ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. — Many Buffalo Bills fans will wish they didn’t leave Ralph Wilson Stadium for what turned into a near nail-biter Sunday.
The Bills got out to a hot start, but they led for a mere 5 minutes and 58 seconds before the New England Patriots stepped on the gas and barely let up, winning 40-32.
Check out who shined for the Patriots as they began the 2015 season 2-0:
TOM BRADY
Brady completed 64.4 percent of his passes, but many of those incompletions were either drops or catchable passes that were batted away by Bills defenders.
Brady passed for 466 yards and three touchdowns, and he has yet to throw an interception through two games. It’s safe to say Brady is not an experiencing a slow start to his 2015 season.
CHANDLER JONES
Jones had a breakout game for the Patriots, recording three sacks against Bills quarterback Tyrod Taylor. The Patriots’ pass rush came out strong Sunday, bringing down Taylor eight times, and they now have 11 sacks on the season. The season high for a Bill Belichick-head coached team is 48.
Jones was taken off the field at times Sunday in obvious run defense situations. The extra rest appears to have helped Jones where he shines the most: bringing the heat.
ROB GRONKOWSKI
The Bills planned to focus on Gronkowski, and the big Patriots tight end proved he’s impossible to stop when healthy. Gronk caught seven passes on 13 targets for 113 yards and one touchdown.
There’s not much more that can be said about Gronkowski, who finds a way to get open regardless of the coverage and opposition.
MALCOLM BUTLER
The Patriots cornerback had a tough matchup in Week 1, allowing over 100 yards to Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Antonio Brown. Butler looked like a No. 1 cornerback Sunday, though, as he helped hold the Bills to 189 total passing yards. He gave up a touchdown in the fourth quarter but also came away with an interception.
Butler mostly matched up with Bills X receiver Sammy Watkins, who caught six passes for 60 yards. Butler also chipped in on Percy Harvin, who had four catches for 47 yards, and Robert Woods, who made three catches for 60 yards.
DION LEWIS
It wasn’t all pretty for Lewis, who had a fumble and a drop, but Bills head coach Rex Ryan definitely knows the undersized Patriots running back’s name after Sunday’s game.
Lewis had his second consecutive game with over 100 total yards as he caught six passes for 98 yards and carried the ball seven times for 40 yards and one touchdown.
Ryan laughed off Lewis before the game, calling him a backup to LeGarrette Blount. Blount had only one carry for no gain, so Lewis got the last laugh here.
Thumbnail photo via Timothy T. Ludwig/USA TODAY Sports Images
