Projo Pats Blog

FOXBORO -- One showdown down. Another one looming.

The Patriots knocked the Bills out of the three-way tie for the top spot in the AFC East with a workmanlike 20-10 victory this afternoon at Gillette Stadium. The victory increased New England's record to 6-3, and dropped Buffalo to 5-4.

But the Pats still aren't alone on top of the division because the Jets manhandled the Rams at Giants Stadium and also improved to 6-3. And that sets up a Patriots-Jets mano-a-mano battle in just four days; the teams play Thursday night here in another NFL Network special.

New England's offense was paced by a 105-yard effort from rookie running back BenJarvus Green-Ellis -- his first career 100-rushing-yard game -- and 107 yards in receptions by wide receiver Wes Welker. Matt Cassel completed 23 of 34 passes for 234 yards and also ran for a touchdown himself, a 13-yard scramble up the middle in the first quarter that gave the Pats a 7-0 lead. New England also received a pair of field goals from Stephen Gostkowski and a one-yard TD run by Green-Ellis with 1:57 to play.

Green-Ellis' touchdown capped a 19-play, 92-yard drive that consumed 9 minutes and 8 seconds of the fourth quarter and put New England on top, 20-3. The 19-play scoring drive tied a franchise record for longest scoring drive, originally set on Sept, 15, 2002, in a game against the Jets at East Rutherford. N.J.

An 85-yard return by Leodis McKelvin on the ensuing kickoff gave the Bills the ball on the Pats' 14-line, and Trent Edwards threw a touchdown pass to James Hardy on the next play to cut the lead to 14-10. But the Patriots recovered the onside kick that followed, and ran out the clock.

The Pats' defense limited Buffalo to 168 total yards and also had two interceptions, one by Ellis Hobbs and the other by Deltha O'Neal.

Much more to come . . .

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