Bills blank Patriots

PHOTOGRAPHER: USA Today

Buffalo Bills running back LeSean McCoy runs the ball against the New England Patriots in the second half Sunday at Gillette Stadium. The Bills defeated the Patriots 16-0.

Something happened to the New England Patriots on Sunday for the first time since moving into Gillette Stadium in 2002 — they got shut out.

A stifling Buffalo Bills defense sacked third-string quarterback Jacoby Brissett three times en route to a 16-0 win over the Patriots.

The last time the Patriots (3-1) got blanked at home was in a 6-0 loss to the New York Jets at Foxboro Stadium in the 1993 season.

This was the final game of Patriots starting quarterback Tom Brady’s four-game suspension for deflating footballs in the 2014 AFC Championship Game against the Baltimore Ravens. Brady returns next Sunday against the Cleveland Browns.

Brissett was making his second consecutive start in place of Jimmy Garoppolo, who was injured in the second game of the season against the Miami Dolphins. Brissett guided the Patriots to a 27-0 victory over the Houston Texans last Thursday, but injured his right thumb in the game. There was some concern that he wouldn’t be able to play. But Brissett did start, and wide receiver Julian Edelman was the emergency quarterback.

Brissett was 17-for-27 for 205 yards. He had one fumble deep in Bills’ territory.

The Bills (2-2), playing without injured wide receiver Sammy Watkins, took a 7-0 lead in the first quarter on LeSean McCoy caught a 7-yard touchdown pass from Tyrod Taylor.

Dan Carpenter provided the rest of the scoring for the Bills, kicking field goals of 34, 43 and 44.

Taylor was 27-for-39 for 246 yards. He didn’t throw an interception.

The Bills visit the Los Angeles Rams next Sunday.

Buffalo 7 6 3 0 — 16

New England 0 0 0 0 — 0

First Quarter

BUF—L.McCoy 7 yard pass from T.Taylor (D.Carpenter kick), 5:31.

Second Quarter

BUF—D.Carpenter 34 yard field goal, 14:49.

BUF—D.Carpenter 43 yard field goal, 7:46.

Third Quarter

BUF—D.Carpenter 44 yard field goal, 0:28.

A—66,829.

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TEAM STATISTICS

BUF NE

First Downs 24 13

Total Net Yards 378 277

Rushes-Yds 32-134 22-90

Passing 244 187

Sacked-Yds Lost 2-2 3-18

Comp-Att-Int 27-39-0 17-27-0

Punts 4-40.8 6-52.2

Punt Returns 3-18 4-4

Kickoff Returns 0-0 2-30

Interceptions Ret. 0-0 0-0

Penalties-Yards 6-60 9-74

Fumbles-Lost 0-0 5-1

Time of Possession 36:11 23:49

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INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

RUSHING — BUF, L.McCoy 19-70, Gillislee 6-30, T.Taylor 5-28, B.Tate 1-4, Felton 1-2. NE, Blount 13-54, Brissett 4-23, J.White 4-12, Edelman 1-1.

PASSING — BUF, T.Taylor 27-39-0-246. NE, Brissett 17-27-0-205.

RECEIVING — BUF, R.Woods 7-89, L.McCoy 6-38, C.Clay 5-47, W.Powell 4-22, O’Leary 2-20, Gillislee 1-13, M.Goodwin 1-12, Felton 1-5. NE, Ma.Bennett 5-109, J.White 5-50, Blount 3-4, Bolden 2-15, Edelman 1-16, Gronkowski 1-11.