Brady Has Fun At Bills Fans’ Expense
ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. — Tom Brady is so looking forward to his annual trip to Buffalo the Patriots quarterback posted a video on social media playfully announcing his impending arrival.
“Another great win, 5-2. Got to get to 6-2,” he said, walking alongside teammate Lawrence Guy following a 38-31 victory at Chicago last weekend. And when Guy chimed in by saying, “6-2 on the way,” Brady responded with a wide-eyed: “Woo! Bills Mafia, here we come.”
Bills fans, who refer to themselves as the “Mafia,” naturally took Brady's remarks as a taunt in advance of Buffalo (2-5) hosting New England on Monday night.
The more upset fans are, the better, Bills defensive end Jerry Hughes said.
“I think it's perfect,” Hughes said. “I think that's great to get our fans riled up, because we're going to need all that anger, all that hostility.”
The young, patchwork and offensively challenged Bills could use whatever edge they can get for various reasons.
They're already on their third starting quarterback, with Derek Anderson filling in for injured rookie Josh Allen; have scored just 81 points; and have lost by 22 or more three times, including 37-5 at Indianapolis last weekend.
Then there's the prospect of facing Brady, who at 41, has every good reason to be upbeat given his career-long string of dominance over the Pats' AFC East rival.
With a 28-3 record against Buffalo, Brady holds the NFL mark for most wins by a quarterback against one opponent. His 466 yards passing in a 40-32 win at Buffalo in 2015 are the most against the Bills. He threw five touchdown passes — four to Randy Moss alone — in having a hand in Buffalo's most lopsided home loss, 56-10 in 2007.
And Brady also helped the Pats rack up 580 yards offense — the most allowed by Buffalo at home — in a 52-28 win in 2012.
The past means nothing to the Patriots, who are 31-5 against Buffalo since 2000, when Bill Belichick took over as coach.
“It's always tough in Buffalo,” Belichick said, discounting the fact the Patriots have won six straight at Orchard Park by a combined margin of 230-144.
The Patriots enters the game on a roll, having scored 38 or more points in winning four straight.
Bills defensive tackle Kyle Williams took no exception to Brady's remarks.
“Why wouldn't the man be confident, right? I think that comes with good players,” Williams said, referring to Brady's 201-57 career record. “Good players are confident. Great players are even more confident. That's no shock.”
Michel practices: Rookie running back Sony Michel, who hurt his left knee injury against Chicago, returned to practice Saturday. He is still listed as doubtful on the injury report. Michel leads the team with 422 yards rushing and four TDs.