FOXBOROUGH, Mass. (AP) — The Buffalo Bills again proved that there’s a new sheriff in the AFC East.
The division champs completed their first season sweep of the Patriots since 1999, rolling to a 38-9 win at Foxborough.
Josh Allen passed for four touchdowns to help the 12-3 Bills stay in the mix for the No. 2 seed in the AFC playoffs. Allen was 27 of 36 for 320 yards. He now has 34 touchdown passes, surpassing Jim Kelly to set a franchise single-season record.
Stefon Diggs had nine catches for 145 yards and three touchdowns, setting a Bills single-season record for receiving yards.
Cam Newton had a touchdown run but was just 5 of 10 for 34 yards passing before being pulled in the third quarter for backup Jarrett Stidham. Newton’s passing yards are the fewest by a Patriots starting quarterback since 1993.
Washington releases Haskins
UNDATED (AP) — The Washington Football Team is parting with Dwayne Haskins, capping a rough week for the second-year quarterback.
Haskins was stripped of his captaincy last week after photos surfaced of him at a party where several individuals weren’t wearing masks.
The capper came in Sunday’s loss to Carolina. He was 14 of 28 with two interceptions and fumble before being pulled in the fourth quarter. He later infuriated the team by blowing off the postgame news conference at the stadium before speaking to the media via video at his home.
The 2019 first-round pick was 1-5 as a starter this season.
Head coach Ron Rivera says either Alex Smith or Taylor Heinicke will start Sunday night’s important regular-season finale against the Eagles. Washington needs to win the game to capture the NFC East.
Also around the NFL:
— Quarterback Jared Goff will miss the Rams’ season finale against the visiting Cardinals after undergoing surgery on his right thumb. Rams coach Sean McVay says Goff could return a week later if the Rams make the playoffs. John Wolford will take his first NFL snaps versus Arizona as both teams try to lock down playoff berths.
— A person with direct knowledge of the punishment tells The Associated Press that the Ravens have been fined $250,000 by the NFL for COVID-19 protocols violations. The punishment comes after their Thanksgiving night game against Pittsburgh had to be postponed three times due to positive COVID-19 tests and contact tracing. The team was not docked draft picks for the violations.
— The Titans have placed kicker Stephen Gostkowski on the Reserve/COVID-19 list. Gostkowski played in Sunday night’s 40-14 loss in Green Bay, pushing the opening kickoff out of bounds before making two extra points.
— Browns coach Kevin Stefanski said the players who missed Sunday’s loss because of COVID-19 protocols are eligible to return to practice Thursday as Cleveland gets ready to face Pittsburgh with a playoff spot on the line. The Browns were without their top four wide receivers, a starting left tackle and two linebackers for Sunday’s 23-16 loss to the Jets.
— Frank Gore won’t play in the Jets’ season finale against the Patriots on Sunday because of a bruised lung. Gore became the third player in NFL history to run for 16,000 yards but was hurt in the fourth quarter of the Jets’ victory over the Cleveland Browns on Sunday. The 37-year-old running back may have played his final game.
