The Patriots reached the red zone only three times. Their offense got into the end zone only once. Tom Brady threw no touchdown passes.
Yet, New England won easily, 25-6, over the Bills.
The Patriots got four field goals to build a lead and iced the game with a defensive touchdown.
Stephen Gostkowski made field goals of 25, 40 and 38 yards in the first half. He also missed a 50-yarder but added a 25-yarder in the third quarter.
It was more than enough as Devin McCourty iced it with an 84-yard interception return. The Patriots had not scored a defensive touchdown in 40 games.
New England put together only one touchdown drive all night, going 85 yards in 10 plays in the fourth quarter. James White‘s 1-yard touchdown run with 9:58 remaining gave the Patriots an 18-6 lead.
The Bills pulled out all the stops early, trying every trick play in their playbook. While they gained 310 yards, they had two turnovers — both by Derek Anderson — and kicked only two field goals. Stephen Hauschka made kicks of 47 and 51 yards.
Anderson left with 1:25 remaining after a sack by Kyle Van Noy. As an athletic trainer escorted him to the locker room, Anderson held his right arm.
He finished 22-of-39 for 290 yards and the interception. LeSean McCoy gained 82 yards on six receptions but rushed for only 13 yards on 12 carries.
Brady was 29-of-45 for 324 yards. Julian Edelman caught nine passes for 104 yards, and White caught 10 passes for 79 yards.
Receiver Cordarrelle Patterson, doubling as a running back with Sony Michel inactive, was the team’s leading rusher with 38 yards on 10 carries.
Van Noy finished with eight tackles, two sacks and a forced fumble.