Patriots Get Playoff Bye, Thanks To Jimmy Garoppolo

FOXBOROUGH, MA — Sometimes it doesn't matter if you don't report to work at Gillette Stadium anymore, you can still do your job for the Patriots from afar.

With an assist from ex-Patriot Jimmy Garoppolo and the San Francisco 49ers, the New England Patriots clinched a bye in the AFC Playoffs, guaranteeing them a finish no worse than second place. The Patriots can clinch home field throughout the playoffs with a win against the New York Jets in the regular season finale next week or with a Steelers defeat.

In Foxborough, the Buffalo Bills played the Patriots tight until a controversial call gave New England the big break they needed. Driving down the field at the end of the half, Bills quarterback Tyrod Taylor found Kelvin Benjamin on the edge of the right side of the end zone for an apparent five-yard touchdown pass. Moments later, the call was reversed, puzzling everyone in the stadium, including those cheering the home team.

"When the receiver got confirmed control of the football, he was not able to get both feet down in bounds. So, his back foot was already off the ground and it stepped out of bounds. His firm control did not occur until after he had one foot off the ground," explained referee Craig Wrolstad after the game. "I think we looked at the angle where we had a foot drag early before he had control, and then we looked at when he had control and then we went back again to look at the feet. It was determined clearly that he was not able to get his second foot down after he had control."

The Bills were forced to settle for a field goal and a 13-13 draw going into the half. The second half was an all-Patriots affair, with New England outscoring Buffalo 24-3 on the backs of two touchdowns from running back Dion Lewis and an additional score from Mike Gillislee.

The score of the day most likely belongs to tight end Rob Gronkowski, who showed why the Bills were trying to hold him during their last encounter. On a first and 10 just inside the Bills' 17-yard line in the second quarter, Gronkowski only needed one hand to catch a ball from Tom Brady at the goal line.

Brady finished the day with 224 yards with two touchdown passes and an interception. Gronkowski led team receivers with 67 yards on five receptions. Lewis led the game with 129 rushing yards.

Image Credit: AP Photo/Charles Krupa