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A20 SPORTS
Monday 4 deceMber 2017

Injuries, cheap shots overshadow Pats’ 23-3 win over Bills

By JOHN WAWROW should have been eject- porters. “Obviously, this is Buffalo (6-6) lost for the ago, throwing five inter-
AP Sports Writer ed from the game, and I something we’re going to fourth time in five games ceptions in the first half of a
ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. (AP) wouldn’t be surprised if it’s be thinking about.” and continued sliding out 54-24 loss at the Los Ange-
— Rob Gronkowski was a substantial fine and may- Rex Burkhead scored on 1 of the playoff picture les Chargers .
apologetic for pile-driving be even a suspension go- and 14-yard runs on the Pa- Taylor’s status is uncertain. On Sunday, Peterman
his shoulder into the back ing forward,” Blandino said triots first two drives of the He would only nod “yes” went 6 of 15 for 50 yards.
of Bills rookie cornerback following the game. second half, and Stephen when asked by The Associ- His opening drive ended
Tre’Davious White’s head. The hit sparked a shoving Gostkowski hit three field ated Press if he was all right on downs at the Patriots 1
Bills safety Micah Hyde was match between Hyde and goals in a game New Eng- while limping heavily on his when his fade pass intend-
livid, calling it a dirty play. Patriots receiver Danny land never trailed. left knee as he boarded a ed for Zay Jones was bat-
Injuries and accusations Amendola. Bills defensive The Pats (10-2) won their cart and was driven out of ted away by cornerback
overshadowed New Eng- end Jerry Hughes was so 14th consecutive road the stadium. Stephon Gilmore, Buffalo’s
land extending its winning 2012 first-round draft pick.
streak to eight games and Gilmore spent his first five
closing in on its ninth con- seasons in Buffalo before
secutive AFC East title fol- signing with the Patriots in
lowing a 23-3 win on Sun- free agency this past off-
day. season.
Buffalo’s playoff hopes WILDCAT
could be jeopardized af- The Bills introduced some
ter starting quarterback Ty- trickery in a bid to spark
rod Taylor hurt his left knee their offense by using third-
and had a towel draped string quarterback Joe
over his head while being Webb in several wildcat
carted off the sideline early formations.
in the fourth quarter. And Webb had three rushes
Gronkowski’s hit on White for 27 yards, including a
added to the Bills’ frustra- 22-yarder up the middle to
tions. open Buffalo’s fourth pos-
White was being evaluated session. Five snaps later,
for a concussion after he facing second-and-10 from
was struck by Gronkowski New England’s’ 37, Webb
while lying on the ground slightly overthrew Trava-
after Buffalo’s rookie first- ris Cadet, who was open
round pick intercepted a deep over the middle.
Brady pass with 4:50 re- NO BEEF WITH BRADY
maining. Late in the first quarter af-
“That’s just dirty football. ter the Patriots finished a
There’s nowhere in our 14-play drive that ended
game for that,” Hyde said. New England Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski, left, makes a catch as Buffalo Bills cornerback with a 50-yard field goal by
Tre’Davious White (27) defends during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 3,
“I don’t know if it was a 2017, in Orchard Park, N.Y. Bills head coach Sean McDermott, right, looks on during the play. Gostkowski, CBS cameras
shoulder, elbow, I’m not Associated Press caught Brady and offen-
sure what it was. That was sive coordinator Josh Mc-
dirty.” upset he was flagged for game — the second-lon- Taylor continued playing Daniels in a heated discus-
New England’s tight end making contact with an gest streak in NFL history — despite being hurt on the sion on the sideline.
was remorseful following official. Gronkowski, Hyde and reached double-digits first series. “It’s just football,” Brady
the game. and Amendola were pe- in victories for the 15th con- “He was in pain. You could said. “We’ve been around
“I’m not in the business of nalized for unnecessary secutive season. New Eng- see it on his face, the ex- each other a lot. I love
that. It was a lot of frustra- roughness. land also improved to 30-5 pressions he was making,” Josh.”q
tion,” he said. “I just want “Obviously, it didn’t hurt against Buffalo since Patri- running back LeSean Mc-
to apologize to Tre’Davious the team there, but it defi- ots coach Bill Belichick was Coy said. “It shows you a
White. I don’t really believe nitely can in the future,” hired in 2000. true warrior.”
in those type of shots.” Gronkowski said. “And you Tom Brady went 21 of 30 for Coach Sean McDermott
Bills players were surprised definitely got to keep your 258 yards and an intercep- provided no update ex-
Gronkowski wasn’t eject- cool.” tion, while improving to 27-3 cept to say Taylor was be-
ed, a sentiment shared by It wasn’t lost on Hyde that over Buffalo and breaking ing evaluated.
Dean Blandino , the NFL’s the two division rivals will Brett Favre’s NFL record for Minus Taylor, the Bills would
former officiating director, meet at New England in most wins by a quarterback have to back to rookie Na-
who now is Fox TV analyst. three weeks. against any one opponent. than Peterman. The fifth-
“In my opinion that was “I’m sure you guys will talk Favre had 26 wins over De- round draft pick proved he
a play where Gronkowski about it,” Hyde said to re- troit. wasn’t ready two weeks