The Patriots lead the Bills 17-14 at halftime at Ralph Wilson Stadium in Orchard Park, New York.
The first drive of the Patriots season ended on a blitz by Buffalo that caused an incompletion by Tom Brady. The Bills started their first drive on the Buffalo 10 yard line, and it only took two plays for it to come to an end. On a second down rush, CJ Spiller coughed up the football on Buffalo’s 15 yard line, giving New England and company a small field to work with. Tom Brady usually doesn’t miss an opportunity to score when starting a drive inside the opponents red zone, with no exception this time as Brady connected with Julian Edelman on a nine yard touchdown pass for the first score of the game.
On the next New England drive Stephen Gostkowski notched a 48-yard field goal to give the Patriots a 10-0 lead with 4:47 remaining in the first quarter. The following New England drive ended on a crucial 3rd and nine with a sack by Da’Norris Searcy, which forced the Patriots to punt rather than attempt a long field goal.
As the Patriots were marching on the Bills halfway through the second quarter, running back Stevan Ridley slipped while attempting to make a cut and fumbled without being touched. Searcy scooped up the fumble and returned it 74 yards to cut the New England lead to just three points.
Marquise Goodwin will be sure to remember his first career NFL reception because it concluded with a fumble that was recovered by Rob Ninkovich. Goodwin’s fumble resulted in an easy game of catch between Brady and Edelman, who was wide open in the back of the Bills’ endzone for his second touchdown catch of the game.
EJ Manuel had his first two minute drill as an NFL quarterback with 1:55 remaining in the first half. The Bills drive began on the 20 yard line and ended on their 28 yard line with a three and out on a drive that lasted just 35 seconds. Yet again the Bills defense was able to bail out the slumping offense, with a miraculous interception by Justin Rogers, giving the Bills the ball on the New England 37. After two plays, Manuel was able to connect with rookie Robert Woods on an 18-yard touchdown to cut the New England lead to three points again.
Starting New England linebacker Brandon Spikes was injured in the first quarter and is questionable to return. Newcomer to the Patriots, Danny Amendola, limped off the field in the second quarter with no contact from the defense. He was nursing a lingering hamstring injury which may have flared up.
