Bills undone by turnovers, penalties in first loss of season - ESPN

ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. — Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen was straight to the point when asked about his team's offensive issues in the first half during a 23-20 loss to the New England Patriots on Sunday night.

«We just played sloppy,» Allen said in his postgame news conference.

The loss — Buffalo's first of the season — dropped the team to 4-1, ended a 14-game home winning streak, and marked a lost opportunity to take a significant lead in the AFC East. The miscues Allen referenced were headlined by 11 accepted penalties and three turnovers, including two fumbles in the first quarter. Three Bills drives ended in Patriots territory without points.

«Not gonna win a football game turning the ball over three times in our red zone,» Allen added. «Gave them one in their red zone. That's just bad football and we just did not play good tonight.»

The first fumble came on a botched handoff from Allen to tight end Dawson Knox. It appeared there was a miscommunication, and coach Sean McDermott confirmed postgame that it was supposed to be a handoff to Knox.

The second fumble was by wide receiver Keon Coleman after catching a pass from Allen that gave the Patriots the ball at the Buffalo 11-yard line.

The final turnover was Allen's second interception of the season, thrown when the Bills were in the red zone in the third quarter.

«We shouldn't have even been in it with three turnovers,» Allen said. «So, again, that's just… piss poor offense.»

Allen finished the game 22-of-31 passing for 253 yards and two touchdowns, while also leading the team in rushing with nine carries for 53 yards.

The defense recovered a fumble by Patriots running back Rhamondre Stevenson but lost the turnover margin, ending an NFL-record streak of 26 straight