Best Of Social Media: Week 13 Patriots vs Bills
Timothy T. Ludwig - USA TODAY Sports
The New England Patriots entered their week 13 matchup with the Buffalo Bills seeking to get one step closer to locking up yet another AFC East division title and would continue a stretch of five divisional games in six weeks to round out the 2017 regular season.
Tom Brady on the field three hours before kickoff pic.twitter.com/XnuL9hIgE3
— Ryan Hannable (@RyanHannable) December 3, 2017
A Tom Brady fan, wearing a Michigan jersey, towers over other tailgaters in Buffalo. pic.twitter.com/GtoEqW4age
— Bob Socci (@BobSocci) December 3, 2017
https://www.instagram.com/p/BcPnr_EAYdT/?hl=en&taken-by=bbhulksmash
In the first quarter it appeared the Bills would draw first, until a former teammate just recently released from their practice squad, came back to haunt his former team. New England, meet your new defensive end Eric Lee.
A red zone interception by Lee thwarted early Bills points.
Nov. 21: #Patriots sign Eric Lee from Buffalo practice squad.
Nov. 26: Eric Lee's first career sack.
Dec. 3: Eric Lee's first career INT. pic.twitter.com/zR2hvqZJjh— New England Patriots (@Patriots) December 3, 2017
Tony Romo shared a pretty funny story yesterday about Brady and Amendola having no idea who Eric Lee was during the Miami game. pic.twitter.com/PYtm79N4Eg
— Zack Cox (@ZackCoxNESN) December 4, 2017
Getting the ball back and an early momentum shift, it appeared the Patriots would make the Bills pay for their costly interception, but Tom Brady missed his recievers on third down and were forced to settle with an early field goal.
CBS cameras would catch Brady in a heated argument with offesnive coordinator Josh McDaniels over the missed connections downfield.
3-0 Patriots after a quarter.
Tom Brady getting into sorts with Josh McDaniels. pic.twitter.com/HCZuhKevTC
— Rich Hill (@PP_Rich_Hill) December 3, 2017
WATCH: Don’t ever piss off Tom Brady, even if you’re Josh McDaniels. pic.twitter.com/y4CR1WIyQy
— Mike Petraglia (@Trags) December 3, 2017
https://twitter.com/rizzuti09/status/937401146125062144
Phillip Dorsett and Brandin Cooks were wide open on the incompletion that sparked the screaming match between McDaniels and Brady. pic.twitter.com/Jr68GEgMEO
— Doug Kyed (@DougKyed) December 4, 2017
Brady on his heated sideline argument with Josh McDaniels: “It’s just football. We’ve been around each other a lot. I love Josh.”
— Zack Cox (@ZackCoxNESN) December 3, 2017
Perfect throw, perfect catch.
Brady to @DannyAmendola for 27 yards. #GoPats pic.twitter.com/veOK0k4BUk
— New England Patriots (@Patriots) December 3, 2017
Althought the Patriots still struggled to find a rhythm in the end zone, Eric Lee continued to punish his former team on defense.
Updated:
Nov. 21: #Patriots sign Eric Lee from Buffalo practice squad
Nov. 26: Lee's 1st career sack
Dec. 3: Lee's 1st career INT & 2nd career sack pic.twitter.com/eEmhFvYlUF— New England Patriots (@Patriots) December 3, 2017
In the second quarter, the Patriots running game stepped up, with Dion Lewis tallying the teams longest running play of the season.
Dashing @DionLewisRB.
A career-long 4⃣4⃣-yard rush for 3⃣3⃣. pic.twitter.com/6XoLHH10YN
— New England Patriots (@Patriots) December 3, 2017
That was the longest run of the season for the Patriots.
— Ryan Hannable (@RyanHannable) December 3, 2017
Dion Lewis just killed a guy pic.twitter.com/uKwvzqo6dw
— Pete Blackburn (@PeteBlackburn) December 3, 2017
https://www.instagram.com/p/BcTCjKlgf8Y/?taken-by=d_lew33
Unfortunately the Patriots again would comeup short in the red zone and have to settle for a second field goal. 6-0 Patriots at the 6:20 mark of the second quarter.
