ORCHARD PARK – Somewhat surprisingly, Sunday’s AFC East showdown between the Buffalo Bills and New England Patriots stayed put in the early 1 p.m. CBS broadcast window.
For weeks, it certainly felt like the game – which if the Patriots win would enable them to clinch the AFC East title, thus ending Buffalo’s five-year stranglehold on the division – had a great chance to be flexed into a bigger spot given its importance, but the NFL decided to leave it alone.
“We play them whenever they’re scheduled,” Bills coach Sean McDermott, joking that now he’ll be back in Orchard Park afterward before his bed time. “We’ve been up there late at night quite a few times and playing some games up there, and they’ve come here and done the same. So I think it’s really just about two good football teams and you play when the schedule calls for you to play.”
The national game on CBS at 4:25 is also a big one featuring AFC West-leading Denver hosting NFC North-leading Green Bay, and that’s where the top broadcast team of Jim Nantz and Tony Romo will be. It’s pretty tough to argue that choice.
Moving Bills-Patriots to Sunday night wasn’t feasible because the NBC game – while far less attractive with the Vikings visit the Cowboys – wasn’t going to be switched because the Cowboys remain a ratings-driving machine, especially since they are very much alive in the NFC playoff race.
A flex to Monday night was always the most talked about option because that game features the 6-7 Dolphins at the 7-6 Steelers. Yes, Pittsburgh leads the AFC North, but the Dolphins are a longshot to make the postseason, and neither team is very attractive, particularly when compared to both the Bills and Patriots who have a combined record of 20-6.
Here are a few notes to ponder:
In 19 of the past 22 seasons, at least one team finished in first place in its division the season after finishing in last or tied for last place, and the Patriots are primed to join that list, either Sunday, or at some point in the final three weeks. It would be their first division title since 2019 when Tom Brady and Bill Belichick were still lording over the division.
Additionally with a win, the Patriots can record their third 11-game winning streak in a single season in franchise history. They won all 16 regular-season games in 2007 and had a 12-game winning streak in 2003.
If the Bills can keep their division chances alive with a victory, it would be their 10th win this season and they would become the sixth team in league history with at least 10 wins in seven straight seasons, joining the 2003-19 Patriots (17), 1983-98 49ers (16), 2015-24 Chiefs (10), 2002-10 Colts (9) and 1975-81 Cowboys (7).
Here’s the broadcast and betting information:
Watch Bills vs Patriots live on Fubo (free trial)
What time does the Buffalo Bills vs New England Patriots game start?
The Buffalo Bills and New England Patriots will play at 1 p.m. ET Sunday, Dec. 14, 2025 at Gillette Stadium.
What channel is Buffalo Bills vs New England Patriots game?
Cable/Network TV: CBS. The Bills vs Patriots will be available locally via the following stations: WROC channel 8 (Rochester area), WIVB channel 4 (Buffalo area), WTVH channel 5 (Syracuse area), WKTV channel 2 (Utica area), WENY channel 36 (Elmira area), WRGB channel 6 (Albany area), and WBNG channel 12 (Binghamton area).
How can you stream Buffalo Bills vs New England Patriots game?
Online streaming services: You can watch games on NFL.com and the NFL mobile app, and you can subscribe to NFL+, the league’s own streaming service, though you can’t cast the games to your TV – you must watch on your phone or tablet.
TV streaming: You can also stream games if you have subscriptions to Spectrum, DirecTV Choice, Fubo Sports, Sling,, Vidgo, Hulu + Live TV, YouTubeTV + NFL Sunday Ticket, and Paramount+.
Who is favored to win Bills vs. Patriots game
Information as of Thursday, subject to change:
Betting line: Bills -1.5
Over-under: 49.5
Money line: Bills minus-118 (bet $118 to win $100) and Patriots plus-100 (bet $100 to win $100).
Who is announcing the Bills vs. Patriots game
Play-by-play: Ian Eagle
Analyst: JJ Watt
Sideline reporter: Evan Washburn
On the radio: How to listen to the Bills vs Patriots game
You can listen on SiriusXM satellite radio on channel 385 (Bills feed) and channel 232 (Patriots feed), and on traditional radio, the Bills Radio Network has stations all across the state. Chris Brown has the play-by-play, Eric Wood is the analyst, and Sal Capaccio is the sideline reporter. The network includes:
Sal Maiorana has covered the Buffalo Bills for four decades including 35 years as the full-time beat writer for the D&C, he has written numerous books about the history of the team, and he is also co-host of the BLEAV in Bills podcast/YouTube show. He can be reached at maiorana@gannett.com, and you can follow him on X @salmaiorana and on Bluesky @salmaiorana.bsky.social.
This article originally appeared on Rochester Democrat and Chronicle: What channel is Bills-Patriots game on? Start time, how to watch NFL Week 15
Reporting by Sal Maiorana, Rochester Democrat and Chronicle / Rochester Democrat and Chronicle
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