The Buffalo Bills fell to a 23-16 loss to the New England Patriots at Gillette Stadium in a game that didn't hit any great heights due to Sean McDermott's team resting a host of starters.
It meant backup quarterback Mitch Trubisky was handed his first start of the year, going 15 for 21 with 101 passing yards and a touchdown before third-string quarterback Mike White was put into the game.
Running back Ray Davis (15 att, 64 yards, one touchdown) led the way, and so too did Curtis Samuel, who hauled in seven catches for 52 yards on a day where remaining injury-free was the priority.
"You always want to win, not the outcome we wanted,” Trubisky said, reflecting on the game. “But a lot of good experience for a lot of young guys, and guys get some playing time. We like come away with the win but we know what it is at this point, next week, focus on whoever we’re going to be playing. A lot of guys a lot of good things, did a great job, ran the ball well, we just got to score more points to help us win.”
The Bills had already locked up the No. 2 seed in the AFC, meaning that regardless of the outcome, their seeding would not change.
Instead, it was a chance for backup players to get their lick of the ice cream in Week 18 and potentially give themselves a boost in maybe making a roster in 2025.
Yes, Trubisky wanted to win, but Buffalo has bigger fish to fry moving forward.
Onto the playoffs, we go.
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