I’m still trying to wrap my head around this one. The Bills had:
- 481 yards of offense
- 7 of 11 on Third Down
- 5.8 yards per rush attempt
Yet it was losing the turnover battle 3-0 that did them in.
The Patriots for their part were pretty good on the area that has haunted them all year, twenty-plus passing plays, yet seemingly went to sleep in every other area.
I don’t really know where to start. The run defense? The pass rush outside a few plays? The inability to cover tight ends or anyone else in the middle of the field?
And then there’s the offense, who still just couldn’t put the game away, even when they had a chance from the four yard line.
It was all brutal. And I don’t think anyone feels confident in stopping Andrew Luck or anyone else at this point.
But it’s a tough way to go through a football season when you know at any moment your defense could just be invisible.
Had the Pats lost today, it would’ve looked exactly like every other loss this year and that is a disturbing trend that continues. The 2012 Pats have just seemed to run out of gas at the end and struggles closing games out.
Relying on turnovers this much is a dangerous way to play, but they got one against the Bills and finished.
6-3. I’ll take it.
But really, let’s hope Aqib Talib adds something. Anything.