The New England Patriots, especially on the offensive side of the ball, have not played up to their capabilities recently and therefore went just 3-3 over their last six games. Against the Buffalo Bills on Saturday and with the AFC East title within reach, however, the team delivered one of its most impressive performances of the year: while the game itself was a close one, the Patriots were able to come away with a hard-fought victory.
Along the way, the now-12-3 team showed considerable character and mental toughness. Even with players going down with injury — cornerback Jason McCourty, right tackle Marcus Cannon and, temporarily, wide receiver Julian Edelman all had to leave the game — and the Bills putting up a valiant effort, the Patriots were able to stay on course and ultimately defeat their division rivals with a final score of 24-17.