Since Sunday is the last day of the 2024 NFL regular season, a lot of teams who have wrapped up their division or playoff spot are sitting their starters, including the Buffalo Bills.
With the Bills not going full speed, it allowed the New England Patriots to defeat the Bills on Sunday 23-14, leading some to speculate that the Bills may have done this to sabotage the Patriots’ draft position in April’s NFL Draft.
Patriots Fans Express Disappointment in Week 18 Victory
At least, that’s what Boston sports radio host Glenn Ordway seemed to think when he posted this on X (formerly known as Twitter) on Sunday.
“With nothing to play for you almost get the feeling that Buffalo is playing to prevent New England a division foe from getting the #1 pick..”
With nothing to play for you almost get the feeling that Buffalo is playing to prevent New England a division foe from getting the #1 pick..
— Glenn Ordway (@GlennDOrdway) January 5, 2025
The Bills likely did not have the Patriots’ draft positioning in mind when they sat their starters on Sunday; it was more likely to prevent injury as they enter the playoffs, not because they care if the Patriots end up with the No. 1 overall pick.
However, it wouldn’t be unfounded. The Patriots were in a position to grab the No. 1 overall pick after teams like the Las Vegas Raiders and New York Giants picked up late-season wins. That left the Patriots at the top entering Week 18, but now the Patriots’ win may have put an end to that.
Patriots fans also think there is a conspiracy to prevent their team from getting the No. 1 overall pick in the NFL Draft: “Buffalo is actively trying to lose this game. Patriots are trying to win. In a season of stupid moves and plays, what the Patriots did today will have implications for years to come.”
Buffalo is actively trying to lose this game. Patriots are trying to win. In a season of stupid moves and plays, what the Patriots did today will have implications for years to come.
— Swing And A Miss (@IslandKing63) January 5, 2025
“Bills playing stadium janitorial staff and local International brotherhood of Electrical workers to screw the Patriots,” another user said.
“Buffalo wanted to loss preventing the patriots a #1 and hoping the return of [Jerod Mayo]. Buffalo won big today,” said another person, though the latter part fell flat after the Patriots wasted no time before firing head coach Mayo following the game.
Buffalo wanted to loss preventing the patriots a #1 and hoping the return of Mayo. Buffalo won big today.
— gaymex (@Richcaldo1) January 5, 2025
Patriots fans are not happy at all that their team decided to play hard on Sunday and win, jeopardizing their chances of drafting another top prospect.
Since Tom Brady left the Patriots for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers back in 2020, the Patriots have only made the playoffs once in five years, coming under former Patriots quarterback Mac Jones, who is now a backup with the Jacksonville Jaguars.
The Patriots drafted North Carolina quarterback Drake Maye, who threw for over 2,200 yards with 15 touchdowns and 10 interceptions. Although Patriots management has not indicated they plan on drafting another QB, some fans seem to think it’s a possibility and they’ve blown any chance of getting a new quarterback.
Maye, in his rookie season, finished with a 75.0 grade (C, 20th-best), according to PFN’s QB+ metric.