Grading the Bills

Running game

Decent effort by Jackson. Edwards scrambled for 25 yards on two carries. Didn't

have the ball enough to establish it more, but averaged 4.7 a pop. Grade: C

Passing game

Edwards threw for 212 yards, two touchdowns and no interceptions. Showed poise

under pressure. Pass protection held up until desperate final series. Grade: B

Run defense

A:- Held Pats to just 3.2 yards a carry and didn't allow a run of more than 11 yards.

Odd choice by Pats to run wide on fourth-and-inches.

Pass defense

C:- Brady was bad early, but completed 26 of 31 in the second half once he got the

rust off. Great pick and TD run by Schobel. Played too soft in the stretch.

Special teams

D: McKelvin's fumble will go down in the annals of dubious Bills plays in the clutch.

Moorman had one of his weaker punting games.

Coaching

B: They got an A for the first 55 minutes and a C- for the finish. Fewell's defensive

game plan was sound, but they played too soft with big lead.

Grading the Patriots

Running game

C-: Had some success early, but abandoned it once Brady got into a groove. Running

wide against the Bills on short yardage a dubious strategy.

Passing game

A-: Brady's final numbers: 39 of 53 for 378 yards. Imagine if he hadn't struggled

early.

Run defense

C: Held Jackson to 3 yards a pop in second half. Made the plays they needed to make

in the second half.

Pass defense

C+: Shut down the Buffalo wideouts. Owens had two catches. Evans was three for 25,

which is about par for him against Pats.

Special teams

B+: Averaged 30 yards on five kickoff returns. Forced McKelvin to fumble twice,

including the big one. Didn't let Bills' elite return men hurt them.

Coaching

B+: Not up to Belichick's usual standards, but he's rarely at his best this early in

the season. Made proper offensive adjustments after shaky first half.