The Bills are back at home for their third home game in as many weeks. In Week 4, Buffalo will host the New England Patriots for their first AFC East matchup of the year.

Bills insider Chris Brown breaks down the top storylines to follow going into the matchup.

1 – Can Greg Rousseau continue to lead the Bills defense?

Bills defensive coordinator Jim Leonhard believes his defense is still working out the kinks in its first year under his leadership to get to a place of series-to-series consistency. But the splash plays have been significant through Buffalo's first three games this season, with his unit's most recent performance proving critical in overcoming a 10-point deficit to win by eight (24-16) over the Chargers.

"We had to find a way to force field goals," Leonhard said. "Obviously, they missed a field goal. We had an interception in the red zone. You don't know how these things are going to play out. So, I think it's great. Our guys wanted to be put in some tough situations and show the offense that we could respond and do our part. To me, I don't care how it happens. I want us to step up in big moments."

Buffalo forced a punt, pulled in an interception and forced a turnover on downs on three of the Chargers' last three possessions to seal the victory.

Leading the effort since the season opened has been OLB Greg Rousseau. He had his third consecutive game with a pair of sacks, but has not been alone in putting consistent pressure on opposing quarterbacks.

Rousseau has complemented the efforts of his teammates, who, in some instances, have steered quarterbacks toward him to finish the play. Through the first three weeks of the season, the Bills rank sixth in the league in sacks (nine), sixth in quarterback pressures (36) and fourth in quarterback knockdowns (16) according to Pro Football Reference.

Perhaps the most impressive statistic is Buffalo's ability to generate consistent pressure despite blitzing at the fourth-lowest rate in the league. The Bills send extra pass rushers just 16.9% of the time, but Rousseau has been the linchpin for the Bills' revitalized front.

In addition to his six sacks, Rousseau also has 14 quarterback pressures, 12 quarterback hits, eight tackles for loss, three forced fumbles and a pass breakup.

"You saw the ability," Leonhard said of Rousseau. "When it looks right with Greg, it's pretty, man. The ability to win consistently with his power, with his length and just continually pushing and affecting the pocket. The consistency that he can do that with it's a lot of fun right now. He's on a heater. You never know when those are going to end, and he's playing with a ton of confidence, and his play in the run game is just as impressive."

Although Patriots QB Drake Maye will be the most mobile quarterback they have faced so far this season, the Bills will look to keep the pressure rolling against a Patriots offense that ranks 28th in sacks allowed per play.

In two games against New England last season, Buffalo managed seven sacks.

2 – Will Drake Maye break out of his funk?

In 2025, Maye was in the running for the league's MVP award. He led the league in passer rating (113.5), completion percentage (72%) and was tied for the league lead in quarterback win percentage (.824). Maye also ranked third in passing touchdowns with 31.

The first three games of this season have been in stark contrast to his level of play last year. Maye currently ranks last among quarterbacks who have started all three games in passer rating at 58.6. He's also last in third-down passer rating (28.8), an area where he led the league in 2025.

He has one passing touchdown, six interceptions and a fumble lost through his first three starts this season, as the Patriots' lack of offensive punch last week led to a humbling 35-6 loss at Jacksonville.

"It's disappointing," Maye said. "I think the ball starts rolling like that; we can't get out of our own way, can't get out of my own way personally. I've got to look at myself in the mirror and take this as a turning point. We've got to realize that what we're doing out there offensively is unacceptable. It's been unacceptable for three weeks. So, I've got to start with myself and then lead these guys, and we've got to get back after it."

Maye will be doing that without their biggest offensive weapon. WR A.J. Brown went on injured reserve after Week 1 and will not return until Week 6 at the earliest after sustaining a high-ankle sprain in the opener.

"This is an opportunity to band together and realize that the best football that we play is together and realizing that starts with me with protecting the football and protecting this team," Maye said. "That's my job, and I've been failing to do that."

3 – Bills ground attack heating up

When Buffalo's passing game wasn't nearly as explosive against the Chargers as it was in their first two outings, the Bills leaned on their rushing attack and RB James Cook III.

"Offensively, we didn't have our fastball," head coach Joe Brady said, referring to their explosive passing attack.

Fortunately for Brady and the Bills, they have the defending league rushing champion in their offensive backfield. Cook overcame a fumble on his first carry last Sunday and rolled up 154 yards on the ground on 24 carries. Not one of Cook's carries went for no gain or negative yardage, as he averaged 6.4 yards per rush against the league's top defense in yards per carry average allowed (2.75).

After the third-best rushing day of his career last week, Cook now leads the league, averaging six yards per carry. He also leads NFL running backs in rushing yards before contact at 3.02.

The Patriots rank 17th in run defense, giving up just over 108 yards per game on the ground. In Cook's two games against the Patriots last season, he had 37 carries for 156 yards (4.2 avg.) with three touchdowns.