Brady struggles, but Pats defense bails him out
ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. — On a day Tom Brady was far less than terrific, J.C. Jackson and New England’s defense bailed him out in securing the Patriots’ first 4-0 start in four years.
The Buffalo Bills, meanwhile, dropped to 3-1 following a 16-10 loss on Sunday and were left fuming after starting quarterback Josh Allen was unable to finish the game following a helmet-to-helmet hit by Jonathan Jones.
“There is no room in football for that,” Bills coach Sean McDermott said and questioned why Jones wasn’t ejected.
It was a defensive slugfest between two AFC East rivals in a game the Patriots seemed ready to blow open by building a 13-0 lead after the first quarter.
Jackson had two of the Patriots’ four interceptions and also blocked a punt that led to Matthew Slater returning it 11 yards for a touchdown. Linebacker Jamie Collins sealed the victory by coming down with backup Matt Barkley’s interception with 1:27 remaining.
Linebacker Kyle Van Noy, who pressured Barkley in forcing the interception, said the Patriots defense took exception to comments Bills tackle Dion Dawkins made last week. Dawkins told reporters the Bills didn’t care what the Patriots had done in their first three games because they had yet to face Buffalo.
“Just wanted to make sure Dawkins knew who we were,” Van Noy said.
Brady finished 18 of 39 for 150 yards with an interception. His 45.9 passer rating was the sixth lowest of his career and lowest since finishing with a 34 rating in a 27-20 loss to Indianapolis on Nov. 5, 2006. The Patriots had lost the previous six times Brady finished with a passer rating of 48 or lower.
The Patriots’ 16 points were scored as a result of Bills miscues. Brandon Bolden scored on a 4-yard run after Devin McCourty intercepted Allen on Buffalo’s opening drive. Stephen Gostkowski, who missed an extra point wide left, hit a 23-yard field goal set up by Jackson’s second interception.
Allen was knocked woozy and placed in the concussion protocol, leaving his status uncertain for Buffalo’s game at Tennessee next weekend.
The Bills were facing third-down-8 at the New England 45, when Allen scrambled out of the pocket and through a hole up the middle. With defensive back Duron Harmon coming in f rom t he quarterback’s right, Allen was struck in the crown of the helmet by Jones, who lowered his head to make the hit.
Bills safety Micah Hyde immediately questioned why Jones drew only a personal foul for unnecessary roughness and wasn’t also ejected from the game.
“If one of us did that to 12 (Brady), we wouldn’t have been in the game anymore,” Hyde said.