Patriots vs. Bills Final Score: Pats Show Resolve, Come Out Victorious

Resiliency.

That is what the Patriots showed today, as they went into a hostile environment, got hit with a few big injuries, and still came out with the win.

New England got on the scoreboard first, as Tom Brady hit tight end Tim Wright for a one-yard score in the second quarter. However Buffalo responded, going 67 yards on 10 plays to tie the game up. But the bigger news on that drive was the injury sustained by linebacker Jerod Mayo, who was immediately carted off the field. Mayo went in to make a tackle on a running play, and his knee just buckled underneath him. Based on his reaction, this could be a season-ending injury, but we don’t know for sure yet.

If Mayo is in fact done for the year, the Patriots will have to re-evaluate the linebacker position. They came into the year extremely thin, and even their small depth behind the starters were mediocre players. This will definitely hurt their run defense, and it is something that may not be entirely fixable.

That injury shook up the Pats, and when Dan Connolly had to exit shortly after, they really started to fall apart. Brady was getting killed in the pocket, and if it weren’t for two late fumbles by Buffalo, this game could have gone south quickly for the Pats. But they stuck with it, and it allowed their offense to explode in the second half. The offensive line played very well, giving Brady time to throw to Rob Gronkowski, Julian Edelman, Brandon LaFell, and even Brian Tyms, who pulled in an amazing 43-yard score.

When Brady gets time to throw, this passing attack is dangerous. The combination of Gronk and Edelman on the inside, and the presence of LaFell on the outside produced 37 points for them today, and ultimately got them the win. Hopefully Connolly and Stork are not seriously injured, because once they return, and help stabilize this line, New England will be just fine. I think it is also safe to say that Gronk is completely back, as he was dominating in a way that only he can dominate.

As for the defense, they struggled at times, but overall, they were solid, specifically the front seven. Dominique Easley, Sealver Siliga, Dont’a Hightower, and Jerod Mayo were out for most of the game, and the Pats still held one of the best running games in the league to 68 yards on 23 carries. The defensive line controlled the line of scrimmage, and Jamie Collins, along with a surprising effort from Deontae Skinner helped them contain Buffalo.

The lack of consistent pressure is something to be concerned about, but Rob Ninkovich came through with three big sacks, and Chandler Jones is always explosive in that department. The Patriots can rush the passer, they just need to be consistent about it.

Stevan Ridley was the other big injury for the Pats, as he was forced to leave with what the Pats called a knee injury. With a game on Thursday, this onslaught of injuries could not have come at a worse time for the Patriots.

But a win is a win, and they are now the leaders of the AFC East.