The Bills would finally get on the board with a Stephen Hauscka field goal to cut the lead in half to 6-3 but the Patriots running game continued to shine, this time with Rex Burkhead.
Rumbling @rbrex2022.
A career-long 3⃣1⃣-yard rush for 3⃣4⃣. pic.twitter.com/DL5GG51gBE
— New England Patriots (@Patriots) December 3, 2017
The career long 31 yard run by Burkhead would setup a third Gostkowski field goal and the Patriots would go into the half surprisingly only up six with no touchdowns.
Tom Brady First Half Stats:
Total: 8/14 (57%) 96ydsBy Down:
1st: 1/2 (50%) 11yds
2nd: 5/8 (63%) 68yds
3rd: 2/4 (50%) 17yds— PatsFans.com (@PatsFans) December 3, 2017
In the second half, the trio of Lewis and Burkhead continued their big day, and would finally setup the first touchdown of the game. Burkhead would find the end zone and a 16-3 Patriots lead.
Stiff arms and spin moves. @DionLewisRB is doing it all today. pic.twitter.com/N0WfLZ96WS
— New England Patriots (@Patriots) December 3, 2017
Rex Burkhead gets into the end zone for the 1st touchdown of the day #Patriots #NEvsBUF pic.twitter.com/4WFFY53Opy
— Casey Baker (@CaseyBake16) December 3, 2017
Despite the lack of touchdowns, Buffalo native Rob Gronkowski also had a big day on the stat sheet, nine receptions for 147 yards, including this ridiculous catch.
Oh my Gronk. #GoPats pic.twitter.com/OJiFcaSx6n
— New England Patriots (@Patriots) December 3, 2017
Unfortunately a short time later, it would all be overshadowed by an uncharacteristic dirty play by Gronkowski after losing his cool about being held with no flag.
Gronkowski dove onto Bills cornerback Tre’davious White well after a play was over that resulted in a Bills interception. Gronk earned a one game suspension as a result and heavy criticism from around the league.
"In my opinion, that was a play where Gronkowski should have been ejected from the game… Maybe even a suspension going forward."@DeanBlandino breaks down Gronk's hit from today's game. pic.twitter.com/WgZ8U4tS8s
— FOX Sports: NFL (@NFLonFOX) December 3, 2017
Rex Burkhead continued his strong game with his second touchdown of the quarter, and the Patriots all but put away the Bills with a 23-3 lead that would stand as the final score.
The Patriots would earn their tenth win of 2017 and eighth in a row.
TD-Rex. pic.twitter.com/dfBJfImR1i
— New England Patriots (@Patriots) December 3, 2017
https://twitter.com/onlyinbos/status/937425932339564544
The #Patriots have now won 10 or more games in a season for the 15th consecutive season. The second-longest streak in NFL history (#49ers, 16-straight from 1983-1998).
— Evan Lazar (@ezlazar) December 3, 2017
Lot of games still to play, but the Patriots D has already passed Carolina’s to move into top 10 in fewest points allowed #DoYourJob pic.twitter.com/YVPllUKoi5
— Jerry Thornton (@jerrythornton1) December 3, 2017
Bill Belichick apologizes to Sean McDermott for the Gronk hit that gave Tre' White a concussion. Called it bull%^&*. pic.twitter.com/qfkBB9bgid
— Prescott Rossi (@PrescottRossi) December 3, 2017
Tough Win…10-2
— Malcolm CB Butler (@Mac_BZ) December 4, 2017
.@RBrex2022 delivers 2 TDs and a message for #PatriotsNation: pic.twitter.com/ZimP1bMMs6
— New England Patriots (@Patriots) December 3, 2017
Victory! pic.twitter.com/c63wGdD6sZ
— Shea McClellin (@mcckshea) December 3, 2017
Posted Under: Patriots Commentary
Tags: Brandon Bolden Dion Lewis Eric Lee Julian Edelman Malcolm Butler Rex Burkhead Rob Gronkowski Shea McClellin Stephen Gostkowski Tom Brady
