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Refs’ inadvertent whistle costs patriots potential touchdown

FOXBORO — The New England Patriots offense already was struggling to get going in Monday’s night’s contest with the Buffalo Bills.

In the third quarter, however, referee Gene Steratore’s crew made a brutal mistake that took a potential breakout play off the board.

On a first-and-10 from New England’s own 31-yard line, quarterback Tom Brady scrambled to his right to keep a pass play alive and hit wide receiver Danny Amendola with a pass just before he stepped out of bounds. Amendola hauled in the pass and took off for the end zone.

He hadn’t.