The New England Patriots used a creative defensive formation to take advantage of the Bills' patchwork offensive line.

The Patriots used mostly linebackers and defensive backs on passing downs. Often times, they had only one or two players on the line of scrimmage, while the rest of the defenders milled around a few yards off the ball.

The Patriots called the scheme "organized chaos," and it successfully created confusion because the Bills didn't know who to block. The result was a season-high six sacks, including three by OLB Tully Banta-Cain. The first two sacks came on back-to-back plays late in the first quarter.

On second-and-seven at the Bills' 43-yard line, the Patriots rushed four men. For some reason, RT Kirk Chambers let DT Mike Wright go as if he expected someone to pick Wright up. No one did and Wright forced QB Ryan Fitzpatrick to hit the deck.

The Patriots had just one down lineman and several others milled around the line of scrimmage. Rushing seven men, ILB Ryan Ninkovich charged untouched up the middle before being picked up late by RB Fred Jackson. Ninkovich and outside pressure by SS James Sanders forced Fitzpatrick to step up into the pocket and into the arms of OLB Derrick Burgess, who had pushed Chambers into the backfield.

QB Trent Edwards fared no better in his brief appearance. On his first snap, ILB Gary Guyton blitzed up the middle and blew past Jackson for a sack. A face mask by NT Ron Brace negated some of the lost yardage on the play, but Edwards went down again on third down. The Patriots milled around the line of scrimmage and rushed seven men again. Banta-Cain came off the right edge, brushed off a block and wrapped up Edwards.