Game 265. New England at Tennessee
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Tag Archives: New England Patriots
Game 265. New England at Tennessee
Game 262. New England at Miami
Game 258. New England at Denver
1997 Game 158 (Week 12) New England at Tampa Bay
Patriots get back on track with big win in Tampa
The Patriots came into Sunday’s game at the “Big Sombrero” against Tampa Bay losing 2 of their last three games. The Buccaneers are a formidable opponent, so tensions were high in the New England area hoping the Patriots could get back on track.
The Patriots came out swinging and they rolled up a 20-7 halftime lead against a very stout Tampa Bay defense. Drew Bledsoe came up with two explosive plays in the second quarter to put the Patriots up 20-0. He hit Shawn Jefferson for a 63-yard touchdown and then connected with RB Keith Byars on a 44-yard pass to give the Patriots their commanding lead.
The Patriot defense was formidable all day long. They gave up one explosive play as QB Trent Dilfer threw a short pass to RB Warrick Dunn, who took it to the house for the Buccaneers only touchdown from 49-yards out. Otherwise, the Patriot defense stuffed the Bucs.
The Bucs were only able to rush for 65 yards, which is the staple of their offense. The Patriots were able to force three big turnovers also. They picked Dilfer off twice and then stopped a Bucs drive in Patriot territory when they forced a Mike Alstott fumble.
Bledsoe and the offense had a so-so day. The Bucs defense stiffened in second half. Bledsoe threw for 224 yards but only completed 15 of 35 passes on the day. The threw 2 touchdowns but also threw a pick. RB Curtis Martin rushed for just 57 yards on 24 carries.
Next week, the Patriots, 8-3, will take on division rival the Miami Dolphins at Foxboro. The Buccaneers will need to get their ship righted as they travel to Chicago next Sunday. The Buccaneers started 5-0, but now have lost four of the last six games and now have a 7-4 record. They sit third in their division and are clinging to a Wildcard spot in the NFC.
Game 244. New England at Buffalo
Game 233. Arizona at New England
Game 221. New England at Oakland
Game 204. New England at Seattle
1997 Game 145 (Week 11) New England at Buffalo
Patriots hold off the Bills
The New England Patriots had a 27-13 lead midway through the 4th quarter on Sunday against the Buffalo Bills at Rich Stadium but needed a big defensive play to hold them off.
Patriot QB Drew Bledsoe laced a bullet to WR Shawn Jefferson, who raced 72 yards for a TD to give the Patriots what seemed to be a game-clinching 27-13 lead. However, the Bills fought back under QB Todd Collins. On the Bills next possession after the Patriot TD, Collins rifled a pass to Quinn Early, who eluded Patriot defenders and ran 72 yards for a TD to cut the lead to 27-20.
After the Bills forced a Patriot punt, the Bills took over at the 44 in their own territory. After a few dinks and dunks here and there, Collins threw a pass to Andre Reed, who was roughed up by the Patriot defense and was flagged 15 yards. RB Thurman Thomas skated through the Patriot defense on a draw play and got the ball down inside the Patriot ten-yard line to the 9.
After an incompletion and a couple of short passes, the Bills had a 4th down on the final play of the game. Collins dropped back and hit Eric Moulds at the 4-yard line. He tried to juke and jive to get into the end zone, but CB Ty Law tripped Moulds up and he hit the Rich Stadium turf 4 yards short of the end zone allowing the Patriots to escape with a 27-20 victory.
Patriots QB Drew Bledsoe threw for 269 yards in the game with 2 TDs and an INT. Bledsoe’s new favorite target has been WR Shawn Jefferson, who has really broken out this year as a potent threat on the outside. In this game, Jefferson caught four passes for 147 yards and 2 TDs. One of them was a 50-yard catch, while the other was the 72-yarder. On the season, Jefferson has 38 catches for 856 yards and 9 TDs. The yards and TDs are both career-highs for Jefferson.
With the win, the Patriots snapped a two-game losing streak. They are still atop the AFC East standings at 7-3 but have a formidable opponent next Sunday in the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. As for the Bills, they are now 3-7 and will travel to Pro Player Stadium next Sunday to face the Dolphins.