Mike Vrabel Pinpoints Three Things That Doomed Patriots In Meltdown Vs. Bills

The New England Patriots have proven to be a first-half team on more than one occasion this season, no bigger than Sunday against the Buffalo Bills.

Ahead 21-0 in the second quarter, the Patriots gradually coughed up the lead, ultimately allowing four second-half touchdowns. They would lose, 35-31, in what was their first chance to secure the AFC East crown.

Few things went the Patriots’ way in the second half. For head coach Mike Vrabel, three issues stood out as particularly damaging.

“I mean, we weren’t able to get any stops,” Vrabel said after the game, via a team-provided transcript. “When we had an opportunity to make a play, we weren’t able to make it. Penalties. And that’s how this game goes.

“A few small plays make the difference. We were very prepared for this team to — we were going to need 60 minutes to beat this team. This is a good football team. We had a lot of good football in there. And we had a lot of plays that, a few plays we’d like to have back that we’ll have to learn from.”

The Patriots still lead the Bills by one game with three weeks to go in the regular season. New England firmly is in control of its own destiny with the division, but the top seed has become a taller task with the Denver Broncos punching their postseason ticket Sunday.

The Baltimore Ravens await the Patriots next week on Sunday Night Football.