These 2 defensive plays lifted Patriots over Bills in final minutes
What a game. The New England Patriots defeated the Buffalo Bills 14-10 to take a two-game lead in the AFC East and it’s looking like they could run away with the division. They’ll head into a bye week while the Bills will head to Tampa Bay to take on Tom Brady and the Buccaneers.
In cold, windy and snowy Orchard Park, Bill Belichick and Co. entered with a run-heavy and defensive-first game plan and came out triumphant. Luck was certainly on their side, too.
Josh Allen made a number of poor throws and decisions that halted the Bills’ offense. Tyler Bass missed a 33-yard field goal in the middle of the fourth quarter, which then forced Buffalo to have to score a touchdown on their final drive deep into New England territory. Had he made that, the Bills could’ve lined up for another short field goal to take a 16-14 lead with under two minutes to go.
But it was the Patriots’ defense and rushing attack that came through. With the Bills down to their last couple of snaps, it was Adrian Phillips and Myles Bryant breaking up key passes to get New England the ball back. The constant pressure from Matt Judon helped, too.
Adrian Phillips and Myles Bryant made the plays of the game for the Patriots.
On a 3rd and 14 with just over two minutes to go, Allen evaded a number of pass rushers and finally found an opening. He rifled a pass into the end zone targeted for tight end Dawson Knox. Phillips was right on him the entire way, turned just in time, and batted the pass down. That brought it to 4th and 14, but it felt like the play that did it for the Pats.
Allen had one final chance. And this time he actually had an open receiver … but he went to the wrong guy. He attempted to squeeze one in to Gabriel Davis despite Cole Beasley clearly open over the middle, and Bryant broke off his coverage of Beasley to bat the pass down.
Myles Bryant with the PBU that saved the game for the Patriots. So clutch. https://t.co/1RaLPl1XoU
— Henry McKenna (@McKennAnalysis) December 7, 2021
We can likely credit the defensive back blitz that rushed Allen’s throw, but Bryant’s ability to adjust there was both highly instinctive and clutch.
Four plays later and the Patriots ran out the clock to secure the win and more of a cushion in the AFC East. And they were able to do it all without a key defender in Kyle Dugger. It’s going to be a pleasant bye week, isn’t it?
