FOXBOROUGH — The Patriots’ inability to finish off teams in close games continued Sunday afternoon, as Steve Christie kicked a 32-yard field goal in overtime to give the Buffalo Bills a 16-13 win over New England.
The Patriots had taken a 13-10 lead with 2:03 to go in regulation, when Adam Vinatieri kicked a 42-yard field goal into the wind. But Doug Flutie, who had been handcuffed all during the second half by the Patriot defense, led his team to field goals in their final two offensive possessions. With eight seconds left, Christie kicked a low line drive field goal from 47 yards out to send the game into overtime.
Of particular concern to the Patriots was a thumb injury to Drew Bledsoe in the first quarter. Bledsoe played another series, threw an interception, and came out of the game. Backup quarterback John Friesz saw his most extensive action as a Patriot, and played well but not nearly at Bledsoe’s level.
A steady rain during the game curtailed both passing attacks. Flutie and Friesz frequently found themselves misfiring on routine pass attempts throughout the game.
But in the end, the Patriots had the Bills stopped cold and couldn’t finish the game off.
With less than two minutes to go in the game and the ball at their own 24, Flutie led Buffalo on a 12-play drive for the tying field goal. He hit Jeremy McDaniel for 23 yards on the first play, then scrambled for 12 yards on third and ten.Ten yard passes to Jay Riemersma and Peerless Price put the ball at the Patriot 25. Penalties pushed the ball back to the 30, but Christie was able to convert on a low line drive shot to tie the game.
In overtime, the Patriots won the toss and elected to receive. But Buffalo stopped them on three plays, highlighted by a sack of Friesz on third down by Sam Cowart. A poor Lee Johnson punt gave the Bills the ball at their 35.
On the second play, Ty Law was called for interference on Eric Moulds, and the result was a 22-yard gain. Two runs for twenty yards by Shawn Bryson helped put the ball at the Patriot 17. Christie came in one play later to kick the winning field goal.
Buffalo’s only touchdown came in the second quarter. With first and goal at the Patriot 9, Flutie rolled right, and threw back left to Riemersma, who was wide open and walked into the end zone.
The Patriots had problems with first and goal at the one all day. In the third quarter, the Patriots had four shots at the end zone, but Friesz threw an interception to John Holecek in the end zone. In the fourth quarter, with third and goal at the one, the Pats finally punched it in as J.R. Redmond scored his first NFL rushing touchdown to knot the game at 10.
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Covering Boston Sports since 1997. Native of Worcester, Mass. Attended UMass and Univ of Michigan. Lives in California. Just recently retired after 40 years of public school teaching. Podcasts on YouTube at @thepic4139
