Patriots Fall Apart in Second Half, Lose to Buffalo

The New England Patriots traveled to Buffalo Sunday to take on their AFC East rival. The game featured a veteran quarterback with two MVP awards against Buffalo's own Ryan Fitzpatrick. Buffalo is surprising the league with their high-powered offense and 3-0 start, including a big win at home against the Patriots.

Tom Brady took to Buffalo's home field and immediately went to work on the Buffalo defense.  Brady was surgical, completing his first seven passes and after two very successful sustained drives, the Patriots were quickly up 14-0.  

The Bills were their own worst enemy in the first half as Fitzpatrick threw two costly interceptions ending up in the hands of Kyle Arrington. It was 21-7 Patriots, with minutes to play.  

A tipped pass from Brady ended up being a rare interception from the Patriots veteran quarterback.  The Bills were able to capitalize on the Patriots turnover, eventually kicking a field goal with only seconds left in the first half.  

The Patriots lead had shrunk to 21-10 as both teams headed to their locker rooms at halftime.

The second half did not start off well for the Patriots.  After Buffalo punted to start the half, Brady threw his second interception of the day as he targeted Ochocinco. Fitzpatrick and the Bills made the Patriots pay for the turnover as the Bills quarterback threw a touch down pass to a wide-open Chandler. The pass brought the Bills right into the game, scoring 17 unanswered points.  After being up big on the Bills, it was now a 21-17 Patriots lead.  The Bills were showing signs as to why they are one of the most dangerous second half teams in the NFL.

The second half began to turn against the Patriots. Brady threw his second interception of the second half, trying to squeeze a pass to Gronkowski in the end zone.  The Patriots had only scored a field goal in the second half and hung on to a 24-17 lead.  

Two huge penalties by the Patriots cost them dearly.  An end zone penalty on the Bills drive, along with an opposite end zone penalty, put the Bills on the goal line.  Stephen Jackson ran it in for an easy touchdown and just like that the game was now tied at 24 with 10 minutes to play in the game.

On the first play of the Patriots next drive, Brady threw another interception.  This one was returned for a touchdown and only seconds after tying the game; the Bills had now taken the lead and the momentum from the Pats.  

The Patriots now down 31-24, needed to right the ship. 

Brady, after breaking NFL records left and right in the first two weeks of the season, matched a career high he'd rather not have.  Brady's four interceptions not only tied a career high in a game for him, but it also matched his interception total for all of 2010.

The Bills continued the momentum switch they took from the Patriots.

Late in the fourth quarter, Buffalo used the clock to keep Brady and the Patriots offense off of the field. The Patriots then watched the game slip out of their hands completely.  

Buffalo wound the clock down to just three seconds and Ryan Lindell kicked the game winning field goal as time expired.

Final score was Bills 34, Patriots 31.

Rob Gronkowski and Wes Welker both had career days in the Patriots loss.  Gronkowski finished with 7 catches for 109 yards and 2 touchdowns.  Wes Welker had a monster game receiving, catching 16 balls for 216 yards and 2 TD's.

Brady finished the day 30/45, for 386 yards, 4 touchdowns and 4 interceptions.

The loss puts the Buffalo Bills in sole possession of first place in the AFC East.  The win against the Patriots was the first for the Bills since opening day of 2003.  The win was huge for the Bills and a huge loss for the Patriots in the young 2011 season.  All AFC games are big for the Patriots and AFC East games are even more important.  With the Bills playing white hot and the New York Jets continuing to play well early, it could be a long year for the Patriots.