Two stirring comebacks

By MIKE LOWE, Portland Press Herald Writer

Copyright © 2005 Blethen Maine Newspapers Inc.

E-mail this story to a friend

	Associated Press Photo Patriots running back Corey Dillon scores New England's winning touchdown in the fourth quarter against Buffalo on Sunday night at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Mass. Dillon had two 1-yard TD runs in the quarter as the Patriots beat the Bills, 21-16.
	Associated Press Photo Eight months after a minor stroke called into question his future in the NFL and two weeks after he received medical clearance to resume playing, linebacker Tedy Bruschi was back on the field for New England and back directing the defense.
	Associated Press Photo Linebacker Monty Beisel, right, wraps up Buffalo running back Willis McGahee on Sunday night in Foxborough, Mass. New England rallied to victory with two fourth-quarter TD runs.

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. — Maybe it was the return of Tedy Bruschi, back after missing the first six games of the season after suffering a mild stroke last February. Or maybe the New England Patriots' defense was simply tired of giving up big plays and not making any. Whatever the reason, the Patriots' defense made enough plays Sunday night to allow the offense to come back in the fourth quarter. Corey Dillon rushed for two 1-yard touchdowns in the fourth as the Patriots rallied past the Buffalo Bills 21-16 at Gillette Stadium.

Although the Patriots still gave up 394 yards in total offense to the Bills, the defense forced Buffalo to kick three field goals, allowing New England to stay in the game.

"This was a good win," said Coach Bill Belichick. "We hung in there, a lot of things went in our favor and we made some big plays when we needed. We were better in some areas.

"But there are still certainly a lot of things we can clean up and do better. This was a tough division game and a good win."

The victory continued the Patriots' pattern of alternating wins and losses and lifted New England to 4-3, in first place in the AFC East. Buffalo dropped to 3-5.

With much of the pregame focus on Bruschi - heck, much of the focus, period, was on Bruschi as the 68,756 fans roared at his every move - linebackers Mike Vrabel and Rosevelt Colvin made the two biggest plays of the night.

With Buffalo leading 13-7 and driving, Vrabel, who earlier had knocked a sure touchdown catch out of the hands of Buffalo tight end Tim Euhus, sacked quarterback Kelly Holcomb for a 7-yard loss, forcing the Bills to settle for a field goal and a 16-7 lead.

New England responded with a quick touchdown drive leading to Dillon's first touchdown. Then Colvin stepped up.

Blitzing from Holcomb's blind side, Colvin sacked him and knocked the ball out of his hand for a fumble. Colvin recovered it at the Buffalo 23.

Two plays later, Dillon scored his second touchdown in 94 seconds and the Patriots had the lead for good.

Buffalo had one final drive but was turned back on a fourth-down play at the Patriots' 40. Facing a fourth-and-8, Holcomb passed to Eric Moulds in the left flat, but he was tackled by Hank Poteat and Vrabel for no gain.

Moulds had been called for offensive pass interference - using his right arm to push off Asante Samuel - two plays earlier, wiping out a completion that would have given the Bills a first down.

"We did a good job preparing this week for their tendencies," said Poteat, who was signed during New England's bye week. "I just made the read (on the play). We made the play and we got off the field."

The Patriots' offense couldn't get on the field in the first half. Buffalo dominated every phase of the game, controlling the ball for 22 minutes, 7 seconds while the Patriots had the ball for only 7:53.

But the Patriots regrouped in the second half as Brady (14 of 21 for 199 yards and a touchdown) got the offense going. Taking the ball at their 30, the Patriots moved 70 yards in just five plays to move into a 7-3 lead.

The touchdown came on a 33-yard pass from Brady to Deion Branch, who streaked past Buffalo cornerback Nate Clements down the left sideline and caught the pass in stride at the 10.

Buffalo came back even more quickly. The Bills regained the lead, 10-7, in just three plays and 83 seconds.

The score was a 55-yard pass from Holcomb to Moulds, who ran a post pattern from the right, caught the ball wide open at the 38 and outraced the secondary to the end zone, stiff-arming Eugene Wilson at the 5.

Buffalo got a 35-yard field goal from Rian Lindell with 13:02 left in the fourth to make it 13-7, then forced another turnover on the Patriots' first play following the kickoff.

Brady dropped back to pass but was hit by defensive end Aaron Schobel, who knocked the ball out of Brady's hand. It was recovered by Buffalo's Lauvale Sape at the Patriots' 29.

The Patriots' defense held when Vrabel sacked Holcomb, forcing another field goal by Lindell, this one a 41-yarder with 10:07 left. That made it 16-7.

Those stops by the defense were crucial in the Patriots' victory.

"It was a good win," said Vrabel, who led the team with 14 tackles. "We know if we give (the offense) enough chances, they can convert. And they did."

But, cautioned Branch, the Patriots still have to play better.

"It's just not good enough," he said. "That is simply not good enough to win. We made two or three more plays than those guys, that's all."

Bruschi, meanwhile, is just glad his first game back is over. He made seven tackles.

"I was ready mentally, physically and emotionally," said Bruschi. "Sometimes you have to pick yourself up off the ground and get up. That's what I did."

Staff Writer Mike Lowe can be contacted at 791-6422 or at:

mlowe@pressherald.com