GAME NOTES: Patriots Grind Out Win Over Buffalo Bills

It wasn’t pretty or a massive blowout but nevertheless, the Patriots improved to 10-0 after a Monday night of confusion, dirty play, and unexpected twists.

Despite finishing the night with a rating of 72.3, Tom Brady threw for 277 yards and a touchdown, with Danny Amendola becoming Brady’s top target with nine catches for 117 yards on 12 targets during the 20-13 win over the Buffalo Bills.

“I didn’t think that was our best. I think we need to do a better job of coaching, do a better job of playing. But we made enough plays and we got some big plays from special teams, got some big plays defensively. So it was good today and we scored enough points, so we’ll take it and move on to Denver,” Patriots head coach Bill Belichick said after the game.

Running back James White took advantage of an increase in opportunities, scoring two touchdowns on 46 all-purpose yards, including two touchdowns on a 20-yard pass and eight-yard run.

The Patriots will have a short week as they prepare for the Denver Broncos Sunday evening.

Confusing Calls

If the one thing could be said about the officiating crew tonight it’s that a bad call has consequences, and in this case, an almost certain touchdown. On the third play of the third quarter, a Brady pass near the sideline to Amendola was killed instantly for reasons unknown by both teams. According to the ref’s explanation, an inadvertent whistle stopped the play. Due to the stoppage, New England was given the 15-yard pass and an additional 15 yards after an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty on Bills head coach Rex Ryan.

If not for the whistle, Amendola would have likely scored a touchdown with no defender in position to stop what would have been a 55-yard run after the catch.

New England would be forced to kick later in the drive, with Gostkowski missing a 54-yard field goal and Buffalo tying the game at 10-10 on the next drive on a 27-yard run by McCoy.

Spectators and participants were again left scratching their heads at the end of the game as time expired despite Sammi Watkins stepping out of bounds at the Buffalo 48 with two seconds to play.

According to head referee Gene Steratore, Walkins gave himself up voluntarily in the field of play. When that occurs and we deem that the runner, which puts him down by contact in the field and keeps the clock running.

A Big Night for James White

James White finally produced in the Dion Lewis-like role he was expected to take over with the injury of the breakout running back. Facing a third and 20 at the Bills’ 20, White broke a 3-3 tie, slipping past Corey Graham around the 10 to put New England up 10-3 after the extra point late in the first half.

“[I was] in one-on-one coverage with a safety. [The Bills] blitzed, Tom [Brady] threw it to me quick and I just stiff-armed a guy and got into the end zone,” White said after the game.

White would break a deadlock again, putting New England ahead for good with a six-yard touchdown run to give the Patriots a 17-10 lead with 5:55 left in the third quarter.

“James has been a dependable player for us. He came through with a couple big plays last week against the Giants and had them today. We need everybody every week and he made some plays for us today,” Belichick said.

Danny Amendola, Receiver Number 1?

With Julian Edelman out for the foreseeable future and Rob Gronkowski having an off night, Amendola quickly became Brady’s favorite receiver, connecting multiple times on cross patterns in the middle of the field and racking up 117 yards.

Now for the bad news.

After leaving the game with a knee injury, Amendola was listed as questionable and did not return for the remainder of the evening, leaving the Patriots wondering who will step up against Denver on Sunday

Rough Night for Brady

The Patriots quarterback will likely be sore in the morning, taking 10 hits from a Buffalo defense that made pass rushing a high priority. Several times, Brady was forced out of the pocket and into throwing the ball away.

Brady also threw a deep ball intended for Chris Harper to Bills safety Stephon Gilmore around the Bills’ two.

“I think we have a better understanding of each other. I think now, I know what this team has, what we are capable of doing and quite honestly, it was more true to playing Bills defense, to playing our defense and I think we understand that a little bit better than Week 2,” Ryan said.

Below are game notes from Patriots Media Relations:

PATRIOTS WIN 10 FOR 13TH STRAIGHT SEASON

New England reached at least 10 regular-season wins for the 13th consecutive season in 2015. San Francisco (16) is the only other team to accomplish the feat.

