1. Thanks to a late fourth-quarter touchdown from Rex Burkhead, the Patriots came away with a 24-17 win over the Bills Saturday at Gillette Stadium to clinch the AFC East for an 11th straight season. In addition, they are one win, or a Kansas City loss away, from clinching the all important first-round bye. But, things could have been very different if not for an early sequence in the fourth quarter that changed the game, and for that matter, season. With the Patriots leading 13-10 late in the third quarter, there was a blown coverage in the secondary between Stephon Gilmore and Devin McCourty that allowed John Brown to score a 53-yard touchdown to give the Bills a 17-13 advantage. The Patriots offense then went three-and-out and the Bills had a golden opportunity to ride the momentum and put the game away early in the fourth quarter, but the New England defense forced a quick three-and-out leading to a long Patriots drive resulting in a field goal. Now down a point with 10:45 remaining, the defense forced another three-and-out setting the stage for the game-winning touchdown drive. "That's what it is about," cornerback Stephon Gilmore said. "We knew it wasn't going to be easy and we would have to go through adversity. We just had to step up and make the play at the end." If not for that sequence of not collapsing following the Brown score, the Patriots could have very well lost the game and with that not be in the mix for a first-round bye and potentially even being the No. 5 seed.
2. Speaking of Gilmore, it's been hard not to notice his jabs at some players following games this year. After the Eagles win he noted tight end Zach Ertz "cries" on the field and he noticed it on tape, and then following the loss to the Texans he shot back at DeAndre Hopkins about them not really doubling him in the game. When asked about it last week, Gilmore noted it's part of being a good cornerback. "You have to have that swagger and confidence," he said. "That is what it starts. You have to have that to be successful." He added: "It's just who I am, just a quiet guy and try and handle my business the way it is supposed to be handled and focus on what I have to get done. The position is already hard, so I just focus on what I can to be successful."
3. Robert Kraft will not be part of the 2020 Pro Football Hall of Fame class, as he was not part of the Centennial Slate finalists that were announced last week. While on the surface it may seem like a bad thing, shouldn't Kraft want to go in during a normal year -- not with a group of 15 people that include 10 senior players, three contributors and two coaches. Kraft is going to get into the Hall of Fame, it really is just a matter of when at this point. Him not getting in this year really isn't that big of a deal.
4. There was a different vibe with the Patriots going into the game — very business-like and hyper-focused. The team said all week they were treating it like a playoff game, Tom Brady was very short with the media Thursday and then there was word from Duron Harmon that the quarterback gave a spirited pregame speech. It's late in December and Brady and the team knows this is the time to really focus and get it done on the field.
5. The Patriots have some confidence in their kicker for perhaps the first time all year, as Nick Folk had a solid game Saturday, making all three of his field goal attempts, including one from 51 yards out. While you'd prefer things not to come down to a pressure kick, Folk is doing what he can to earn the trust of not only fans, but the coaching staff as well. He's missed just two kicks with the Patriots and those were long attempts in miserable conditions against Dallas.
6. It's worth pointing out the Gillette Stadium crowd was the best of the year Saturday against the Bills. It was into the game from the start and truly felt like a homefield advantage. There will be at least two more home games this year, and who knows, potentially the final home games of Brady's Patriot career. How's that for a sports radio topic the next few weeks?
7. By playing on Saturday, the Patriots will have an extra day to prepare for the Week 17 game against the Dolphins. With Christmas in the middle of the week, it will be an unusual week at Gillette Stadium. While it appears it will be another "playoff" game with the first-round bye at stake, it the Bears beat the Chiefs Sunday night, the Patriots would clinch the bye before Week 17 and make the game a lot less meaningful. As of now, do not expect the starters to rest, at least early on in the game, but this will certainly be a topic of discussion as the week goes on.
