The Patriots defense became the first in the NFL history to fail to force a single punt, turnover or field goal attempt in a game.
ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. — In Week 16, the Bills became the first team to never punt against a Bill Belichick-coached defense. On Saturday night, they somehow did one better. Buffalo scored touchdowns on all seven of its drives before kneeling out a 47-17 Wild Card playoff win, officially the Patriots’ worst defensive showing ever under Belichick. The Bills offense became the first in NFL history to never punt, record a turnover or field goal attempt in a game. The Pats had no solutions for Buffalo quarterback Josh Allen, who went 21-of-25 for 308 yards and five touchdowns. The Bills smashed every adjustment Belichick made and haven’t punted in 20 possessions versus New England. So what caught the Patriots off-guard? “(Expletive), I mean, everything they did,” said Pats captain Devin McCourty. “I think they just did a good job of creating chunk plays, good job on the running game. (Josh) Allen, I think the big scramble early put ’em in scoring position. Like I said, we didn’t get a stop. “Everything they did offensively was a good play for them. And you have no shot to win a game like that.” The Patriots opened by playing predominantly man coverage from three-cornerback personnel, the same plan they executed in their regular-season meetings. After allowing two touchdowns, starting nickelback Myles Bryant was benched through halftime, and the Pats pivoted to playing more zone from three-safety groupings.
