New England Patriots vs. Buffalo Bills: 3 Halftime Observations on the Patriots

Almost before Chan Gailey's game plan had a chance to get its bearings, the Buffalo Bills were already down 14 to the New England Patriots. It's hard to play uphill against anybody, but especially when the terrain being navigated is the NFL's equivalent of Mt. Everest.   

The Bills gained a little momentum towards the end of the half, but by and large the New England Patriots were...well, the New England Patriots.  

Here are three things the Patriots did to dominate the first half:

1. Keeping the Crowd out of the Game 

The Patriots D did a lot to keep the Bills offense off-balance and destroy a confident team's hopes early on. An early 14-point lead gave the Patriots all the flexibility to control the pace of the game.  

Buffalo showed a few signs of life late in the first half, and a field goal as time expired gave them a necessary boost of confidence heading into the locker room. 

But New England's swagger is always daunting for the opposition. Winning on the road is one of the hardest things to do in the NFL, but for the most part Belichick's boys were able to keep the Buffalo crowd out of the game.  

2. Winning the Time Possession Battle

Tom Brady looked relaxed and poised in the pocket throughout the first quarter, controlling the clock as well as the football with accurate short passes. He was cool and collected, and able to carve through the Bills defense in predictable patterns, hitting Welker and Gronkowski pretty much at will.

These are powerful weapons that the Pats offense has at its disposal. Even without establishing the run, New England controlled the clock with remarkable efficacy. Their lead is in no danger as long as they keep marching at the same pace and at the same level.

3. Dashing the Upstart Bills' Dreams 

Ryan Fitzpatrick has been quite the feel-good story thus far, but today we may be witnessing the crumbling confidence of a man who exceeded expectations too early in the season. He's been around the block a couple of times, but in many ways the Patriots represented Fitz's first real opportunity to prove himself as a legitimate NFL starter.  

Having a poor throw intercepted on his second pass attempt of the game could not have been good for his psyche. New England boasts a disciplined defense and, starting with that errant throw, Fitzpatrick's play betrayed a sort of panic typical of one who knows he's up against more than he bargained for.