© Gregory Fisher, USA TODAY

Buffalo Bills general manager Brandon Beane can only smile. His trade-deadline acquisition, cornerback Rasul Douglas, is leaving his fingerprints all over a late-season game with significant playoff implications.

The Bills need to beat the New England Patriots in Buffalo if they plan on winning the division. They’ll need some help in the form of a Baltimore Ravens win (and a Bills win next week), but the defense is doing its part to try and win the AFC East.

Douglas intercepted Bailey Zappe, his second of the day, in the first quarter to help Buffalo recover from an opening kickoff return touchdown. The Bills forced three interceptions in the first quarter, resulting in two field goals and a touchdown.

Douglas made his second interception count. He took the ball out of his offense’s hands, scoring himself. The pick-six gave Buffalo a 20-7 lead. The veteran corner weaved his way through his teammates and a flurry of Patriots tacklers to make Buffalo D/ST fantasy owners happy.

The interceptions were Douglas’ third and fourth as a Bills defensive back and brought his season total to five. It was also his first pick-six since 2021, to bring his total to three on the career.

The defense is currently making up for an offense that has done little in the first half. The offense has been given promising field position all game long, yet quarterback Josh Allen has completed just four of 14 attempts at the time of writing.

Will the defense continue its onslaught, or will Bailey Zappe keep this one close? Follow along for live updates here.

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