• Preview
• Recap
• Bleachers
• Game Tracker

New ownership, same result as Bills lose again to Pats

Oct 13, 2014 - 2:09 AM Orchard Park, NY (SportsNetwork.com) - The Buffalo Bills played their first game under new ownership Sunday, but the New England Patriots continue to own the Bills on the field.

Tom Brady was 27-of-37 for a season-high 361 yards and threw four touchdown passes, including a pair to Brandon LaFell in the fourth quarter that sealed the visiting Patriots' 37-22 win.

Brady had thrown only six touchdown passes through the first five games of the season.

The Patriots (4-2), who scored on five straight possessions at one point, beat the Bills for the 21st time in the last 22 meetings and their latest triumph placed them alone at the top of the AFC East.

Kyle Orton completed 24-of-38 passes for 299 yards, two touchdowns and one interception for Buffalo (3-3), which has lost three of four after opening the season 2-0.

"Going forward, we've got to be excited with where we're at, understand that we got to get a lot better and realize that we've got the guys to do that," Orton said.

Terry Pegula and wife Kim were unanimously approved as new owners of the Bills earlier in the week.

An 18-yard catch-and-run by LaFell made it 30-14 with 8:42 remaining in the contest.

On the next Buffalo drive, Orton hit Robert Woods for 35 yards on 4th- and-2. Chris Hogan then caught passes of 17 and eight yards, the second for a touchdown. A successful two-point try left the Patriots' lead at eight, but Brady ended any hopes of a Buffalo comeback.

He found Rob Gronkowski deep down the middle of the field on 3rd-and-16 and connected with LaFell for 56 yards two plays later.

"I thought it was a good win by our team today," said New England head coach Bill Belichick. "I thought the players did a good job. Buffalo competed hard. They had a lot of energy. There was a lot of excitement in the stadium, and our guys did a good job. Those two drives at the end of the game offensively were big."

The Patriots reached the red zone on their second possession, but Stephen Gostkowski missed his first field-goal attempt of the season. Danny Aiken committed a false start penalty and had a low snap on the 36-yard try Gostkowski sent wide left.

New England converted three second-quarter turnovers into 13 points.

Orton was picked off by linebacker Jamie Collins to begin the quarter, a poorly thrown ball by the veteran quarterback.

The Patriots were at the Buffalo 1-yard line after safety Duke Williams shoved Julian Edelman in the end zone. The pass interference penalty resulted in a touchdown pass from Brady to a wide-open Tim Wright off play-action.

Orton later countered with a 7-yard TD pass to Woods, but Orton fumbled on the next series when he was sacked by Chandler Jones, who made the recovery at the Buffalo 24 just before the two-minute warning.

Gostkowski connected on a 42-yarder to make it 10-7, and the Patriots extended their lead thanks to a gift from the Bills.

After forcing a punt, the Bills got the ball back at their own 30-yard line with 14 seconds remaining in the first half. Instead of taking a knee, they opted to run the ball and C.J. Spiller fumbled after a 15-yard gain.

Brady made a quick toss to Edelman before Gostkowski drilled a 53-yarder to end the half.

The teams traded 80-yard touchdown drives to begin the third quarter. Brian Tyms caught a 43-yard pass from Brady in tight coverage in the end zone, then Fred Jackson capped a 13-play sequence with a 1-yard plunge on 3rd-and-goal.

Brady hooked up with Gronkowski along the right sideline for 33 yards on the first play of the next New England possession. Running back Stevan Ridley suffered a knee injury on the drive that culminated in a Gostkowski 40-yard field goal.

Ridley was ruled out for the rest of the game. Linebacker Jerod Mayo (knee) and offensive lineman Dan Connolly (head) were also injured and didn't return for the Patriots.

Game Notes

Brady registered the 60th 300-yard passing game of his career ... Gronkowski had 94 yards on seven receptions, while Edelman caught nine passes for 91 yards ... Scott Chandler finished with 105 yards on six grabs for Buffalo.