Final, Patriots 40-32: The Patriots only managed a field goal, but cornerback Logan Ryan delivered the dagger, picking off Tyrod Taylor’s pass on the Bills’ first offensive play.
What a game. The Patriots looked dominant until they took their foot off the pedal. Taylor showed some promise as he nearly brought back the Bills.
Fourth quarter, 4:16, Patriots 37-32: Confirmed: We have a game. Taylor just completed a long pass to Watkins, and we have a one-score game.
Fourth quarter, 4:27, Patriots 37-25: This might be a game again. Tom Brady was just strip-sacked, and the Bills have the ball on the Patriots’ 25-yard line.
Fourth quarter, 5:27, Patriots 37-25: The Bills are within two touchdowns now. Taylor drove them down the field, then scored on a short run up the middle. The Patriots have allowed 160 yards on 27 carries with two touchdowns this afternoon. They have allowed just 139 passing yards, however.
Fourth quarter, 6:30, Patriots 37-19: The Patriots went for it on fourth-and-1 with another deep pass and couldn’t convert. This time, Brady overthrew Edelman.
Fourth quarter, 11:02, Patriots 37-19: The Bills managed to score on their drive to start the fourth quarter, but it appears to be too little too late.
Taylor, who has struggled, dropped a perfect pass over Malcolm Butler and into Robert Woods’ waiting arms.
Third quarter, 0:28, Patriots 37-13: A 48-yard field goal put the Patriots ahead 37-13. It’s unbelievable this game is still in the third quarter.
Third quarter, 2:00, Patriots 34-13: The Bills’ offensive line officially imploded.
Taylor was hit on every drop-back on that drive and fumbled twice — both of which were recovered by the Bills. Branch and Collins forced fumbles, while Branch and Chandler Jones recorded sacks.
Third quarter, 3:24, Patriots 34-13: Bills fans have seriously quieted down in two quarters.
The Patriots just scored their fourth touchdown of the game, this one on a 22-yard pass from Brady to Edelman.
Brady is 27 of 42 for 340 yards and three touchdowns. Just another day at the office for the Patriots quarterback.
Bills safety Aaron Williams dove for Edelman on the touchdown and stayed down on the turf. There’s an ambulance out for Williams, who injured his neck on the play.
Third quarter, 6:36, Patriots 27-13: The Bills can’t get out of their own way and now have 11 penalties for 103 yards. The Patriots have committed nine penalties for 93 yards.
The Bills were called for offensive pass interference, holding and unsportsmanlike conduct on that drive alone. The Bills punted, and the Patriots have the ball on their own 17-yard line.
Third quarter, 10:02, Patriots 27-13: The Patriots are back up two touchdowns after a 21-yard field goal by Stephen Gostkowski. Brady targeted Scott Chandler twice in the end zone, but he couldn’t come down with either attempt. Chandler caught two passes for 17 yards to help the Patriots get into field position. Gronkowski also caught a 28-yarder.
End of the first half, Patriots 24-13: It is very unclear who Tyrod Taylor was trying to target on third down, but Patriots safety Duron Harmon came away with a very easy interception — his second in two games.
The Patriots go into the half up 24-13 after Brady kneeled on the ball to kill the clock.
Second quarter, 2:18, Patriots 24-13: The Patriots moved down the field, thanks in large part to a 40-yard deep reception by Dion Lewis, for a 46-yard field goal. Sebastian Vollmer suffered a finger injury and is questionable to return.
Lewis has seven touches for 88 yards with two minutes left in the first half.
Second quarter, 5:13, Patriots 21-13: The Bills are back in it.
Patriots cornerback Bradley Fletcher gave the Bills great field position on a long-pass interference penalty. Taylor connected with Clay for a 9-yard score.
The Bills missed the extra point wide right, so we have an eight-point game.
Second quarter, 6:38, Patriots 21-7: After picking up two first downs, the Patriots went for it on fourth-and-1 and failed to convert on a strange play call. The Patriots faked a jet sweep to Danny Amendola, then Brady tried a deep pass to Edelman. The pass was too deep, and the Patriots handed the ball over on downs. It appeared Brady’s first read was to Lewis, but Bills linebacker Manny Lawson had great coverage.
Second quarter, 9:05, Patriots 21-7: The Bills responded to decent field position by going three and out. The Patriots have the ball on their own 13.
Second quarter, 10:13, Patriots 21-7: After a first-down completion to Julian Edelman, running back Dion Lewis fumbled, which was picked up by Bills safety Corey Graham. It was returned deep into Patriots territory, but a personal foul penalty by Aaron Williams pushed Buffalo back to midfield.
Second quarter, 11:08, Patriots 21-7: The Bills are having an extremely difficult time moving the ball now.
After an 8-yard completion, LeSean McCoy lost a yard on a second-down carry, then Chandler Jones brought down Taylor for an 8-yard sack.
Patriots defensive lineman Rufus Johnson was flagged for running into the kicker on the Bills’ punt attempt. The Patriots have the ball on their own 47-yard line after Colton Schmidt’s 33-yard punt.
Johnson and Bills running back Boobie Dixon got into a scrap after the second punt.
Second quarter, 13:14, Patriots 21-7: Perhaps the Bills will pick another time to try to set the outdoor crowd noise record.
The Patriots made quick work of the Bills and moved down the field 30 yard in five plays. Brady hit Gronkowski for a 2-yard score to take the two-touchdown lead.
