New England Patriots at Buffalo Bills: Week 4 Game Guide (2026)
New England Patriots at Buffalo Bills is New England's away game for Week 4 of the 2026 season on Sunday, October 4, 2026 at 10:00 AM PT at Highmark Stadium. Current status: New England 29, Buffalo Bills 26. This page keeps the confirmed game facts and any maintained preview or recap together at the same URL.
Game facts
Confirmed details for New England Patriots at Buffalo Bills. NFL scheduling details can change; this page omits unverified broadcast and game-day information.
- Matchup
- New England Patriots at Buffalo Bills
- Season and week
- 2026 · Week 4
- Date
- Pacific kickoff
- Venue
- Highmark Stadium
- Home/away
- New England away game
- Game status
- Final
- Final score
- New England 29, Buffalo Bills 26
Broadcast Information
- Kickoff
- 10:00 AM PT
- Local TV
- CBS / WBZ
- National broadcast
- The Patriots also list 98.5 FM The Sports Hub for radio and note that their desktop broadcast is open to everyone in the U.S., while mobile viewing is restricted to the Patriots local market. The Bills also list DAZN internationally.
- Stream
- Paramount+ · NFL+
CBS / WBZ: Official Patriots game-page broadcast listing for this matchup.
Paramount+: Listed by the Patriots as a live option for this game.
NFL+: Listed by the Patriots as an outside-market live option for this game.
Last updated
Game Day Guide
Last updated
Patriots fans headed to Highmark Stadium should plan around Buffalo’s timed game-day setup. Abbott Road closes six hours before kickoff, parking lots open four hours before kickoff, security gates open three hours before kickoff, and ticket entries open two hours before kickoff, so arriving early is the practical move if you are driving or using the stadium express service. This is also a cashless venue, and the Bills say mobile tickets and parking passes should be loaded into Apple Wallet or Google Wallet before arrival. For fans staying in New England, CBS/WBZ carries the game, with Patriots-licensed viewing options on Paramount+ and NFL+ outside the market, plus several reliable Boston-area sports bars that routinely show football. View Game Day Guide
Patriots fans headed to Highmark Stadium should plan around Buffalo’s timed game-day setup. Abbott Road closes six hours before kickoff, parking lots open four hours before kickoff, security gates open three hours before kickoff, and ticket entries open two hours before kickoff, so arriving early is the practical move if you are driving or using the stadium express service. This is also a cashless venue, and the Bills say mobile tickets and parking passes should be loaded into Apple Wallet or Google Wallet before arrival. For fans staying in New England, CBS/WBZ carries the game, with Patriots-licensed viewing options on Paramount+ and NFL+ outside the market, plus several reliable Boston-area sports bars that routinely show football.
Important Alerts
Important
Highmark Stadium uses a timed arrival sequence
For Patriots at Bills on October 4, 2026, Abbott Road closes six hours before kickoff, parking lots open four hours before kickoff, security gates open three hours before kickoff, and ticket entries open two hours before kickoff. Build your trip around those windows instead of expecting normal stadium access all afternoon.
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General guidance: The stadium is cashless
Concessions and retail at Highmark Stadium are cashless. If you need cash to pay a balance or make change, use the reverse ATMs inside Entry 9 or next to the Guest Experience Booth in Section 341.
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Highmark lot parking is advance purchase only
Bills lots require advance purchase, and the team says Bills lots are sold out for this game. Do not plan on buying a regular stadium-space on arrival; only authorized ADA parking placards in the Blue and White ADA lots may be available, subject to availability.
SourceInfo
General guidance: No re-entry on Bills tickets
Bills tickets are a one-time entry license with no right of re-entry. If you leave the secured area, you should not expect to get back in on the same ticket.
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Getting There
Drive to Highmark Stadium via the lot-specific approach roads
Best for fans who are driving and have already handled parking or ADA access.
The Bills say Abbott Road closes to vehicle traffic six hours before kickoff between the NFTA Transportation Hub and Bills Drive. For lot access, they direct Blue Lot traffic from Big Tree Road from the east, Bronze Lot traffic from Southwestern Boulevard from the west, and Gold Lot traffic from Big Tree Road from the west. That makes the approach road more important than the stadium address once the closure begins.
Transportation detailsNFTA Game Day Express
Best for fans who want an official transit option and want to avoid parking lot traffic.
The NFTA says Game Day Express serves Highmark Stadium with stops at Eastern Hills Mall, Metropolitan Transportation Center, Niagara Falls Transportation Center, Thruway Plaza Transit Center, University Station and Utica Rail Station. Fare is $5 each way, paid with exact cash or Token Transit; MetGo and Metro passes do not apply. Riders should arrive 10 to 15 minutes before scheduled departure.
