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Given the weather and the lack of faith in their passing game, it was clear in the first half that Bill Belichick's plan was to keep things close and hopefully steal a win against the Bills. Facing a third-and-12 from midfield in the first, New England ran the ball. At the end of the first half, the Patriots had a third down from the Buffalo 15. Rather than take a shot at the end zone, they kicked the field goal. New England kept it close but failed to recover a surprise onside kick in the third, and Newton's fumble late prevented them from forcing overtime. The Patriots have lost four in a row.

They've lost four straight games, which is hard to believe for this group. Is the playoff run over?

No team has fewer passing TDs than New England's three -- and only one of those has gone to a wideout, also a league low.

Reason for optimism: G Mike Onwenu

The 6-foot-3, 350-pound Onwenu has started at three different positions on the offensive line, in addition to playing jumbo tight end, and accounted well for himself. He looks like a find after entering last week's action ranked sixth in the NFL in ESPN's pass block win rate for guards. There's just something about the Patriots and sixth-round picks from Michigan that seems to be a fit. -- Mike Reiss

Sunday felt significant in the history of the AFC East. The Patriots have dominated the division in a way the league has never seen -- 11 straight division titles and 17 in 19 years -- but that all looks to be in the past now. Cam Newton's red-zone fumble in the final minute ensured an agonizing loss on Sunday against the Bills, who beat the Pats in Orchard Park for the first time in nine years. The Patriots have lost four straight, and roster deficiencies, injuries and opt-outs have made this team look mediocre in a way we haven't seen in literally decades. Would Tom Brady have been able to make the difference with this roster? It's a shame decision-makers in New England didn't have the good sense to give him the shot.