Patriots run over Bills for seventh straight win, AFC lead
Linebacker Matt Judon praised the Patriots offense while taking a playful swipe at rookie quarterback Mac Jones.
“Hats off to the offense. Really everybody, probably besides Mac,” Judon said with a smile. “He didn’t really do nothing besides hand the ball off.”
No offense taken. With 40 mph wind gusts placing an emphasis on running the ball, Jones was more than content in being relegated to handoff duty in New England’s 14-10 win over the Buffalo Bills on Monday night.
Jones completed just two of three pass attempts for 19 yards, essentially watching the Patriots backfield literally run away with their seventh consecutive win and shore up New England’s familiar place atop the AFC.
“Just a crazy game to be a part of,” Jones said.
“We knew it was going to be windy. You can’t control it. There is no on and off switch,” he added. “You just have to go out there and do your job, and for us to run the ball like we did was incredible.”
Damien Harris scored on a 64-yard run as the Patriots outgained Buffalo 222 to 99 in yards rushing.
Nick Folk hit both field goal attempts from 34 and 41 yards with the wind at his back, and the Patriots defense limited the Bills to a season-low 230 yards offense.
Defensive back Miles Bryant sealed the win by batting down Josh Allen’s pass at the goal line on fourth-and-14 at New England’s 18 with 1:55 left. It came a series after Buffalo’s Tyler Bass missed a 34-yard attempt into the wind in a game the Bills managed 10 points on four drives inside the New England 20.
New England (9-4) improved to 6-0 on the road this season and now has a two-game edge over the Bills (7-5) in the AFC East standings.
Buffalo’s defense has now allowed 200-plus yards rushing in two of its past three games, after giving up a season-worst 264 in a 41-15 loss to the Colts two weeks ago.
Harris finished with a season-best 111 yards rushing and opened the scoring on New England’s ninth play from scrimmage. Facing third-and-5, Harris burst though a gaping hole up the middle and was untouched on his way to the end zone.
Rather than attempt the extra point into the wind, coach Bill Belichick succeeded on a 2-point conversion, with Brandon Bolden scoring just inside the left pylon.
ELSEWHERE
Football Team: Washington quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick had arthroscopic surgery on his right hip Tuesday, ending his chances of returning this season, according to a person with knowledge of the situation.
Fitzpatrick, 39, suffered a partial dislocation, or subluxation, of his hip in the season opener against the Los Angeles Chargers and has been on injured reserve since. The initial projection was that he could return after six to eight weeks of rehab and avoid surgery. But in midNovember, it became clear that his odds of coming back were slim. An MRI showed “some progress” in his recovery, coach Ron Rivera said, but not enough to get him back on the field.