Transportation detailsPostgame return on Game Day Express
Best for fans who want a defined ride back after the final whistle.
If the game runs long, the NFTA says the first buses leave the stadium about 30 minutes after the game ends. The pickup and dropoff point at Highmark Stadium is the Transit Center near Abbott and Southwestern.
Transportation details
Parking
Bills stadium lots
For this game, the Bills say all Highmark Stadium parking lots require advance purchase and the Bills lots are sold out. There are no day-of-game cash or credit-card purchases in Bills lots, except for authorized ADA parking placards in the Blue and White ADA lots, subject to availability. Have the mobile parking permit ready to scan.
Parking detailsFormer ECC South Campus neighborhood lots
The Bills identify additional fan parking in the former ECC South Campus neighborhood lots. Those spaces do not require advanced permits, making them the main published fallback for fans who still want to park near the stadium area.
Parking details
Game Day Timeline
6 hours before kickoff
Abbott Road closes
Vehicle traffic on Abbott Road closes between the NFTA Transportation Hub and Bills Drive. For this game, that is 7:00 a.m. EDT on Sunday, October 4, 2026.
Typical: 4 hours before kickoff
Parking lots open
Standard stadium lots open four hours before kickoff, which is the earliest practical arrival window for drivers with valid parking access.
Typical: 3 hours before kickoff
Security gates open
The secured perimeter gates open three hours before kickoff. Fans using the stadium walk-up process should plan for this window rather than arriving expecting immediate entry.
Typical: 2 hours before kickoff
Ticket entries open
Ticket entries open two hours before kickoff. The Bills also say mobile tickets and parking should be ready in Apple Wallet or Google Wallet before you arrive.
Typical: 1 hour before kickoff
Warmups begin
Warmups begin one hour before kickoff, a good target for fans who want to be inside and settled before the game presentation starts.
Halftime
Crucial Catch ceremony
The Bills say this Patriots game is part of Crucial Catch and includes a halftime Crucial Catch Bell Ringing Ceremony on the Charge Deck.
Tailgates & Pregame
Official listing
Recurring option: Bills parking-lot tailgating
Location: Highmark Stadium parking lots, Orchard Park
Starts: Check venue for this game
The Bills say tailgating in Highmark Stadium parking lots ends at kickoff. That means any lot tailgating is a pregame-only plan, not an all-day hangout.
Event detailsRecurring option: NFTA Game Day Express as a transit-day alternative
Location: Highmark Stadium Transit Center near Abbott and Southwestern
Starts: Check venue for this game
This is not a tailgate, but it is the most practical published alternative for fans who want to avoid driving and parking entirely. It gives you a fixed arrival and return pattern instead of a parking-lot setup.
Event details
Watch Parties
Viewing option: Hurricane's at the Garden
Location: North Station, Boston
Starts: Check venue for this game
A Boston sports bar that says it has TVs throughout and a game-watch focus. Good for fans who want a straightforward Patriots viewing spot near transit and downtown foot traffic.
Event detailsViewing option: Banners Kitchen & Tap
Location: Boston, MA
Starts: Check venue for this game
Banners says it is a place to watch football and other sports, making it a usable Boston viewing option for game day.
Event detailsViewing option: Game On Boston
Location: Boston, MA
Starts: Check venue for this game
Game On describes itself as a Boston sports bar and says it hosts game days, happy hours and watch parties.
Event detailsViewing option: Harp + Bard
Location: Dorchester, MA
Starts: Check venue for this game
Harp + Bard says it has 15 HD TVs and invites guests to watch all the games. Useful if you want a neighborhood bar setup rather than a downtown sports-house crowd.
Event detailsViewing option: The Banshee Boston
Location: Boston, MA
Starts: Check venue for this game
The Banshee says it shows games on 16 flat-screen televisions and notes Sunday NFL, primetime games and playoffs with full sound. That makes it a strong option for fans who want game audio.
Event detailsViewing option: The Harp Restaurant & Bar
Location: 85 Causeway Street, Boston
Starts: Check venue for this game
The Bills have previously highlighted The Harp as a Bills Backers gathering place in Boston. That does not confirm a specific Patriots-week event, but it is a documented Bills-friendly viewing location in the market.
Event details
Stadium Tips
Use the bag policy exactly as written
Allowed bags are one clear bag no larger than 12" x 6" x 12" or one clutch purse no larger than 6.5" x 4.5". Camera bags are not permitted, even if the camera itself would otherwise be allowed.
Official informationLoad mobile tickets and parking before you leave
The Bills say fans should add tickets and parking passes to Apple Wallet or Google Wallet before arriving. That matters because entry windows open early and the stadium is cashless.
Official informationNo re-entry after you enter
Bills tickets are a one-time entry license with no right of re-entry. Finish your pregame errands before you pass the gate.
