Buffalo Bills offense struggles in primetime loss to the Patriots

The Buffalo Bills just couldn’t get enough going on offense as the New England Patriots pulled away late to win on Monday night.

In their first Monday Night Football appearance since their tangle with the Cleveland Browns in 2008, a game they lost 29-27, history repeated itself as the Buffalo Bills fell to the New England Patriots, 25- 6.

Rolling out the unwelcome mat in the first half of the game, the Bills left the Tom Brady-led Patriots touchdown-less through 30 minutes of play. Allowing only a handful of field goals from the foot of Stephen Gostkowski, the Bills seemed to be in this game. Heading to the locker room at the half down 9-3, the Bills were playing up to the pressure of the national stage.

Running some interesting Wildcat plays which saw a direct snap to Bills running backs LeSean McCoy and Chris Ivory, Bills offensive coordinator Brian Daboll was throwing everything at the Patriots defense, including a flea-flicker early in the first quarter.

These plays seemed to work in the early frames of the game but as the Patriots became more accustomed to this tomfoolery, Derek Anderson was forced to sit in the pocket and deliver throws downfield in hopes to record his first touchdown as a Bill.

After everything seemed to be looking up for the Bills in the third quarter, the Bills were forced to kick a field goal after a costly three-and-out in Patriots territory after Micah Hyde recorded a 35-yard punt return to give the Bills both some momentum and excellent field position.

After a statement-making red-zone stop late in the third quarter, all eyes were on the Bills offense to catch lightning in a bottle and claim the lead.

In failing to do so, the Patriots would record their first touchdown via a James White goal-line dive which would increase their lead to 18-6 with nine minutes left to play.

Less than three minutes later after a Jason Croom touchdown would be called back, Devin McCourty plucked a Derek Anderson pass for an 85-yard touchdown giving the Patriots a 25-6 lead. After all had seemed to go south for the Bills, in tremendous Bills fashion, Anderson left the game in the final two minutes making way for Nathan Peterman to close the game out.

As time expired the Bills dropped this one, 25-6, falling to 2-5 on the season.

Some key notables from Monday’s game:

-Derek Anderson has yet to throw a touchdown in a Bills uniform.

-Midway through the third quarter, Bills linebacker Tremaine Edmunds left the game with a concussion.

-The Bills struggling offense has now scored fewer points (87) than Rams running back Todd Gurley has (94).

-The Bills rushed for 46 yards; 58.6 under their yards per game average of 104.6.

The Bills now face a shortened week as they take on the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field on November 4.