FOXBOROUGH, MASS. — The most unlikely scenario happened on this night for two teams that a month ago seemed to be headed in opposite directions. One team, the Patriots, were in first place with a record of 7-2 while the other, the Bills, were 4-6-1. The Patriots by all accounts were on pace to win their third division title in four seasons and the Bills would once again be a bottom team missing the playoffs like they have every year. All that changed quickly however as the Bills won four in a row while the Patriots won just two out of their last five games, all of that set up this game as an all or nothing, winner takes all in the AFC east.
The Bills and Patriots put it all on the line, but it was the Bills on this night that came away with the win thanks to their defense, who played probably their best game of the season. It was the Bills defense that got them on the board first. Late in the second quarter the Patriots where threatening to score as they were on the Bills 6 yard line, the Patriots called a play action pass, Tom Brady stepped in the pocket looking for a receiver, tried to throw to his tight end Zach Sudfeld but was picked off by Bills corner back Leodis McKelvin who would take it 96 yards the other way for a touchdown.
The Bills seven point lead would prove to be enough as the Bills defense stifled the Patriots offense and gave Tom Brady very little time in the pocket all game long. The only bright spot for the Patriots on this night was the rushing game their half back Stevan Ridley had. Ridley rushed for 136 yards on 20 attempts but even that wasn’t enough as the Patriots scored just 3 points on this night.
