Allen seeks to put sloppy play behind him as Bills host turnover-prone Maye and the Patriots

ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. (AP) — Win or lose, Josh Allen has displayed a consistent knack for putting a sloppy performance behind him.

It’s reflected in the smile and cheery “How’s everybody doing?” greeting the Bills quarterback opens each of his weekly news conferences with. And it bears out in the numbers: the ninth-year player has never lost more than two straight starts and holds a 30-8 record following a loss.

“He embodies competitive stamina,” coach Joe Brady said on Wednesday after Allen pulled out a 24-16 win over the Chargers on Sunday despite committing three of Buffalo’s five turnovers. “The fact that we can win that game with all those circumstances shows that mentality, his personality.”

It’s a resilient quality the Bills (3-0) can draw upon in renewing their divisional rivalry by hosting New England (1-2) on Sunday.

Drake Maye and the Patriots are seeking to adopt a similar approach following a shaky September.

A season after going 14-3 and leading New England to the Super Bowl, Maye's opened his third season with one touchdown pass versus six interceptions and a lost fumble.

The troubles go back to the start of the playoffs, with Maye committing a combined 15 turnovers (10 interceptions, five fumbles).

Coach Mike Vrabel used a golf analogy to identify what might be Maye's issues.

“Sometimes we’re so focused on it that we try to choke the life out of the golf club. And we’re squeezing it so damn tight that the ball has no choice but to go sideways,” he said. “We need to relax. We need to settle in and go play football.”

Maye threw interceptions on three consecutive drives to close a 13-10 season-opening loss at Seattle. And following a 20-3 win versus Pittsburgh in which the New England's defense accounted for a TD, he threw two interceptions and lost a fumble in a 35-6 loss at Jacksonville.

“You’ve got to lean on your faith (in God),” Maye said. “I know it’s not where we wanted to be, and not where we want to start. But it’s how you fight back, respond and know that this league’s not always sunshine and rainbows.”

The Patriots’ 29 points scored on 30 drives represents the NFL's lowest rate of conversion through three games of a season since the 2021 New York Jets.

Buffalo leads the NFL, averaging 33.7 points per outing. The Bills have an opportunity to open a three-game lead on New England a season after the Patriots ended Buffalo’s five-year run of AFC East titles.

Allen said it’s too early to worry about playoff seeding, with his prime focus on cleaning up offensive mistakes.

He also extended support to Maye.

“Listen, Drake’s a smart kid. Extremely talented,” Allen said. “I’ve got a lot of respect for him and what he’s been able to do in his early career. He’ll find a way out of it.”

New England (1-2) at Buffalo (3-0)

When/where to watch: Sunday, 1 p.m. EDT, CBS.

Latest odds: Bills by 6 1/2.

Against the spread: Patriots 2-1; Bills 3-0.

Last week: Patriots lost to the Jaguars 35-6; Bills beat the Chargers 24-16.

Last meeting: Bills beat the Patriots 35-31 on Dec. 14, in Foxborough, Massachusetts.

Series record: Patriots lead 80-52-1.

Bills pass rush vs. Patriots O-line. Bills OLB Greg Rousseau enters the week with a league-leading six sacks, with two in each of Buffalo’s first three outings, and tied for the league lead with three forced fumbles. He plays opposite veteran free-agent addition Bradley Chubb, while the Bills front also features tackles Ed Oliver and Deone Walker. The Patriots have allowed nine sacks, tied for fourth most. And they're preparing to break in their third starting right guard in as many weeks after losing Mike Onwenu (ankle) in Week 2 and his replacement, Greg Van Roten (thigh) landing on IR this week.

— The just-turned 37-year-old Brady is the NFL’s fifth-youngest coach to win each of his first three games. A win on Sunday and Brady would become the second youngest to open 4-0, behind then-33-year-old Josh McDaniels, who won his first six games with Denver in 2009.

— The Bills have opened a season 4-0 on 10 occasions, including twice with Allen (2020, 2025).

— The Patriots are seeking to avoid their fifth 1-3 start in six years after opening 2-2 last season.

— Allen improved to 49-32 when committing a turnover, and 4-7 when committing three or more.

