The hype surrounding the Buffalo Bills and New England Patriots game made it seems like this year this matchup might be different. Even the Guinness Book of World Records sent a representative (for $8,000 to measure the sound for a record which the Bills fans did not break). The Buffalo Bills were also coming off a huge win against the Indianapolis Colts last week and appeared to not be the Bills of old.
The game started off in the Buffalo Bills favor. The Bills first drive was just under five minutes resulting in a 2-yard Karlos Williams touchdown run. Dan Carpenter added the extra point making it 7-0 in favor of the Bills.
The Patriots first series resulted in punt after Brady was forced on one play to call a time out because of the noise level. The Bills got the ball back and were forced to punt after Tyrod Taylor got sacked. Tom Brady then lead the Patriots on a 6 play drive capped off with a Julian Edelman touchdown tying the game at 7.
Later in the first Tyrod Taylor got sacked again and the Bills were forced to punt, again. The Patriots then marched down the field scoring another touchdown on a Dion Lewis run. The Patriots then lead the game 14-7.
After a short run from LeSean McCoy the second quarter, Tyrod Taylor threw a deep pass intended for tight end Charles Clay and Malcom Butler intercepted it. The turnover led to an eventual 2-yard reception from Brady to Rob Gronkowski. It was 21-7 at the beginning of the second quarter.
The Bills did get the ball back after the Gronkowski touchdown but were forced to punt. The Patriots got the ball back and Dion Lewis fumbled and Buffalo's Corey Graham recovered the ball. The Bills failed to convert on the turnover and the Patriots got the ball back.
Later in the second Tyrod Taylor connected with Charles Clay for a 9-yard touchdown pass. Carpenter failed to make the extra point and the Patriots lead 21-13. The Patriots then had a 9-play drive resulting in a field goal with a little less than 3 minutes to go in the second quarter to widen the lead to 24-13. The Bills had a chance to score before the half but Tyrod Taylor got intercepted again.
The second half began with the Patriots 12 play drive resulting in another field goal putting them ahead 27-13. The Bills first possession of the half resulted in a punt. The Patriots then got the ball back and Julian Edelman scored again on a 22-yard pass play and with the extra point made the score 34-13. Buffalo Bills safety Aaron Williams suffered a neck injury on the play and an ambulance took him to the hospital. Early reports show he does have movement in all of his extremities. The Patriots then added another field goal in the third to make the score 37-13.
The fourth quarter seemed to breathe new life into the Bills after a Tyrod Taylor to Robert Woods pass cutting the Patriots lead to 35-19. The Bills added another touchdown later in the fourth on a Tyrod Taylor run making it 37-25. The Patriots then got the ball back but Brady fumbled on a sack leading to another Bills drive and a Sammy Watkins touchdown leading to a 37-32 score. The Patriots then were able to march down the field and get another field goal making it 40-32. The Bills tried to come back with less than two minutes to go but the drive ended when a Tyrod Taylor pass was tipped and then intercepted.
New England improves to 2-0 and the Bills fall to 1-1. New England hosts the Jacksonville Jaguars next week and the Bills travel to face the Miami Dolphins.
Some important game notes:
- Tom Brady had 466 passing yards.
- Tyrod Taylor had 242 with 3 touchdowns and 3 interceptions
- The Buffalo Bills were 0 - 2 in 2-point conversions and had one missed extra point.
- Penalties: Patriots 11 for 119 yards; Bills: 14 for 140 yards.