New England Patriots Shocking Buffalo Bills 13-3 After Almost Flawless First Half

The New England Patriots are upsetting the heavily favored Buffalo Bills at halftime, 13-3.

Have the New England Patriots and Buffalo Bills changed identities? Maybe even uniforms?

The Patriots played what is for them a perfect first half in jumping to a surprising 13-3 lead. Seemingly everything went right, and Bills shockingly played right along with a bevy of mistakes.

With Cole Strange back in the lineup at left guard, the offensive line consistently moved Buffalo off the line of scrimmage in the running game. The Pats produced a field goal on their opening drive for their first lead in almost a month.

Rhamondre Stevenson and the Patriots are upsetting the Bills at halftime in Foxboro / © Bob DeChiara, USA TODAY

They made it 10-0 on a 2-yard scoring plunge by Ezekiel Elliott later in the first quarter. That touchdown was set up by an interception of Josh Allen by safety Jabrill Peppers, who jumped into Buffalo's first pass of the day at the 45-yard line. Elliott dragged Pro Bowl safety Jordan Poyer into the end zone just eight minutes into the game.

It was New England's first points off a turnover this season, after it led the NFL last year.

This is what it was supposed to look like for the Pats. Rookie kicker Chad Ryland made both his field goals. Punter Bryce Baringer had a kick of 64 yards, and pinned Buffalo inside the 2-yard line on another. Christian Barmore and Deatrich Wise Jr. combined for a sack to push the Bills out of the Red Zone. And Mac Jones was calm and quick in the pocket, including an ad-libbed 33-yard completion to Kendrick Bourne.

Meanwhile, the Bills badly shanked a field goal, threw the interception and had a touchdown pass to Dawson Knox wiped out by a penalty for offensive interference.