FOXBOROUGH — Everything you need to know from the Patriots’ win over the Bills in quickie form, with BSJ insight and analysis:
HEADLINES
Patriots storm back to capture AFC East: It didn't look good down 17-13 in the fourth quarter, but the Patriots got timely offense and great defense in the fourth quarter to score the final 10 points of the game to win the AFC East for the 11th consecutive season and 19th time since Tom Brady became quarterback.
Tom Brady shows he very much still has it: It wasn't the type of game that will win you very many fantasy championships but Brady was outstanding and mostly accurate completing 26 of 33 passes (78.8 percent) for 271 yards and one touchdown (111.1 QB rating) to deliver when the team needed him most. This was vintage Brady, even if it was in more of a blue-collar package.
Not to say we told you, but we told you.
Best Patriots offensive performance in ... forever: The Patriots seemed to put it all together in this game offensively, even with Marcus Cannon (ankle) leaving with an injury. They ran for over 145 yards, passed for over 270 with several players catching multiple passes. Josh McDaniels really outdid himself in this game as the offensive packaging featured everything from more fullback leads, pony backfield to target Bills linebackers in coverage, trick plays, old standbys ... McDaniels left it all out on the field. The most important thing was the Patriots stopped being the grenade offense and actually executed for multiple plays at a time. A huge step forward.
TURNING POINT
A lot of swings in this game, but we'll go with the stop of Josh Allen when he tried to run for the first down with 3:34 left in the third quarter. Buffalo had a lot of momentum at that point and Jamie Collins and Kyle Van Noy stopped him just inches short of the first down. The Bills punted and the Patriots scored the next 11 points to win the game.
SECOND GUESS
The whole sequence before halftime when the Patriots had the ball. Mohamed Sanu didn't reach out for the first down. Then N'Keal Harry got upended on an end-around on fourth down where Sanu might have missed the block. The Patriots just should have punted and led 10-3 going into halftime. Instead, it was 10-10 when the Bills took the ball and converted. It totally changed the momentum of the game.
THREE UP
Tom Brady: Wasn't pretty, but it was vintage Brady. He played a terrific game.
Lawrence Guy: The big man seemed to be in on every play in the second half and just controlled the middle of the field.
Rex Burkhead/Sony Michel: The backfield duo combined for 198 yards of total offense and a touchdown. They were great when the team needed them.
THREE DOWN
Mohamed Sanu: Seems like he's completely lost within this offense right now. They really need him to get going and playing with confidence.
Patrick Chung: Looks like he is running on fumes right now. Having a tough time tackling and in coverage.
Devin McCourty: It appeared he made a rare mistake on the John Brown touchdown and it almost cost the Patriots dearly.
INJURIES
Marcus Cannon (ankle): Did not return.
Julian Edelman (concussion): Returned.
THREE TAKES BEDARD WILL PROBABLY REGRET LATER
If the Patriots play this kind of offense — and get more from Mohamed Sanu — then they can win the Super Bowl. But it's going to take that kind of effort and near-flawless play to get it done. There is no margin for error, but they've been here before.
Tom Brady ain't done yet: Everyone was ready to bury Tom Brady last week — and he did play poorly — but this was a game where he raised the offense up. Maybe he can't do this in every game, but the past two seasons have shown he can do it when it counts.
Defense did what they needed to: It was not a Picasso from them, the Bills definitely made some plays and a better quarterback would have beaten them, but they were shutdown when it counted and it was fun to watch.