The founder of Barstool Sports, Dave Portnoy, has been served a hefty portion of humble pie after his exuberant mid-game celebration spectacularly backfired. Portnoy's beloved New England Patriots suffered a stunning collapse, surrendering a dominant 21-0 lead to lose 35-31 to their divisional rivals, the Buffalo Bills.
A Victory Declared Too Soon
With the Patriots in complete control during the first half, Portnoy took to social media to post a triumphant video. He declared his team was "destroying" the Bills and boldly questioned how anyone could consider Buffalo superior. "I don't wanna get too cocky," he stated, before doing precisely that, referencing his six championship rings and proclaiming, "This is our division, this is our league, and we're back!"
His confidence seemed justified at the time. The Patriots, who were underdogs heading into the crucial AFC East clash, appeared to be cruising towards a victory that would have secured the division title.
The Dramatic Collapse and Crow-Eating Confession
However, the game turned on its head in spectacular fashion. The Buffalo Bills mounted a furious second-half comeback, outscoring New England by a staggering 35 points to 10 in the remaining periods. The final whistle confirmed a devastating 35-31 defeat for the Patriots, ending their winning streak that had stretched back to mid-September.
In the aftermath, a contrite Portnoy publicly admitted his error. "If I could take back that first celebratory victory when it was 21-0... I would take it back," he said, with his tail firmly between his legs. He conceded that his premature gloating made him look like a "total a**hole" and that he was wrong to anoint the Patriots as "the kings of the AFC." He gave full credit to the Bills, admitting they "kicked our f***ing a** in the second half."
Playoff Implications and the Road Ahead
The consequences of the loss are significant for the Patriots' season. The defeat dropped their record to 11-3 and, crucially, delayed their chance to clinch the AFC East division crown. The race remains open as the team heads into its final three regular-season games.
New England must now regroup for fixtures against the Baltimore Ravens, the New York Jets, and the Miami Dolphins. The dramatic loss serves as a stark reminder that in the NFL, no lead is safe until the clock hits zero—a lesson Dave Portnoy learned the hard way.
