What a finish, and what a tough loss for the Buffalo Bills

SCOTT JACOBS

Leodis McKelvin was a good yard or two deep inside his own enzone, his Bills, an 11.5 point underdog going into the game, holding onto a 24-19 lead, and basically needing just one more first down to stun the Foxboro faithful in Tom Brady’s long awaited return.  Instead of just taking a knee, and leaving the game up to Trent Edwards and the offense, he took the ball out, and dashed towards the onslaught of Patriots defenders.  It was a bad mistake.  And the ensuing fumble that came of it, eventually recovered by Pats kicker Stephen Gostkowski, was even worse. 

Buffalo, which started out last season 4-0, not only failed to get a win in Foxboro, they failed to end a horrid streak, losing their 12th consecutive game to the Pats, this one in agonizing fashion.  They lost a game they had seized complete control of, because a hard lucked mistake, by a very good player, who usually just makes big plays.  But McKelvin’s ill timed decision to make a hero play instead of just a smart one was a critical mistake.  And when the ball popped loose from his grip, and the Patriots recovered, you could almost feel Buffalo saying under their breath, “we must be cursed.”  T.O. or no T.O. the Bills have yet to figure out how to beat the mighty Pats, who for much of this night looked like an average football team.

Aaron Schobel’s spectacular interception, and just as impressive 26 yard touchdown scamper ignited the Bills to a 14-7 lead, and for much of the night Buffalo looked like a good bet to end a bad streak, one that no one wants on their resume.  But a breakdown in common sense cost Buffalo, and a gutty comeback win, by a very gutty Patriots team, dressed nicely in their old AFL duds, was the difference in the thrill of victory or for Buffalo, the agony of defeat.

As for Brady?  Well, he didn’t exactly look like the Brady of old for much of this night, but that didn’t stop New England from putting the game in his hands, as they pretty much abandoned their running game for a passing attack that saw Brady light the sky with 53 passes.  Mr. Cool completed 39 of those for 378 yards.  But it wasn’t until late where he found Benjamin Watson for a pair of similar back of the endzone touchdowns, that he looked like vintage Brady.

Fortunately for Patriot Pat that’s all New England needed.

As for Buffalo, well they get another crack at ending this absurd streak on December 20th.  In the meantime, they need to use this tough loss as motivation, so that when they play the Pats, not only will they be playing to end a streak, but playing to take part in January.

Afterall, it’s still September.  Hope springs eternal.  Well, unless you’re the Rams.

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