MOST SEASONS OF 10+ WINS

1. San Francisco 1983-1998, 16
2. New England 2003-15, 13
3. Indianapolis 2001-10, 9
4. Dallas 1975-81, 7

PATRIOTS COMPLETE NFL RECORD STREAK OF SCORING IN 38 CONSECUTIVE QUARTERS

The Patriots scored in each of the first three quarters against Buffalo, extending their NFL-record streak to 38 consecutive quarters scoring points. The Patriots did not score in the fourth quarter against the Bills to snap the streak. The only other quarter in which the Patriots have not scored points in 2015 is the first quarter of the 2015 regular-season opener vs. Pittsburgh on Sept. 10.

The most consecutive regulation quarters with at least one point:

1. New England 2015, 38
2. St. Louis 1999-2000, 31
3. Indianapolis 2005, 31
4. New England 1993-94, 27
5. Kansas City 2002, 27
6. Oakland 2002, 27

PATRIOTS HAVE NFL’S STINGIEST DEFENSE

Through 10 games, the Patriots have allowed 182 points, the fewest of any other NFL team in 2015. New England’s defense is allowing just 14 points per game over its last four contests and is allowing just 18.2 points per game on the season.

2015 NFL FEWEST POINTS ALLOWED

1. New England 182
2. Denver 183
3. Minnesota 184

PATS ARE THE THIRD DEFENDING SUPER BOWL CHAMPION TO START 10-0

The Patriots are the third defending Super Bowl champion to start a season 10-0, joining Green Bay (2011 – 13-0), Denver (1998 – 13-0) and San Francisco (1990 – 10-0).

PATRIOTS WIN 13th STRAIGHT GAME (INCLUDING PLAYOFFS)

The Patriots have now won 13 consecutive games, dating back to the 2014 playoffs. The Patriots won three straight playoff games to end the 2014 season and have won their first 10 games of the 2015 regular season. The overall win streak is the third longest in team history.

LONGEST PATRIOTS WINNING STREAKS (INCLUDING PLAYOFFS)

Wins Dates

1. 21 Oct. 5, 2003 to Oct. 24, 2004
2. 18 Sept. 9, 2007 to Jan. 20, 2008
3. 13 Jan. 10, 2015 to Present
4. 12 Nov. 25, 2001 to Sept. 22, 2002

PATRIOTS HAVE BEST WINNING PERCENTAGE IN NOVEMBER SINCE 2001

The Patriots improved to 43-15 (.741) in November since 2001, for the best winning percentage in November since that time. Indianapolis is second (42-20, .677).

PATRIOTS EARN A SERIES SWEEP OVER BUFFALO

The Patriots swept the 2015 season series with Buffalo. It is New England’s 24th sweep of the season series with the Bills, dating back to the inception of the series between the old AFL rivals in 1960. The Patriots have won 27 of the last 32 games between the teams since Bill Belichick became head coach of the Patriots in 2000.

HOT WHEN IT’S COLD

The kickoff temperature tonight was 29 degrees, and New England won its eighth straight regular season home game in freezing temperatures (kickoff temperature of 32 degrees or colder). The last time the Patriots lost a home game played in freezing temperatures was on Nov. 5, 2006, when Indianapolis came away with a 27-20 win in a game played in 31 degree temperatures.

PATRIOTS FREEZING WEATHER HOME WINNING STREAK

(7 Consecutive Wins With Temperature 32 degrees or Colder)

Date Opp Result Temperature*

• 11/23/2015 BUF W 20-13 29
• 12/8/2013 CLE W 27-26 30
• 11/24/2013 DEN W 34-31 (OT) 22
• 12/30/2012 MIA W 28-0 28
• 12/24/2011 MIA W 27-24 30
• 12/19/2010 GNB W 31-27 32
• 12/6/2010 NYJ W 45-3 27
• 12/21/2008 ARI W 47-7 30

*-At Kickoff

INDIVIDUAL NOTES

BELICHICK ADDS TO HIS RECORD WITH ANOTHER 10-WIN SEASON

Bill Belichick has coached the Patriots to 13 straight seasons with 10 or more wins after reaching his 10th win of the 2015 season vs. Buffalo, adding to his NFL record streak. In 2011, Belichick became the first coach in NFL history with nine straight seasons with at least 10 victories. George Seifert has the second most consecutive 10-win seasons with eight from 1989-1996 for San Francisco.

