Leodis McKelvin will be sitting alone on the plane ride back to Buffalo after a royal goof gave a win to the New England Patriots, who haven’t lost to the Bills in 6 years.
In the history of the Buffalo Bills, there have been many dumb plays but fans will forever moan the one by Leodis McKelvin who gave the Patriots a gift after it looked as if the Buffalo Bills were going to upset the heavily favored New England Patriots.
Here’s the story that no one can believe. Buffalo took a 24-13 lead with 5 minutes left in the game. Tom Brady brought his team back to score a touchdown but could not convert the 2-point conversion and the Bills had a 24-19 lead with 2:06 left on the clock.
Would the Pats try an onside kick? Nope, they decided to kick if off deep. McKelvin was a few yards deep in the end zone – hesitated as everyone was screaming kneel down. Nope. McKelvin decided to run it out – got to the 31-yard line and had the ball stripped from him, recovered by the Pats.
There was no question that Brady would lead them back and he fired the touchdown pass that gave the Pats the lead and the final score of 25-24 when the 2-point conversion again failed. When the Bills got the ball back, they had under a minute left but two sacks ended it.
This was as disheartening a loss as one can remember. They had it in the bag. Why in the world did McKelvin decided to run it out. Why didn’t he go down on one knee at the 30 when the defenders came at him. No one will be able to answer that one.
As for the game? The Bills put on a tremendous display. Trent Edwards deserved better considering that he was victimized by four mistakes in the first half that would have gained first downs and maintained possession. They were:
On a great first down completed pass – Demetrius Bell was called for lining up off the line.
Trent Edwards kept coming on and a first down was there when Edwards hit Terrell Owens with a strike – only to have TO drop the ball.
Once again Edwards was driving down and Freddy Jackson ripped of a huge first down gain – only to be called back when Demetrius Bell again lined up wrong.
Then reliable Lee Evans dropped a pass that he should have caught. And that’s the way it went.
Yet – Buffalo never trailed in the game, taking a 7-0 lead when Edwards hit rookie Nelson with an 11-yard toss. The Bills defense stood tall, stopping New England twice on 4th and short situations. All of a sudden, it showed that the Bills didn’t allow New England a first quarter point.
The Pats tied it up on a Fred Taylor burst early in the second quarter. But Aaron Schobel struck back with his first career touchdown when he picked off a Brady screen pass and rumbled into the end zone to give Buffalo 14-7 lead before the Patriots managed a field goal as the teams trudged to the locker room with the Bills on top 14-10.
The only scoring in the 3rd quarter was a Rian Lindell field goal to give the Bills a 7=point edge 17-10.
Edwards then led a beautiful 14-play drive downfield resulting in a 10-yard screen pass to Freddy Edwards for Buffalo’s final point. The next 12 points were scored by New England. Brady hit Brenjamin Watson twice with 18 and 16 yards for the two touchdowns to send Buffalo down to defeat in the most imaginable way.
Trent Edwards was on target most of the day and the drops hurt, especially the one to T.O. that would have moved the ball well downfield.
The stats that really show up are that the Pats controlled time of possession 37:08 to 22:52. The number of plays by New England almost doubled the Bills offense on the field – 77-48. Of those 48 – 14 of them came on Buffalo’s last TD drive.
So there you have it. The game was in Buffalo’s hands but the hands of McKelvin denied a huge upset win over New England. It never should have happened. Naturally, we will hear that tired old line, “We’ll learn from this.” That doesn’t matter since the Bills are no 0-1 on the season.
Trent Edwards and the Bills defense deserved better from the special teams that gave the Patriots the win.
But it would have been closer had balls not been dropped or penalties moved them back. The Bills were whistled 9 times for 71 yards. These are drive stoppers with the big ones because Bell did not line up properly.
As for Edwards he was 15 of 25 for 212 yards and two touchdowns without an interception. Brady on the other hand, went to the air 53 times, completing 39 for 378 yards and those two final touchdown passes.
Freddy Jackson’s numbers would have been much better than his 15 carries for 57 yards were it not for penalties.
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