The New England Patriots (6-2) have finished Week 8 with an expected win at the Buffalo Bills (2-6). At the end, a single offensive touchdown against a bravely defending Bills defense was enough for the Pats. Buffalo on the other side was forced to a new quarterback exchange.
Those who had expected a clear blowout victory in view of the clear favourite role of the Pats were quickly deceived: Buffalo’s strong defense recorded five tackles for loss and did not allow a touchdown pass from Tom Brady (29/45, 324 YDS), who for the most part only played with short passes. Without the injured Sony Michel New England had no Run Game, Wide Receiver Cordarrelle Patterson was the top runner with 38 Rushing-Yards in ten attempts.
Accordingly, the game remained tight until deep into the second half. Although New England had several longer drives, each time they had to make do with field goals, which the Bills themselves could gradually counter with field goals: once through two big plays in passing, once as a result of a long punt-return from Micah Hyde.
But the Patriots’ approach ultimately paid off: New England, on the other hand, did not make any serious mistakes – waiting for Buffalo to make such a mistake on the other side.
And so it was two consecutive drives at the beginning of the final quarter that put the lid on this game. First, the Pats marched 94 yards down the field in ten plays, carried by two long passes from Brady to Edelman and Hogan and New England’s best run of the evening, a 22-yarder from Patterson. From a yard, James White did the rest.
Buffalo seemed to have answered with a touchdown on his part and made the game tight again, but Croom had not controlled Derek Anderson’s 25-yard pass (22/39, 290 YDS, INT, FUM) in the end zone and the refs took the points off the board again. Two plays later, Anderson’s eyes were on Tight End Charles Clay, which Devin McCourty didn’t miss – New England’s Safety caught the ball and carried it back 84 yards to touchdown.
It was the first defense touchdown for the Patriots in 40 games, the longest series of its kind in the NFL to date; and of course this Patriots double strike was also the decision.
Far too harmless was Buffalo’s Offense once again overall. In the passing game anyway, but also Chris Ivory (6 ATT, 34 YDS) and LeSean McCoy (12 ATT, 13 YDS; 6 REC, 82 YDS) had also without the injured Dont’a Hightower on the side of the Pats rarely times place against New England’s front. As well as the Bills defense resisted, as little she got back once more from her own offense.
During the final drive, Buffalo was forced to a quarterback exchange for all the rest: After two consecutive sacks, Anderson had to leave injured, Nathan Peterman (2/2, 23 YDS) took over for the final two plays of the game. Anderson moved very slowly and with obvious pain into the cabin, since rookie QB Josh Allen is still far from fit, Peterman would presumably once again be Buffalo’s starting option in case of a longer forced break.
A little beauty mark for New England too: Guard Shaq Mason had to go out with a calf injury in the final quarter. The Patriots will receive the Green Bay Packers next Sunday, a game in which New England’s Interior Offensive Line could take on greater significance given the Packers’ lightning packages.
Josh Gordon (4 REC, 42 YDS), on the other hand, who was reportedly supposed to start the game on the bench due to a delay in the run-up to the game, started the game after all. At the press conference that followed, Belichick simply stated: “You have to ask the person who wrote this. I have no idea.”