Best Of Social Media: Week 16 Bills vs Patriots
Isaiah J. Downing - USA TODAY Sports
The New England Patriots entered Week 16 looking to maintain their standing atop the AFC as the number one seed, but they had to get past a Bills team that came into last Sunday’s game still in the hunt for a wild card spot.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BdGJIXbBTji/?hl=en&taken-by=money_mitch26
For the second time this season, neither the Patriots or Bills could get much going in the first quarter. As the lone scoring game from a Stephen Haushka 41 yard field goal to give the Bills a 3-0 lead after one.
To open the second, Stephen Gostkowski hit a 21 yard field goal to knot the game at 3, but when the Patriots got the ball back two drives later, quarterback Tom Brady made a very uncharacteristic decision, and allowed his first interception return for a touchdown for the first time since lasts years Super Bowl. Jordan Poyer made the play and the Bills took a surprising 10-3 lead.
Poyer to the house! 🙌#BUFvsNE #GoBills pic.twitter.com/vA3jW7otKV
— Buffalo Bills (@BuffaloBills) December 24, 2017
Tom Brady has thrown an interception in 5 straight games, which ties the longest streak of his career.
His prior streak happened from Week 2-6 in 2002. pic.twitter.com/uv2TpmQEZ3
— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) December 24, 2017
Needing a response, Rob Gronkowski found the end zone with an incredible catch for a touchdown that again tied the game up. 10-10 midway through the second quarter.
1-handed catch: ✔
Toe tap: ✔
Gronk Spike: ✔Weekly reminder that @RobGronkowski is really, really good. pic.twitter.com/etEhzi1TOa
— New England Patriots (@Patriots) December 24, 2017
HO, HO, HO
Meeeerrrryyy Gronkmas! pic.twitter.com/eiUDMjQ9Qu
— Sunday Night Football (@SNFonNBC) December 24, 2017
GRONK THE CHRISTMAS MONSTER pic.twitter.com/xazQMMEiBv
— Pete Blackburn (@PeteBlackburn) December 24, 2017
The Brady connection to Gronkowski was the 75th time both hooked up for a touchdown, fifth all time among quarterback to receiver duos. Both the Patriots and Bills would trade another field goal each and would go into the half tied at three, but not without another officiating controversy.
https://twitter.com/david_malandra/status/945014557831032833
So this is not a touchdown? 🤔 #Bills #Patriots pic.twitter.com/rfKayaNe84
— Marcus Leshock (@marcusleshock) December 24, 2017
McDermott: “I saw Kelvin’s catch before halftime as a touchdown. I’m at a loss how a play like that can be overturned.” #BUFvsNE pic.twitter.com/FJJH0crKBI
— Buffalo Bills (@BuffaloBills) December 24, 2017
In #BUFvsNE, when Kelvin Benjamin gains control, his left foot is off the ground. The receiver only has one foot down in bounds with control. Therefore, it is an incomplete pass. -AL
— NFL Football Operations (@NFLFootballOps) December 24, 2017
Despite the calls of “cheating”and “fixing” by outraged Bills fans following the ruling, their team managed to keep the game within reach heading to the locker room.
In the third quarter, both the Patriots and Bills again traded field goals to up the score to 16-16 as Bills running back Lesean McCoy broke ankles on his way to setting up red zone opportunities.
LeSean McCoy, ankle breaker.#BUFvsNE #GoBills pic.twitter.com/mg7kL1vGTH
— Buffalo Bills (@BuffaloBills) December 24, 2017
Seeking to get some space, Brady continued to find Gronkowski, which helped setup the Patriots second touchdown of the game, by former Bill Mike Gillislee.
Down to the 30
With a football in his hand
Running here and there
All around the square
Saying "Catch me if you can" pic.twitter.com/vqR0AEtf4T— New England Patriots (@Patriots) December 24, 2017
#Patriots drive in 4G:
Gillislee rush.
Giillislee rush.
Gronk catch.
Gillislee TD. pic.twitter.com/asXDwtYjYN— New England Patriots (@Patriots) December 24, 2017
Through three quarters 23-16 Patriots.
Tony Romo is the gift that keeps on giving… #NFL #Patriots #Bills #NEvsBUF #BUFvsNE pic.twitter.com/ePYYmPC84W
— Colin Kaepernick Was Exiled Exercising His Rights (@RickStrom) December 24, 2017
In the fourth quarter, the game shifted to become the Dion Lewis show, as the Patriots began to pull away from the Bills. Brady found Lewis from 12 yeards our for his 30th touchdown pass of 2017, which extended a record for most all time by a quarterback over the age of 40. It was also the seventh time in Brady’s career with 30 plus touchdown passes. 30-16 Patriots.
Dashing through the defense.
TD, @DionLewisRB! #GoPats pic.twitter.com/Z1jwH0PB4y
— New England Patriots (@Patriots) December 24, 2017
Lewis again would find the end zone with about four minutes to play in the fourth, a four yard run extending the lead to 37-16 and all but closing the door on any Bills upset.
Outside the linemen are mauling
And fans are calling D-Lew
Come on, it's lovely weather
For a TD celebration with you pic.twitter.com/3kPYam4Pky— New England Patriots (@Patriots) December 24, 2017
Dion Lewis is the first Patriot to have 100+ yards rushing, a rushing TD, and a receiving TD in the same game since Corey Dillon did it on December 20, 2004 at Miami.
— Michael Berger (@MichaelSBerger) December 24, 2017
On a day that would later earn him AFC Offensive Player of the Week, Dion Lewis ran for a career high 129 yards to go with his two scores.
A very merry victory by the numbers: pic.twitter.com/ExxW4mZqLk
— New England Patriots (@Patriots) December 26, 2017
😂GRONK!😂
Hilarious answer & response from @RobGronkowski following a question from @anmis after #Patriots top #Bills #wbz pic.twitter.com/qdQRi323vi— Scott Sullivan (@sullybunZ) December 24, 2017
The #Patriots have two 1,000-yard receivers in the same season for the sixth time in team history and first time since 2011 (Welker & Gronkowski). pic.twitter.com/tcsdBBC55l
— New England Patriots (@Patriots) December 24, 2017
https://www.instagram.com/p/BdGfHc5jnPK/?taken-by=realkylevannoy
https://twitter.com/kvn_03/status/945052625061404673
Victory!! 🙏🏻 #ChristmasEve pic.twitter.com/spM7Hn8Tdf
— Shea McClellin (@mcckshea) December 24, 2017
Posted Under: Patriots Commentary
Tags: Deatrich Wise Jr. Julian Edelman Kyle Van Noy Mike Gillislee Shea McClellin Tom Brady
