Bills Get an Early Return

ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. —  The Buffalo Bills signed wide receiver Quinn Early to a four-year, $8.8-million contract in March. Sunday, the investment began to pay off.

Early, the former New Orleans star who signed with Buffalo as a free agent, caught a 63-yard touchdown pass from Jim Kelly with 5:21 remaining to lift the Bills to a 17-10 victory over the New England Patriots.

“I gave him the nod for the quick slant, and he put the ball where it needed to be,” Early said. “It was a great play at a time when we needed it, and Jim did a great job of putting the ball in there.”

Buffalo had gained only 160 total yards before Early beat Patriot cornerback Ricky Reynolds on third and 23 and raced into the end zone to put the Bills up, 17-10.

Early finished with six catches for 135 yards after fellow wideout Andre Reed went to the sidelines in the second quarter because of a groin injury. Last week, Reed bailed out Buffalo with a 60-yard touchdown catch that started a 17-point comeback in the Bills’ 23-20 overtime victory against the New York Giants.

“Quinn Early stepped up big time,” Kelly said. “It was just a matter of him catching it and getting enough yards for a first down. I didn’t know he would break it, but I’m sure glad he did.”

It was a day of blown opportunities for the Patriots, who let the game slip away on their final drive.

Drew Bledsoe drove New England to the Buffalo 16, faked like he was going to spike the ball and threw into the end zone, drawing a pass interference penalty on Buffalo’s Marlon Kerner and putting the ball at the two-yard line.

But Bill defensive end Phil Hansen stopped Dave Meggett’s run through the middle on the final play to preserve Buffalo’s victory.

“I was thinking it was going to be a pass,” Hansen said. “If they would have run a draw to my side, it might have been a different story. As luck would have it, he came right to me.”

The Patriots actually played better for most of the game but still suffered a second consecutive loss.

New England moved the ball efficiently and drove within 11 yards of the end zone three times, but came away with only three points in the first half.

After Adam Vinatieri’s 43-yard field goal started the scoring for the Patriots, they twice drove deep into Buffalo territory in the first half. The results were an unsuccessful fake field goal and Vinatieri’s missed 25-yarder.

“We had a lot of opportunities to win,” Bledsoe said. “We were able to move the ball effectively most of the day. The drive doesn’t mean much unless you come away with seven [points].”