ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. -- It has been a trying season. An unusual season. An injury-plagued season.
A season in which the two-time defending Super Bowl champion Patriots have never looked like a probable three-time defending Super Bowl champion.
Until yesterday, that is.
Whether the consistent inconsistency is behind them will be determined in the coming weeks, but for one day, at least, the Patriots looked like one of the dominant teams in the NFL.
Of course, Buffalo's ineptness had a lot to do with New England's magnificence, but yesterday's 35-7 (snow) blasting was the Patriots' best performance of the season. And while the 71,810 at Ralph Wilson Stadium took to booing the home team, the Patriots were in celebration mode early in the second half.
''We enjoy winning and having fun," said receiver Deion Branch. ''If you noticed, around the end of the third quarter, guys were laughing and we were enjoying it.
''The game wasn't over -- we wouldn't ever say they were out of the game -- but at the same time, we were having fun.
''For one part of the season, it wasn't [like that]. In previous years . . . you can just see the camaraderie on the field and how much fun we're having on the field, and earlier this year that wasn't there. But we've gotten that back."
With the victory, the Patriots (8-5) maintained a two-game lead atop the AFC East on Miami, which beat San Diego yesterday. Any New England win or Miami loss clinches the Patriots' third straight division title.
The steady snowfall did little to slow the Patriots, who set a franchise record with 32 first downs. New England put up a season-high 494 yards, with Tom Brady limping to a 29-of-38 day for 329 yards, and Corey Dillon rushing for 102 yards on 22 attempts.
And defensively, the Patriots were unconcerned that Buffalo quarterback J.P. Losman (10 of 27 for 181 yards) could make enough throws to beat them after they shut down the Bills' running game.
Brady, who injured his left leg on a 3-yard run to start the scoring barrage, finished with more rushing yards (17 on four carries) than the Bills (14 yards on 12 attempts) did as a team. Buffalo tailback Willis McGahee ran the ball eight times and managed just 3 yards.
''When you can put them in longer-yardage situations, it gives you more options," Patriots coach Bill Belichick said. ''When it's third and 10, they're going to have a hard time getting all five receivers that far downfield, so there are fewer guys you have to defend. And if the quarterback scrambles, he's got farther to go than in short-yardage situations."
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