BRADY CLOSING IN ON MARINO FOR TD PASSES

Tom Brady threw his 417th career touchdown pass tonight, a total that ranks fourth all-time and trails Dan Marino (420) by three touchdowns for third place.

MOST CAREER TOUCHDOWN PASSES

(regular season only) Bold indicates active players

rank name touchdowns

1. Peyton Manning 539

2. Brett Favre 508

3. Dan Marino 420

4. Tom Brady 417

5. Drew Brees 416

BRADY IS IMPRESSIVE AGAINST BUFFALO

Tom Brady owns a 25-3 record against the Buffalo Bills. He has more wins against Buffalo than any other NFL team. His 25 wins as a starting quarterback over the Bills are the second most by any quarterback against one team in NFL history. The New York Jets are second on Brady’s wins list with 21 wins. Brett Favre’s 26 wins against Detroit are the most by any quarterback against any one team.

MOST WINS BY A STARTING QUARTERBACK AGAINST AN OPPONENT

1. Brett Favre 26 wins against Detroit
2. Tom Brady 25 wins against Buffalo
3. Brett Favre 23 wins against Chicago
4. Dan Marino 22 wins against Indianapolis

BRADY’S TDS ARE SECOND MOST IN NFL HISTORY AGAINST ONE TEAM

Tom Brady has thrown 62 touchdown passes against Buffalo, the most by Brady against any one team, and the second most by any quarterback against any one team, trailing only Dan Marino’s record of 72 scoring passes against the New York Jets.

Most Touchdowns against one NFL Team

1. Dan Marino (Miami) 72 touchdowns against the New York Jets
2. Tom Brady (Buffalo) 62 touchdowns against Buffalo
3. Brett Favre (ATL/GB/NYJ/MIN) 60 against Chicago

BRADY HAS FOURTH STRAIGHT GAME WITH A PASS OF AT LEAST 40 YARDS

Tom Brady has his fourth straight game with a pass of at least 40 yards after his 41-yard pass to WR Danny Amendola in the third quarter. His longest streak of games with at least 40yard pass was eight straight games in 2007. He had a seven-game streak in 2009 and a four-game streak in 2003 and 2011.

BRADY HAS 5TH MOST YARDS THROUGH FIRST TEN GAMES IN NFL HISTORY

Tom Brady leads the NFL with 3,320 passing yards in 2015. It is the fifth-highest total through ten games in NFL history.

Most Passing Yards Through First 10 Games

Player Team Year Pass Yds Thru 10 Games

1. Peyton Manning Denver 2013 3,572
2. Andrew Luck Indianapolis 2014 3,388
3. Drew Brees New Orleans 2013 3,369
4. Drew Brees New Orleans 2011 3,326
5. Tom Brady New England 2015 3,320
6. Peyton Manning Denver 2014 3,301

GOSTKOWSKI ENDS STREAK AT 31 STRAIGHT FIELD GOALS

Stephen Gostkowski extended his streak to 31 straight field goals with a 35-yard field goal in the first quarter but missed on a 54-yarder in the third quarter to end his streak. He ended a streak of 52 straight field goals at home. It was his first home miss since Sept. 12, 2013 vs. the New York Jets when he missed a 43-yard field goal in the second quarter.

Most Consecutive Field Goals/Patriots History

1. 31 Stephen Gostkowski (12/07/14- 11/23/15)
2. 25 Adam Vinatieri (11/24/96-11/09/97)
3. 23 Adam Vinatieri (10/17/04-12/26/04)
4. 21 Stephen Gostkowski (9/22/13-11/24/13)
5. 20 Stephen Gostkowski (12/15/13-10/05/14)

BRADY IMPROVES ON STELLAR NOVEMBER RECORD

Quarterbacks with the best records in November in Super Bowl era (min. 20 starts)

Player Record in November Win PCT.

