NFL: Patriots wrap up AFC East with victory over Bills, move to No. 2 seed

FOXBOROUGH, MASS.— It’s not every day that a team finds itself cheering for the one that beat it the season before in the Super Bowl.

This isn’t the typical season for the New England Patriots.

Patriots players erupted in a loud cheer in the locker-room as Eagles kicker Jake Elliott’s 35yard field goal sailed through the uprights as time expired to give Philadelphia a victory over the Houston Texans on Sunday.

Combined with the Patriots’ 24-12 win over the Buffalo Bills just minutes before to snap a two-game losing streak, New England moved back into the No. 2 spot in the AFC with one game to play. A Patriots win over the Jets next week would give New England a first-round bye in the playoffs.

“Fly, Eagles, fly!” receiver Julian Edelman said afterward.

It was a perfect ending to a less than perfect day for the Patriots.

New England (10-5) earned their 10th straight AFC East title with Sony Michel running for 116 yards and a touchdown. It also improved to 7-0 at home this season and became the first franchise in NFL history to earn playoff berths in 10 straight seasons. It marked the Patriots’ fifth straight win over the Bills (5-10) and their 26th series sweep of Buffalo.

Tom Brady went 13-of-24 for 126 yards, a touchdown and two interceptions — his lowest output since he passed for 123 yards in a 2003 loss to the Bills.

“We didn’t have our best day in the passing game. But it felt good to win. At this time of year, whatever it takes to win, that’s what you’ve got to do,” Brady said. “And we still have one hugely important game left. We have to finish strong.”

With the touchdown, Brady joined Peyton Manning, Drew Brees and Philip Rivers with at least 10 seasons of 4,000-plus passing yards. Manning has 14 such seasons, Brees entered the day with 12 and Rivers has 10.

It was Michel’s fourth 100yard rushing game of the season.

It helped mask Brady’s mild day.

The two interceptions were his third time with multiple picks in a game this season. He now has 11 interceptions in 2018, his most since 2013.