You couldn’t have started the game the way the Patriots did and expect to win games in the NFL. Yet the Patriots Defense kept them in the game. In the turnover battle 4 turnovers to 1, one spells a loss, yet they were in the game until the end despite a kicker that doesn’t belong in the NFL missing two more Field Goals. Those kicks would have evened the game. Oh yes, the second miss didn’t officially happen because of a delay of game penalty. That’s right, a delay of game penalty on the field goal team. I can’t make this stuff up.
Bailey Zappe couldn’t have started the game any worse. His 1st pass to Mike Gesicki on a checkdown was battered away by Rasul Douglas. The throw was a little late but that was a great play by Douglas. If you read my preview of the Bills, I talked about how good that trade was for Buffalo. Douglas is ranked #4 in the league at CB. Douglas would intercept Zappe once again on a throw to Parker where he jumped the route. Hey Bailey, let’s not throw it in Douglas’ direction. The third INT was not Zappe’s fault. Jalen Reagor didn’t read the defense correctly and Zappe threw a 1 step slant and Reagor ran a go route. The Pharoah Brown fumble was just a careless play by Brown, who didn’t secure the ball. The Bills are famous for gang tackling when one of the players tries to dislodge the ball. I am sure the players were reminded about this all week.
Trent Brown was inactive. The Patriots have had enough of Brown’s act. He has social media barbs at the team and then spoke extensively this week about his contract status heading into Free Agency, all but accusing the team of negotiating in bad faith. He has been on again off again the injury list. The team fixed his wagon. He has a $6.5M bonus based upon playing time. Brown has missed so much time due to these mysterious injuries that he was in danger of missing his 65% playing time incentive. The team took care of that for him. They made him inactive and in doing so prevented him from reaching that incentive. The Patriots started their 9th different Offensive Line combination of the season, while the Bills have had the same unit all season and they have played 96% of the snaps. Mike Reiss stated that his locker in Buffalo was empty indicting that he didn’t even make the trip.
This per Mike Giardi of Boston Sports Journal “Internally, I’m told, there was belief Brown could have returned before and did not. The belief was that he was protecting himself and his future earnings in a season without the promise of a postseason. With the number of players on the roster who were playing through injuries – including those on the offensive line – needless to say, that hasn’t gone over very well (and nor should it).
An anonymous player was quoted by Giardi, “A lot of us – almost all – are fighting for each other and for pride, even though the results aren’t what any of us want,” one player told me. “It sucks that not everyone is willing to put it out there. I hope people who sign the checks are paying attention.”
Bill Belichick had this to say in his post -game press conference, “We played the players that wanted to play.”
Dare I say that Zappe played at least even with Josh Allen. Yeah, he had those three INTs, but he was 16 of 26 for 209 yards. Josh Allen was held to 15 of 30 (50%) 169 yards and 1 INT.
Jonathan Jones was great in this game. He didn’t load up the stats sheet, but he held Stephon Diggs to 3 catches 21 yards against Jones and 1 catch for 5 yards, against Austin. Jones had one beautiful pass deflection.
There was no quit in this defense. The Four turnovers gave Buffalo starting positions at the: 18 (FG), 16 TD, Pick 6 TD, Fumble @ NE 30 (FG). The defense gave up one drive to start the 2nd half and that was the only score they gave up in the 2nd half. Jahlani Tavai had 10 tackles and Kyle Dugger matched that with 7 of those being solo tackles. However, it was the big play that Dugger gave up a 51 catch and run getting beat by Dalton Kincaid. Barmore and the interior line were immense again holding Buffalo to 3.4 yards per carry. James Cook was the #3 running back in the league averaging 5.0 yards per carry. He was held to 48 yards on 16 carries and a 3.0 average. Godchaux, Wise, Guy, Jennings, and Mack Wilson all played well.
Jalen Reagor made a very exciting kickoff return for a TD to open the game. He also had a great 39-yard reception in which he tracked the ball very well over his shoulder.
Pop Douglas set a new rookie receiving yardage record for the Patriots. He had 3 catches for 31-yards and 3 carries for another 12 yards.
At one point we had Shaun Wade, Myles Bryant and Alex Austin as our cornerbacks. Austin, the former 7th round selection by Buffalo in this year’s draft burnt his former team with a nice interception. He baited Allen into a deep pass where he thought Austin was covering the slot man. He passed him off to safety and turned back to deep cover for the INT.
Jhalani Tavai checked in with 10 tackles in another impressive performance. He was knocked around a bit but came back and continued his great play.
Ja’Whuan Bentley has difficulties in pass coverage, and it showed today. The one big negative on Defense the poor play on third down. The Bills were 7 of 125 on third down conversions. Surprisingly, James Cook, a prolific pass catcher out of the backfield had one catch for -5 yards.
Josh Allem using his legs really hurt the Patriots as he ran for 44 yards. He had 11 runs, some of those short yardage and 2 TDs. He also fumbled twice but Buffalo recovered both of those.
Chad Ryland does not belong in the NFL. He missed another FG and was called for delay of game on another (he missed that kick too). Cut him and then re-sign him to the practice squad if they really like him. Two missed FGs were the difference in the game.
Rookie Kevin Harris added to runs for 15 yards and 2 receptions for 54 yards.
Bills punter Sam Martin was great all game long with 6 punts averaging 48.2 with all 6 inside the 20 and at least 3 inside the 10. He pinned the Patriots back all day and changed field position.
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Merrimack Valley native and lifelong fan of the New England Patriots. My earliest memories of the Patriots were attending as a child with my dad, the off-season practice at Phillips Academy. I was at the Patriots game at Harvard Stadium in 1970 where Bob “Harpo” Gladieux was called out of the stands by the stadium announcer over the PA to play in the game. Analyzing the draft since ESPN first started to televise it in 1980 and former writer for the Lowell Sun Newspaper.
