ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. — Time to Bill-ieve? Ryan Fitzpatrick and the new-look, resilient, win-in-the-clutch Buffalo Bills are showing they are for real after producing their second consecutive stunning comeback victory — this time against their AFC East nemeses, the New England Patriots.
Rian Lindell hit a 28-yard field goal as time expired to cap a 34-31 win over the Patriots in which the Bills overcame a 21-0, second- quarter deficit and snapped a 15-game losing streak against New England.
It was a win for the new generation of Bills, who don’t know any better.
The victory was particularly cherished by senior members such as linebacker Chris Kelsay, one of four Buffalo players still on hand since the team’s last victory over New England, in the 2003 season opener.
“It’s the biggest win of my career. I can’t think of any bigger,” Kelsay said. “To beat these guys at home, in front of our fans, with the way they’re behind us despite being down early, it’s huge. I’ll never forget it.”
The Bills (3-0) won courtesy of yet another Fitzpatrick-led rally. And it was reminiscent of what the Bills did in a 38-35 win over Oakland a week earlier, when they scored touchdowns on their final five possessions to overcome a 21-3 deficit.
Fitzpatrick went 27-of-40 for 369 yards and two touchdowns. Fred Jackson once again provided a spark with 72 yards rushing and a touchdown, and 87 yards receiving, including a 38-yard catch that set up Lindell’s decisive kick.
The Patriots (2-1) had a 10-game regular-season winning streak snapped and suddenly find themselves looking up in the standings at Buffalo. Aside from their 15-game win streak, third-longest in NFL history for one franchise against another, the Pats had won 20 of the past 21 over the Bills.
Wes Welker had 16 catches for a franchise-record 217 yards and two scores. Tom Brady went 30-of-45 for 387 yards and four scores for New England, but he uncharacteristically unraveled by matching a career worst with four interceptions.
Dating to 1950, the Bills became the only team to overcome deficits of at least 18 points to win in consecutive weeks, according to Stats LLC. In fact, only five teams had previously won twice in one season when trailing by 18 or more points.
The last team to do so: the Patriots in 1996.
“We played a good football team and made too many mistakes,” said Brady, whose four interceptions against Buffalo matched the number he had all of last season. “I just wish we would have made a few less mistakes.”
