Orchard Park, NY (WBEN) The Buffalo Bills entered Sunday's game with a 3-0 record but the New England Patriots provided their biggest challenge to date and while the defense held Tom Brady and company in check, the offense couldn't completely solve the Patriots defense and the team dropped their first game of the year 16-10 at New Era Field.
PHOTOS: Bills Fall to the Patriots16-10 in Round One
The Patriots got out to an early 13-0 lead on a short run by Brandon Boldin and a blocked punt return for a score, but the Bills were able to regroup and give the Patriots all they could handle. The defense held Brady in check all afternoon allowing just 150 yards passing with one interception.
Bills' quarterback, Josh Allen didn't fare any better as he finished the day 13 of 28 with 153 yards passing and three interceptions. Allen did score the team's lone touchdown to open the second half on a one yard dive which got the Bills to within three points.Allen's Day ended though with vicious helmet-to-helmet hit delivered by defensive back Jonathan Jones early in the fourth quarter. Allen was able to walk off the field later headed to the locker room. Matt Barkley completed 9 of 16 passes for 127 yards and a late interception as he tried to guide the team to a game wining score in the final minutes.
NFL Senior Vice President of Officiating on Allen Hit
Ageless running back, Frank Gore hit a milestone in the game, he eclipsed fifteen thousand yards rushing for his career. Gore finished the day with 109 yards on 17 carries.
Brady's 45.9 passer rating was the sixth lowest of his career and lowest since finishing with a 34 rating in a 27-20 loss to Indianapolis on Nov. 5, 2006. The Patriots had lost the previous six times Brady finished with a passer rating of 48 or lower.
GORE REACHES 15,000
Running back Frank Gore led Buffalo with 109 yards rushing, and in the process became the fourth player in NFL history to top 15,000 yards rushing. The 36-year-old entered the game needing 88 yards. He topped 100 yards rushing for the 45th time of his career.
TEASING TOM
One Buffalo-area automotive dealership got into the spirit of Patriots week with an inventive billboard advertisement. The ad poked fun at Brady by suggesting he likes "ranch dressing," which is considered a no-no in Buffalo when eating chicken wings. In Buffalo, the preferred sauce to accompany wings is bleu cheese.
I DO'S
With former Bills defensive tackle Kyle Williams officiating, Mackenzie Park and Jordan Binggeli of Rochester, New York, exchanged their wedding vows in getting married during a halftime ceremony at midfield. The two enjoyed their first date at a Bills home game in 2008, and were chosen to be wed as part of a local jewelry store promotion.
The ceremony was part of the Bills' celebration of the NFL's 100th season, and included 100 former team stars — including Hall of Fame coach Marv Levy — on hand.
UP NEXT
Bills: At Tennessee on Oct. 6.
