Cook (11 carries for 100 yards) scored touchdowns rushing and receiving, and the Bills forced three takeaways in the second half in a 24-21 win at frigid Highmark Stadium, where the kickoff temperature was 14 degrees by the final siren to 7 degrees dropped.

The Bills recovered a New England onside kick with 1:11 left and ran out of time.

The Bills improved to 12-3 (7-0 at home) this season and have a two-game lead over Pittsburgh and Baltimore in the AFC’s No. 2 seed.

A Patriots-Bills recap:

• The Patriots, with rookie quarterback Drake Maye, managed 238 yards in the first half and converted five of their first six third-down opportunities. When New England made it 14-0, it was the sixth straight touchdown drive by a Bills opponent. Six! The Patriots’ 16-play drive was the longest the Bills allowed this season, the third-longest time of 91 yards and the longest time of possession at 9:57. However, the Patriots were held to 131 yards rushing in the second half.
• Quarterback Josh Allen and the Bills’ passing game seemed unhinged. There was a reason Allen’s third-down pass early in the fourth quarter looked like a pitching wedge shot. Early in the trip he appeared to have injured his right elbow; He said he hit his funny bone and it took 5-10 minutes to get full feeling back. Allen didn’t miss a snap.
• The Bills emphasized the running game early in the second half. It was the right call. Cook gained 25, 5, 5, 2 and 3 yards on the drive. The possession was capped by Cook’s 4-yard touchdown catch on third down, tying the score at 14.
• Reality began for New England in the second half when the first three possessions ended with a fumble (linebacker Dorian Williams forced and linebacker Terrel Bernard recovered), an interception (safety Cam Lewis) and a fumble recovery touchdown (cornerback Taron Johnson). ended. On the Johnson touchdown, Maye’s pass intended for running back Rhamondre Stevenson was a lateral. Defensive player Greg Rousseau threw Stevenson to the ground, allowing Johnson to recover.

• Fill-in safety Lewis had a tough time on New England’s second possession. On first down from the Bills’ 8, Lewis was called for pass interference on receiver DeMario Douglas. On the next play from scrimmage, Lewis missed an open field tackle on Stevenson’s 14-yard touchdown carry to make it 14-0. Lewis returned the favor with an interception in the end zone in the third quarter.
• Allen’s interception, which can be considered a punt in the Patriots’ end zone, was the Bills’ first turnover since the second quarter of the Kansas City game in Week 11, a span of 224 offensive plays.
• Receiver Mack Hollins was again used as a defensive back for Hail Mary purposes on the final play of the second quarter. He was not involved in the Patriots’ short pass.
• Time of possession in the first half: New England 20:20, Bills 9:40.
• Linebacker Baylon Spector (calf) was unable to finish the game. Rookie Joe Andreessen played snaps on defense in the fourth quarter.
• When cornerback Taron Johnson was forced out of the game with a concussion early in the fourth quarter, Ja’Marcus Ingram moved into the nickel spot.
• The Bills committed five defensive penalties on a New England drive in the fourth quarter that kept the Patriots’ hopes alive. Defensive end Dawuane Smoot (interference), Bernard (unnecessary roughness) and cornerbacks Ingram (pass interference) and Kaiir Elam (two for pass interference) were flagged. With 1:13 left, the Patriots finally took advantage of tight end Hunter Henry’s 9-yard touchdown catch.

RB James Cook. His 46-yard touchdown carry in the second quarter was his fourth touchdown of at least 40 yards this year, breaking the franchise record he held with OJ Simpson (three in 1973, 1975 and 1976). Cook’s home run touchdowns are 49 yards at Miami, 65 against San Francisco, 41 at Detroit and 46 against New England. More Cook: It was his third career game with at least one rushing and one receiving touchdown.

CB Taron Johnson. His fumble recovery touchdown after a New England lateral extended the Bills’ lead to 24-14 with 10:10 left. It was his fourth career touchdown (including playoffs) and first fumble recovery for a score.

DE AJ Epenesa. The Patriots faced a third-and-2 from the Bills’ 13 late in the first quarter, but Epenesa was called to tackle, giving New England a free first down. It was Epenesa’s third penalty of the season.

RT Spencer Brown. He had two penalties (illegal formation and false start), giving him 12 penalties for the season.

Penalty problems. The Bills tied their season high with 13 penalties.

Special teams. A 42-yard kickoff return is allowed. A penalty for another kick coverage play. And a fake punt allowed a New England drive to be extended. All in the first half.

The New York Jets (4-11) visit the Bills on Sunday at 1 p.m. The Jets lost 19-9 at home to the Los Angeles Rams on Sunday and are 2-8 since the firing of coach Robert Saleh. The Jets have added receiver Davante Adams since the Bills won the teams’ first matchup in Week 6.