Dion Lewis picked up 16 yards on a reception and another 7 on a first-down carry.
Second quarter, 14:50, Patriots 14-7: The Patriots get the ball on the Bills’ 30-yard line after a Malcolm Butler interception — his first of the season. This could get ugly.
End of the first quarter, Patriots 14-7: After one quarter, the Patriots lead 14-7, the Bills have committed five special teams penalties, and they have the ball on their own 21-yard line facing third-and-9.
First quarter, 0:58, Patriots 14-7: It took just two plays to get into the end zone. Brady hit Edelman for a 7-yard completion, then running back Dion Lewis carried it in for a 6-yard touchdown.
The Bills are beating themselves, and the Patriots are taking advantage.
First quarter, 1:29, 7-7: The momentum officially has shifted. The Bills went three and out after Jamie Collins sacked Tyrod Taylor on third down for a near safety. The Bills punted, and Danny Amendola returned it all the way to the Buffalo 26-yard line. After a penalty, the Patriots have the ball on the Bills’ 13.
First quarter, 4:02, 7-7: We’re all tied up in the suddenly silent Ralph.
Tom Brady hit wide receiver Julian Edelman on a 9-yard touchdown pass. The Patriots got in scoring position after Brady hit Gronk on a deep 36-yard completion. The Patriots have yet to run the ball, and their pass protection is holding up so far.
First quarter, 6:32, Bills 7-0: That was a much better series for the Patriots’ defense. McCoy lost a yard on first down, then Taylor threw a 2-yard pass to tight end Matthew Mulligan. Taylor tried to throw the ball away on third down, but Patriots defensive end Rob Ninkovich pushed him out of bounds for a 6-yard sack.
The Patriots showed some new wrinkles on defense, opening the series without Chandler Jones or Rob Ninkovich on the field. The front seven consisted of Hightower, Branch, Siliga, Collins, Mayo, Jabaal Sheard and Malcom Brown.
On third down, they went to a NASCAR set with Rufus Johnson, Ninkovich, Jones and Sheard on the line without any big defensive tackles.
First quarter, 8:26, Bills 7-0: The Patriots went three and out after Brady completed 2 of 3 passes for just 2 yards.
This Buffalo crowd is fired up. It could be a long day for the Patriots if they let up another touchdown.
First quarter, 10:00, Bills 7-0: The Bills took an early lead after systematically driving down the field 80 yards in five minutes.
The Patriots allowed 22 yards through the air on two completions. The Bills ran for 58 yards on seven carries, including Karlos Williams’ 2-yard touchdown and a long 23-yard run from quarterback Tyrod Taylor.
First quarter, 15:00: The Bills won the toss and chose to receive.
12:54 p.m.: The Bills announced their captains. Among them: former Patriots Matt Cassel and Matthew Mulligan.
12:28 p.m.: Here’s the Patriots’ starting defense in warmups:
DL: Chandler Jones, Alan Branch, Sealver Siliga, Rob Ninkovich
LB: Dont’a Hightower, Jerod Mayo, Jamie Collins
DB: Patrick Chung, Devin McCourty, Malcolm Butler, Tarell Brown
12:23 p.m.: The Patriots’ starting offensive line in warmups is:
LT Nate Solder
LG Shaq Mason
C David Andrews
RG Josh Kline
RT Sebastian Vollmer
I wouldn’t be shocked if Tre’ Jackson rotates with Mason and Kline, however. We could see Marcus Cannon rotate with Solder and Vollmer, as well.
12:11 p.m.: Matt Cassel and Tom Brady just met before the game.
Danny Amendola, Julian Edelman and Patrick Chung were back fielding punts from Ryan Allen. Travaris Cadet, Dion Lewis and Matthew Slater were back catching kicks. Perhaps Cadet will be used as a kick returner in his Patriots debut. He returned 50 kicks for 1,293 yards in three years with the New Orleans Saints.
12:01 p.m.: Tom Brady is on the field going through a resistance band workout.
The Patriots will wear blue jerseys with silver pants, while the Bills are wearing all white.
11:33 a.m.: The Patriots’ inactives are out, and there are no major surprises.
Easley, Wendell, defensive end Trey Flowers, running back James White, wide receiver KeShawn Martin, cornerback Justin Coleman and safety Nate Ebner are inactive for the Patriots. That means running back Travaris Cadet and defensive end Rufus Johnson will make their Patriots debuts. Safety Tavon Wilson will make his season debut.
Bills running back LeSean McCoy will play after being listed as questionable with a hamstring injury.
11 a.m. ET: The New England Patriots have arrived at Ralph Wilson Stadium in Orchard Park, N.Y.
Wide receiver Julian Edelman was the first Patriots player on the field in anticipation for New England’s Week 2 matchup with the Buffalo Bills.
He’s already going through his pregame warmups with backup quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo.
Rookie center David Andrews, safety Jordan Richards, offensive tackles Nate Solder, Sebastian Vollmer and Marcus Cannon, and guard Tre’ Jackson are on the field early.
Interior offensive lineman Ryan Wendell and defensive tackle Dominique Easley already have been ruled out. The rest of the Patriots’ inactives come out at 11:30 a.m.
Check out five storylines we’ll be watching in the Patriots-Bills matchup.
Thumbnail photo via Kevin Hoffman/USA TODAY Sports Images