— Allen’s 87 career TDs from scrimmage (rushing/receiving) are tied for the team record held by Hall of Fame teammates Thurman Thomas and Andre Reed.

— Bills RB James Cook’s 154 yards rushing last week were the third most of his career.

— New England’s 80 wins over Buffalo are the most against any opponent. The Patriots went a combined 34-4 against the Bills spanning Tom Brady’s tenure as a starter (2001-2019). Buffalo is 9-4 since 2020, including a playoff victory.

— The Patriots are 0-2 on the road after going 8-0 in Vrabel’s first season last year.

AP Sports Writer Kyle Hightower contributed.

See AP’s full NFL coverage here

New England Patriots quarterback Drake Maye (10) runs against Jacksonville Jaguars defensive tackle Davon Hamilton (52) in the first half during an NFL football game in Jacksonville, Fla., Sunday, Sept. 27, 2026. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart)

New England Patriots quarterback Drake Maye (10) speaks in a press conference after an NFL football game against the Jacksonville Jaguars in Jacksonville, Fla., Sunday, Sept. 27, 2026. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart)

Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen looks to pass during the first half of an NFL football game against the Los Angeles Chargers, Sunday, Sept. 27, 2026, in Orchard Park, N.Y. (AP Photo/Adrian Kraus)

MEXICO CITY (AP) — Another storm strengthened into a Category 2 cyclone off Mexico's Pacific coast on Thursday morning at the same time northern Mexico and parts of the U.S. Southwest were reeling from flooding and damage from the remnants of Hurricane Polo earlier this week.

Hurricane Rachel was located about 230 miles (370 kilometers) off the southern tip of Baja California on Thursday, chugging forward at 6 mph (9 kph) as a powerful hurricane, according to the National Hurricane Center. The center reported winds of 105 mph (165 kph).

Rachel was projected to move along the Mexican coastline before veering west in the Pacific.

Mexican authorities said Thursday that, as Hurricane Rachel moves across the Pacific, they remain on alert because of forecasts of very heavy rain in the states of Baja California Sur, Sinaloa, and Jalisco, and the possibility of landslides, rising river levels, overflowing rivers and flooding in low-lying areas.

On Wednesday night, the U.S. Embassy in Mexico warned U.S. citizens in Cabos San Lucas, a popular vacation destination for Americans, of beach and port closures and deadly rip currents.

The Pacific has seen an unusually busy hurricane season, which experts have attributed to El Niño, which has fueled crippling droughts in Mexico and Central America and floods in other parts of the region. In the Pacific, it has resulted in warmer waters and wind patterns that act as fodder for hurricanes. Tropical Storm Nolo continued its northwest approach away from Hawaii on Thursday, though the National Weather Service said it could strengthen into a hurricane by the weekend.

The region from eastern Colorado to northern Illinois, along with parts of Texas and Oklahoma, was still under flood watch Thursday as storm remnants continued to batter the region, flooding streets and neighborhoods and setting off water rescues.

Wednesday was the wettest day on record for Lincoln, Nebraska, which received 6.1 inches of rainfall, according to the University of Nebraska-Lincoln Climate Office. In Omaha, which received 4.7 inches of rain Wednesday, the fire department said it responded to 80 water rescues over a three-hour period ending early Thursday. Some floodwaters reached depths of 8 feet.

In Chicago, a wastewater treatment and stormwater management utility urged residents to conserve water use to prevent flooding and stormwater backup.

“We encourage everyone to conserve water when possible to create more capacity in our systems,” utility President Kari K. Steele said in a statement Wednesday.

In Kansas, Gov. Laura Kelly issued an emergency proclamation on Wednesday ahead of the storms that allows state resources to assist first responders in hard-hit communities.

Vehicles navigate on a road after torrential rains moved through the Phoenix metro area, Tuesday, Sept. 29, 2026, in Anthem, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

This satellite image from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration shows Hurricane Rachel in the Pacific Ocean on Wednesday, Sept. 30, 2026. (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration via AP)

A man carries items through floodwater past downed electric lines after the passing of Hurricane Polo in Puerto San Carlos, Baja California Sur state, Mexico, Tuesday, Sept. 29, 2026. (AP Photo/Eduardo Verdugo)