Official informationKnow where the cashless workarounds are
If you need cash after arriving, reverse ATMs are located inside Entry 9 and next to the Guest Experience Booth in Section 341.
Official informationPregame field passes are separate from game tickets
The Bills say pregame on-field passes begin two hours before kickoff, end 45 minutes before kickoff and are non-transferable. A game ticket is still required to enter the stadium.
Official information
Final
Final score and recap
New England Patriots 29, Buffalo Bills 26
The New England Patriots defeated the Buffalo Bills 29-26 on October 4, 2026, earning a three-point road victory behind four offensive touchdowns and a productive dual-threat performance from Drake Maye. New England’s quarterback threw three touchdown passes and added 54 rushing yards, helping the Patriots overcome his interception and lost fumble. The Bills generated plenty of offense of their own, but New England finished with one more touchdown and held the narrow advantage on the scoreboard. The quarter totals show a game that remained competitive throughout. New England led 7-0 after the first quarter, but Buffalo outscored the Patriots 17-7 in the second to take a 17-14 halftime advantage. The Patriots answered with the only seven points of the third quarter, moving ahead 21-17 entering the fourth. Buffalo scored nine points in the final period to New England’s eight, but the Patriots’ earlier edge was enough for the 29-26 final. Without supplied play-by-play, the exact scoring order within those quarters cannot be established. Maye supplied the strongest statistical distinction between the offenses. He completed 22 of 37 passes for 269 yards, three touchdowns and one interception, producing 7.3 yards per attempt, a 97.7 passer rating and an 89.4 QBR. Buffalo’s Josh Allen was more accurate, completing 23 of 33 attempts, and finished with 253 yards at 7.7 yards per attempt. Allen threw one touchdown and one interception while also rushing for a score. New England did not dominate every passing measure, but Maye’s three touchdown passes compared with Allen’s one gave the Patriots more passing-game scoring production. The Patriots distributed Maye’s 269 passing yards across several contributors. Hunter Henry caught all five of his targets for 62 yards, while Romeo Doubs produced six receptions for 58 yards and two touchdowns on nine targets. Mack Hollins added 53 yards on three catches, including a 26-yard reception, and Efton Chism III turned two catches into 42 yards and a touchdown. The combination of Doubs and Chism accounted for all three receiving scores, while Henry and Hollins supplied 115 yards without a touchdown. New England also received meaningful production on the ground. Maye led the Patriots with 54 yards on eight attempts, including a 26-yard run. Rhamondre Stevenson carried 13 times for 47 yards and a touchdown, then added three catches for 27 yards. TreVeyon Henderson contributed 42 yards on 14 carries. Those three runners combined for 143 yards on 35 attempts. The production was not uniform—Stevenson averaged 3.6 yards per carry and Henderson 3.0—but Maye’s 6.8-yard average added a more explosive dimension. Buffalo presented substantial problems despite the loss. James Cook III ran for 75 yards and a touchdown on 12 carries, averaging 6.3 yards, while Khalil Shakir caught seven passes for 82 yards and had the game’s longest listed reception at 51 yards. The Patriots nevertheless produced two documented takeaways: Craig Woodson intercepted Allen, and Elijah Ponder recorded a fumble recovery. Ponder also had New England’s lone sack, two quarterback hits, four tackles and a tackle for loss, while Robert Spillane led the listed Patriots defenders with eight tackles. The turnover exchange was balanced rather than clearly favorable to New England. Maye threw one interception and lost one of his three recorded fumbles. Buffalo had Allen’s interception and Shakir’s lost fumble, leaving the teams with two giveaways apiece in the supplied statistics. Buffalo cornerback Dee Alford returned his interception 37 yards. On special teams, Mitch Wishnowsky averaged 52 yards on four Patriots punts, and Kyle Williams totaled 81 yards on three kickoff returns. Buffalo punter Tommy Doman Jr. averaged 48.5 yards on four punts and placed two inside the 20. For New England, the useful takeaway is that the offense generated enough touchdown production to survive two giveaways and a Buffalo attack that produced 26 points. Maye’s three passing scores, his team-high rushing total and the contributions of multiple receivers were the clearest positives. The cautions are equally visible: Maye completed fewer than 60 percent of his attempts, the two primary running backs averaged no better than 3.6 yards per carry, and Buffalo produced explosive gains through Cook and Shakir. Even so, the Patriots finished with the one number that mattered most—a 29-26 victory.
- Drake Maye accounted for 323 passing and rushing yards, throwing three touchdowns and adding 54 yards on eight carries.
- Romeo Doubs and Efton Chism III combined for eight receptions, 100 yards and all three of New England’s receiving touchdowns.
- New England scored in every quarter, including seven points in each of the first three periods and eight in the fourth.
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