1. Daryle Lamonica 19-4-2 .826
2. Tony Romo 26-6 .813
3. Jim McMahon 18-5 .783
4. Tom Brady 41-12 .774
5. Joe Flacco 24-10 .706

BRADY ON RECORD PACE FOR PASSING YARDS

Tom Brady has 3,320 passing yards through 10 games this season. Brady is on pace to finish the season with 5,312 passing yards, which would challenge Peyton Manning’s NFL-record 5,477 passing yards in 2013.

Most Passing Yards in a Season

Player Yards

1. Peyton Manning (2013) 5,477
2. Drew Brees (2011) 5,476
3. Tom Brady (2011) 5,235
4. Drew Brees (2012) 5,177
5. Drew Brees (2013) 5,162
6. Dan Marino (1984) 5,084
7. Matthew Stafford (2011) 5,038

BRADY ON PACE FOR 40 TOUCHDOWN PASSES

Tom Brady has 25 touchdown passes through the first 10 games of the season, putting him on pace to finish with 40 scoring passes in 2015. If Brady reaches at least 40 touchdown passes in 2015, he will join Peyton Manning (55 in 2013 and 49 in 2004), Dan Marino (48 in 1984 and 44 in 1986) and Drew Brees (46 in 2011 and 43 in 2012) as the only players in NFL history to have multiple seasons of 40+ touchdown passes. Brady threw 50 touchdown passes in 2007.

Quarterbacks with 40 or more touchdown passes in a season

Player TD Passes

1. Peyton Manning (2013) 55
2. Tom Brady (2007) 50
3. Peyton Manning (2004) 49
4. Dan Marino (1984) 48
5. Drew Brees (2011) 46
6. Aaron Rodgers (2011) 45
7. Dan Marino (1986) 44
8. Drew Brees (2012) 43
9. Matthew Stafford (2011)41
10. Kurt Warner (1999) 41
11. Andrew Luck (2014) 40

QUICK HITS

• Jerod Mayo tackled Buffalo RB LeSean McCoy for a 4-yard loss on the second play of the game on second-and-one, forcing the Bills into a third down that they did not convert as the New England defense began the game with a three-and-out.
• Devin McCourty helped to break up a Tyrod Taylor pass intended for LeSean McCoy in the end zone on third down in the second quarter, forcing a Buffalo field goal attempt on the next play that was missed, to preserve a 3-3 first half tie.
• Chandler Jones stopped Tyrod Taylor for a 6-yard loss on third down in the third quarter with the score tied at 10, forcing a Buffalo punt on the next play, and the Patriots took possession and marched down the field to take a 17-10 lead on James White’s 6-yard touchdown run.
• Dont’a Hightower stopped LeSean McCoy for a 1-yard loss on first down in the third quarter on the Bills’ first offensive play after the Patriots took a 17-10 lead, starting off a three-and-out for the New England defense.
• Brandon King forced a Leodis McKelvin fumble on a punt return in the third quarter with the Patriots holding a 17-10 lead. Jonathan Freeney recovered the ball, and after a fumble out of bounds, New England gained possession at the Bills’ 30-yard line, setting up a Partriots offensive possession that ended in a 35-yard Stephen Gostkowski field goal and a 20-10 Patriots lead.
• Rob Ninkovich and Dominique Easley combined to sack Tyrod Taylor on a 0-yard sack on third down in the fourth quarter, forcing a Buffalo punt on the next play.
• Patrick Chung stopped Karlos Williams for a 1-yard loss on third-and-inches in the fourth quarter, helping to preserve New England’s 20-10 fourth-quarter lead and forcing a Buffalo punt on the next play.
• Logan Ryan stopped Karlos Williams for a 2-yard loss on first down in the fourth quarter.
• Jabaal Sheard tackled LeSean McCoy for a 4-yard loss on a Buffalo first down in the red zone late in the fourth quarter.

Photo Credit: New England Patriots