Cautious Pats run past Buffalo
Rack up 222 yards on ground
ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. — The easiest way to explain the Patriots has been to point to the past.
To compare this doubted, underdog bunch to the 2001 team, a Super Bowl champion backboned by strong defense and a powerful enough run game to support a young quarterback. On Monday, these Pats turned the clock back even further.
Amid blustery winds, the Patriots set a franchise record with only three pass attempts and beat the Bills 14-10 behind a historic ground-and-pound approach. The Pats rushed for a season-high 222 yards and ran on 32 consecutive snaps spanning the second and fourth quarters. Defensively, they repelled three straight Buffalo drives that reached the red zone to close their win.
Facing fourth-and-goal at his own 14, Pats defensive back Myles Bryant broke up Josh Allen’s final pass to officially send the Bills (7-5) packing moments inside the 2-minute warning. Buffalo’s two prior drives ended in field goal attempts, a 33-yarder blown wide right and a 35yarder made late in the third quarter.
Swirling gusts were constant inside Highmark Stadium, even reaching 50 mph during play. But nothing could knock the determined Patriots off course.
At 9-4 and winners of a league-high seven straight, the Pats extended their division lead to a game and a half and ensured they will lead the AFC when they return after their upcoming bye week.
Rookie quarterback Mac Jones went 2-of-3 for 19 yards passing and rushed five times for minus-three yards. According to the Elias Sports Bureau, the Patriots’ one first-half pass attempt marked the fewest by an NFL team since 1978.
The Patriots and Bills both sputtered at the start, the wind affecting a third-down toss to Damien Harris that slipped through his hands and a third-down pass to Buffalo tight end Dawson Knox whose own butterfingers led to another punt.
The Pats failed to bully Buffalo on their second series and again rain into a brick wall over three straight carries. Jake Bailey then sailed a 15-yard punt he lost immediately to the wind. Lucky for the Patriots, Bills running back Devin Singletary fumbled a hand-off four plays later, and defensive tackle Lawrence Guy fell on it, killing a drive that started in their territory.
Finally, the bullies broke through.
Taking a third-down toss left, Damien Harris followed picture perfect blocking from his offensive line and cut upfield against a sea of Bills defenders before speeding all alone to a 64-yard touchdown. His score was the Patriots’ longest rushing touchdown in a regular-season game since Curtis Martin in 1997. Facing a relentless wind, the Pats bypassed an point-after try and instead scored a 2-point conversion sending Brandon Bolden on another toss left.
Ahead 8-0, the Pats defense flexed again late in the first quarter and choked out another drive. N’Keal Harry then curiously joined All-Pro Gunner Olszewski back deep for the first punt return of his NFL career. Sure enough, the ball soared toward Harry, took one bounce and glanced off his facemask for a fumble. An alert Bills coverage unit pounced on it at the Patriots’ 14-yard line.
On the very next snap, Allen rifled a touchdown pass to Gabriel Davis. While the Pats answered immediately with a 54-yard field goal drive, Buffalo’s run defense stonewalled them through halftime.
Breaking out of the locker room, the Bills booted their third straight punt and again yielded little to the Patriots’ rushing attack. Buoyed by another mistake — Bryant’s unnecessary roughness hit on Allen as he scampered out of bounds — Buffalo tacked on a field goal. And again, the Patriots answered with a field goal drive, this time a 33yarder from Nick Folk.
In the fourth quarter, the Bills crawled into Patriots territory with a mix of short completions, runs and an Allen scramble. Then another Pats penalty, a horse collar tackle courtesy of Dont’a Hightower, vaulted them inside the 10-yard line. Dusting themselves off, the Patriots stood their ground against a first-down run, then sacked Allen on second-andgoal and forced a hopeless incompletion on third down.
Tyler Bass’ ensuing kick went wide right. After another Patriots punt, the Bills marched back, only to be beaten back again by the wind and the NFL’s best defense.
Here were the best and worst Patriot performances Monday:
Best
Offensive line The Pats piled up 222 rushing yards without any help from their passing game. That’s a huge credit to the big men up front.
Red-zone defense Buffalo finished 1-of-4 inside the red zone.
DT Davon Godchaux He finished with a game-high 10 tackles and helped limit the Bills to four yards per carry.
Worst
WR N’Keal Harry His fumble led to the Bills’ only points through three quarters.