Here are 5 storylines that are likely to unfold ahead of the Bills' Week 5 clash with the Patriots.
The Buffalo Bills (4-0) are turning to the next page of their 2025 NFL season against the New England Patriots (2-2).
Following another offseason that has built Super Bowl hopes, can the Bills continue their trek toward making that a reality?
Before we even get to the team's next kickoff, there will be a lot of Bills-related discussions and conversations to be had throughout the coming days.
With that, here are five storylines to watch for during the lead up to Bills against the Patrots in Week 5?
Back to prime time
The Bills have become accustomed to not playing at 1 p.m. on Sunday like the team did last week in their win against the New Orleans Saints. Well Buffalo is back where many believe they belong. The Bills host the Patriots for an AFC East clash on "Sunday Night Football."
A "white out" is planned for fans.
And a winning opponent
Technically, this is the first team the Bills are facing in 2025 that has won a game. Even on opening day, the Baltimore Ravens were 0-0.
But on top of that, New England is the team that could most likely push Buffalo in the division this season. Heck, they are the only one.
If the Bills are to beat the Pats, they will already have a 3-3 record against the AFC East in 2025 and beat each team once. A great divisional start.
A similar QB
Now, he's not Josh Allen. Not even close, but Patriots quarterback Drake Maye is showing an ability to make plays off-script in 2025. He can pass and run the ball.
That is the type of QB the Bills have themselves in Allen and the kind they have struggled against, at times (side from the Jets).
Even just throwing the ball, Maye has been making it happen. He is the first QB under 24 with at least two touchdowns passes and a completion percentage of better than 75 percent in three-straight games.
Buffalo's defense can't expect an easy game against a younger QB. The Bills' secondary specifically shouldn't expect anything to come easy with the way they've played in 2025.
Drake Maye will be the best QB the Bills have faced since Week 1. He's played really well even without a good running game
— Carl Jones (@Jones11_) October 1, 2025
- #1 in completion %
- #4 in EPA/dropback
- #5 in passer rating
Healing up?
The likes of defensive tackle Ed Oliver (ankle), linebacker Matt Milano (pectoral) and offensive lineman Spencer Brown (calf) will be players to watch on the injury report throughout the upcoming week. The entire trio missed Week 3 action with Oliver and Milano having already sat out multiple weeks.
At the start of practice this week all three were listed as limited. That won't mean until later in the week, though.
Facing Stef
The Bills have faced former teammate Stefon Diggs already when he was with the Houston Texans. Now Diggs is returning to Buffalo for the first time as an opposing player since that Texans game was in Houston.
This will be the biggest talking point during the upcoming week.
This article originally appeared on Bills Wire: Bills vs. Patriots: 5 storylines to watch for in Week 5
Category: Football
