Bills no longer Pats patsy after wins in 3 of past 4 games
ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. » Chris Kelsay’s introduction to the Bills’ so-called and very onesided divisional rivalry against the New England Patriots differed from many of the defensive end’s contemporaries over his 10 seasons in Buffalo.
He began his career with a win.
And yet, Kelsay will never forget the words of caution he received shortly after the Bills opened the 2003 season with a stunning 31-0 victory, punctuated by hefty defensive tackle Sam Adams returning Tom Brady’s interception 37 yards for a touchdown.
“I remember guys were saying, ‘Don’t get used to this,’” Kelsay said with a laugh this week as Buffalo (11-6) prepares to host the Patriots (10-7).
Perhaps, no truer words had ever been spoken.
Not only did the Patriots respond by beating the Bills 31-0 in the season finale en route to winning their second of an eventual six Super Bowl titles spanning the 2001 to 2018 seasons, they proceeded to win their next 15 straight meetings over Buffalo.
“Oh, yeah, I played them 20 times in my career and I think I beat them twice,” said Kelsay, referring to Buffalo’s streak-ending 34-31 win over New England in 2011. “You were always optimistic about your game plan, your preparation, but during that timeframe, they obviously got our number more than we got theirs.”
Difficult as it was then, Kelsay is encouraged to see signs of the tables finally being turned. The Bills have won three of four, and loosened the Patriots’ lengthy grip on the AFC East by winning division titles in each of the past two seasons.
“It’s pretty remarkable really,” said Kelsay who acknowledged initially having pangs of jealousy in watching the Bills enjoy success in retirement. “It’s awesome to see the success they’re having.”
The Bills are no longer the Patriots patsy that occurred during a lengthy run from 2000 to ‘19, which coincided with coach Bill Belichick’s arrival and Tom Brady’s final season in New England. Over that stretch, Belichick won 35 of 40 meetings, with Brady going 32-3 (now 33-3 after he led Tampa Bay past Buffalo last month) to set the NFL record for most wins against one opponent.
With Brady gone, Buffalo swept the season series last year for the first time since 1999. This year, the Bills responded from an embarrassing 14-10 loss in blustery conditions
at home on Dec. 6 with a 33-21 win at New England three weeks later.
On Saturday, the teams will meet for only the second time in the playoffs, after the then-Boston Patriots beat Buffalo 26-8 in the former American Football League’s divisional playoff in 1963.
Bills coach Sean McDermott dismissed whatever recent success the Bills have enjoyed by referencing the 14-10 loss in which the Patriots attempted three passes while finishing with 222 yards rushing to counter the elements.
“This is a good football team,” McDermott said. “And I don’t think you have to look any further than knowing that they beat us here a couple of weeks ago.”
Former Patriots linebacker Jerod Mayo also discounted the past, in noting how both teams have changed. The Bills are now led by fourthyear starter Josh Allen, while the Patriots are in transition under rookie Mac Jones.
“Honestly, I don’t really get into comparing teams,” Mayo said. “Every team has it’s own unique structure, own unique identity.”
It’s easy for Mayo to say, given he enjoyed a 14-2 record over Buffalo during his eight seasons in New England from 2008-15.
The difference is Mayo didn’t have to endure the sometimes head-banging frustrations the Bills endured in almost always coming up short.
There was the 2009 season-opening 25-24 loss, in which Buffalo’s Leodis McKelvin had a vulgar symbol spray-painted on his front lawn after fumbling a kickoff, which led to the Patriots scoring 12 points in final 2:06. There was New England’s 56-10 blowout victory at Buffalo in 2007, when Brady threw four touchdown passes to Randy Moss in the first half alone.