishing with their lowest win total since a dismal 2-14 season back in 1992. In his inaugural season as head coach, Jerod Mayo, who took over from six-time Super Bowl champion Bill Belichick after a disappointing 4-13 season last year, faced challenges as his team dropped to a 2-6 record in closely contested games, including two overtime defeats.

Maye performed commendably, completing 22 of 36 passes for 261 yards and two touchdown throws — connecting on a 28-yarder to Kayshon Boutte and a 9-yarder to Hunter Henry — but was hindered by two costly turnovers. “It’s extremely frustrating to see the same problems arise repeatedly. We’re hurting ourselves,” Maye shared. “However, the effort is there; our team is fighting hard no matter the circumstances.”

Trailing 17-14, Maye threw a shaky, underthrown pass that was intercepted in the end zone by Cam Lewis. Johnson’s fumble recovery for a touchdown can also be attributed to a misplay by Maye, who under pressure from Greg Rousseau attempted a risky backward pass that went off Stevenson’s hands and into the end zone for the touchdown.

“That’s a tough play for Rhamondre. I should have aimed for the feet,” Maye stated, reflecting on the incident. Stevenson had scored on a 14-yard run earlier, but his miscue during the Patriots’ first possession of the second half allowed Tyler Bass to kick a go-ahead 50-yard field goal following Stevenson’s lost fumble at New England’s 42-yard line.

The true extent of Allen’s injury wasn’t revealed until the next play, where a deep pass attempt fell short, highlighting the impacts of his condition. “It’s definitely hard to throw accurately without feeling in your hand,” Allen admitted, noting that he should have called for a timeout during that moment.

In the game, Allen completed 16 of 29 passes for 154 yards, one touchdown, and an interception, managing to finish the game effectively despite his injury. Meanwhile, the Patriots struggled in the red zone once again, following last week’s failure to score from the 1-yard line. Against Buffalo, it took seven attempts for Maye to finally link up with Henry in the end zone, narrowing the game’s margin to 24-21 with just over a minute left.

Looking ahead, the Patriots will conclude their season with two home matchups, starting with the Los Angeles Chargers next Saturday, while the Bills will wrap up their home games by hosting the New York Jets the following Sunday.