Buffalo Bills vs New England Patriots Box Score on Dec 28, 2014

SportsDirect Inc. staff
Dec 28, 2014

Bills 17, Patriots 9: Kyle Orton threw for a touchdown and Anthony Dixon ran for a score as Buffalo topped New England to clinch its first winning season since 2004.

Robert Woods hauled in a touchdown reception for the Bills (9-7), who snapped a 13-game road losing streak to the Patriots. Orton completed 16-of-23 passes for 176 yards and the defense did not allow a touchdown for Buffalo.

Tom Brady went 8-of-16 for 80 yards and was pulled at halftime as New England (12-4), which already clinched the No. 1 seed in the AFC playoffs, left several key players on the sidelines. Jimmy Garoppolo was 10-of-16 for 90 yards in relief of Brady and LeGarrette Blount ran for 62 yards for the Patriots.

The Bills went 80 yards on the game’s opening drive and Orton found rookie Sammy Watkins for a key 43-yard gain before connecting with Woods for a 6-yard TD. New England settled for a 24-yard field goal late in the first quarter and Buffalo responded with another 80-yard drive capped by Dixon’s 1-yard burst.

The Patriots turned a fumble recovery into a 44-yard field goal by Stephen Gostkowski, but the Bills fought back with their own field goal to send it into the half 17-6. Garopollo failed to convert a fourth down in the red zone in the third quarter and New England could manage only a 35-yard field goal by Gostkowski in the second half.

GAME NOTEBOOK: Buffalo’s 11-point halftime lead marked its biggest advantage in New England since 1994. … The Patriots played without key offensive pieces in WR Julian Edelman (concussion), TE Rob Gronkowski (rest), RB Jonas Gray (ankle), G Dan Connolly (knee) and RT Sebastian Vollmer (back) along with starting CB Brandon Browner (groin) and LB Dont'a Hightower (shoulder). … New England LT Nate Solder (knee) left in the second half and did not return.