Boston Herald

BEST & WORST OF YESTERDAY’S GAME

- TEXT BY ADAM KURKJIAN

BEST OPENER

The Bills marched down the field in 80 yards on 10 plays, easily scoring on the first drive when LeSean McCoy barreled in from 4 yards.

BEST RESPONSE

After a three-and-out on their first offensive series, Tom Brady went 5-for-5 with an 8-yard touchdown pass to Julian Edelman after scrambling to his right and dumping to him down low.

BEST HIT

Jamie Collins' blitz up the middle for a 9-yard sack nearly caused a safety to force a Bills punt that gave the Patriots good field position.

WORST PENALTIES

The Bills and Patriots both committed taunting penalties after giving up scoring plays. That's the opposite of how that's supposed to work.

WORST CALL

Instead of going for a quarterbac­k sneak on fourth-and-1 from the New England 48-yard line, the Pats called a fake jet sweep play-action bootleg to Brady's right. His first read was to Dion Lewis, who was covered, so Brady launched a deep pass for Julian Edelman that fell incomplete.

WORST STRATEGY

Bills coach Rex Ryan tried to cover Rob Gronkowski at the 2-yard line with a cornerback, as Scott Chandler lined up inside and sat just on the goal line while Gronkowski trailed on a slant and beat Stephon Gilmore.

BEST BOUNCE BACK

Dion Lewis scored a first-quarter touchdown but lost a fumble in the second. However, he recovered by catching two passes for 52 yards two drives later.

BEST RETURN TO FORM

Aaron Dobson caught seven passes for 87 yards in his best performanc­e since his rookie season.

WORST MOMENT

Aaron Williams was carted off the field with a neck injury when Julian Edelman scored a diving touchdown.

BEST RECEPTION

Danny Amendola's sprawling, 29-yard, twisting grab that helped set up the Pats' final points.

BEST INTERCEPTI­ON

Logan Ryan's diving grab of a tipped ball that ended Buffalo's chance of a comeback.

 ?? STAFF PHOTO BY MATT WEST ?? DANNY AMENDOLA
STAFF PHOTO BY MATT WEST DANNY AMENDOLA
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