PLAYER NOTES
--QB Tom Brady threw for 387 yards against the Bills,
capping off the greatest three-game stretch in terms of passing yards
in NFL history as he's now thrown for 1,327 yards in three games. The
downside is that Brady notched his first four-interception game since
November of 2006 against the Colts, and his five interceptions through
three games are more than he threw all of last season.
--RB BenJarvus Green-Ellis ran for just 16 yards
on nine carries in Buffalo. He remains New England's leading rusher
with 120 yards on 33 attempts through three weeks, but is averaging
just 3.6 yards a carry.
--RB Steven Ridley led the Patriots with 44 yards
rushing against the Bills, coming on just seven carries for the rookie.
Ridley has nine attempts for 53 yards on the year for a 5.9-yard
average that could earn him more opportunities in the coming
weeks.
--TE Rob Gronkowski, a native of western New York,
put on a show for family and friends with seven catches for 109 yards
and two scores at Ralph Wilson Stadium. Gronkowski now has an AFC-best
five touchdown receptions in three games and seems well on his way to
passing the impressive 10 TD catches he put up as a rookie last fall.
--WR Wes Welker tied a Patriots record with 16
receptions in Buffalo was establishing a new franchise mark with 217
yards to go along with a pair of touchdowns against the Bills. Welker
leads New England with 31 catches for 458 yards through three games
with four touchdowns.
--WR Chad Ochocinco had just two catches for 28
yards in Buffalo and had a bad drop on what should have been a sure
41-yard touchdown. In his first three games in New England Ochocinco
has just five catches for 87 yards.
--T Matt Light saw time as an eligible tight end
in Sunday's win in Buffalo with the Patriots lacking depth at the
position. With Light moving, Logan Mankins moved from left guard to
left tackle with reserve Donald Thomas filling in at guard.
--LB Dane Fletcher has served as New England's
short-yardage and goal line fullback over the last two weeks.
--WR Deion Branch did not catch a pass on Sunday,
his first game played as a Patriots without a reception since his
rookie season in 2002.
--CB Kyle Arrington recorded a pair of
interceptions against Ryan Fitzpatrick and the Bills. Arrington is tied
for the NFL lead with a career-high three interceptions through three
games.
--CB Devin McCourty is second on New England with
24 tackles through three games, mostly because teams have completed so
many passes on the Pro Bowl corner.
--LB Jerod Mayo leads the Patriots with 25 tackles
through three games.
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