The team turned it around in that Thursday practice, then carried the effort into yesterday's 28-6 victory over the Bills at rain-soaked Ralph Wilson Stadium. The Patriots scored on the opening drive, took a 14-3 lead at the end of the first quarter, and strung together big plays on offense, defense, and special teams in an effort that highlighted how they are in a different class than the overmatched, bungling Bills.
Offensively, the Patriots finally hit on a long-awaited big passing play, a 35-yard touchdown strike from quarterback Tom Brady to rookie receiver Chad Jackson in the third quarter. The unit also converted eight of 15 third-down opportunities.
Meanwhile, New England's defense totaled three turnovers -- a strip sack by linebacker Mike Vrabel, an interception by cornerback Asante Samuel, and a fumble recovery by linebacker Tedy Bruschi when the ball slipped out of quarterback J.P. Losman's grasp.
And on special teams, rookie Laurence Maroney dazzled with a 74-yard kickoff return in the first quarter.
All told, it didn't look like a team that sputtered through a practice earlier in the week.
"Looking back, we didn't play Patriots football on Wednesday," said safety Artrell Hawkins. "Coming off the long bye week, I guess it took an extra day to start the engines. But Thursday we came back and corrected the stuff that wasn't so good and we ended up having a longer practice. But it paid off."
In convincing fashion.
The barrage started early, with the Patriots winning the coin toss and scoring a touchdown on their opening drive for the first time this season. That had been a point of emphasis throughout the week, as Buffalo hadn't allowed a touchdown on an opening drive, but the Bills were sliced up on a 14-play, 71-yard march that culminated in running back Corey Dillon's 8-yard run.
