Best Of Social Media: Week 16 Bills vs Patriots
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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.
https://twitter.com/buffalobills/status/945003422956249088
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.
https://twitter.com/patriots/status/945006630113984512
HO, HO, HO
Meeeerrrryyy Gronkmas! pic.twitter.com/eiUDMjQ9Qu
— Sunday Night Football on NBC (@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.
They call this Incomplete and take Touchdown Away from Buffalo #Bills #Patriots #BUFvsNE #NFL pic.twitter.com/bKo4rX8gSX
— David Malandra Jr (@David_Malandra) December 24, 2017
https://twitter.com/marcusleshock/status/945015465008656384
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.
https://twitter.com/patriots/status/945054596522639360
https://twitter.com/patriots/status/945029107665924096
Through three quarters 23-16 Patriots.
Tony Romo is the gift that keeps on giving… #NFL #Patriots #Bills #NEvsBUF #BUFvsNE pic.twitter.com/ePYYmPC84W
— rick strom (@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.
https://twitter.com/patriots/status/945032547712450560
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.
https://twitter.com/patriots/status/945066950861791232
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
https://www.instagram.com/p/BdGX3YVhYcU/?taken-by=tombrady
https://twitter.com/sullybunz/status/945055108588597248
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
https://www.instagram.com/p/BdGm16GD1Xs/?hl=en&taken-by=nothingwasgiven35
https://twitter.com/mcckshea/status/945049358231396352
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