Patriots-Bills: Levan Reid's Gold Stars, Penalty Flags
BUFFALO (CBS) - On a day where the place in Buffalo was rocking, the Patriots remained poised, kept their cool and stayed undefeated. Not an easy victory but one they can call an early statement game.
Here are your gold stars and penalty flags.
GOLD STARS
Tom Brady gets a gold star. It's starting to look like 12 is getting better in his old age. 466 yards and 3 touchdowns, against the best so-called defense in the league. He controlled the game from start to finish. If he's just warming up, the league is in trouble. Tip of the hat to his young offensive line. They won the battle up front.
Chandler Jones gets a gold star. The Pats defense finished the game with 8 sacks and Jones had 3 of them. He spent most of the game in the Buffalo backfield. If he wasn't sacking Tyrod Taylor, he was chasing him out of the pocket. His containment was solid and he was a difference maker on Sunday. Easily the best player on the Pats defense.
Aaron Dobson gets a gold star. It felt like Dobson has spent most of his Patriots time in witness protection. Well on Sunday he was free, with seven catches for 87 yards and he moved the chains. Afterwards, Dobson was nowhere to be found in the locker room. Maybe he learned something from the Jonas Gray project. He's quiet and not saying a word after a big game. Dobson was supposed to be on the chopping block coming out of camp. He's now earning a spot.
PENALTY FLAGS
Dion Lewis gets a penalty flag. Sure he had 138 all-purpose yards, but he fumbled for the second game in a row. That can't happen. I know coach likes him because he put Lewis right back in the game. He has to cover up the rock though. The Pats need mistake free football.
The Patriots penalties get a penalty flag. 11 penalties for 119 yards. At one point, they were sharing barbs back and forth with the Bills. The game was charged and some what got out of hand. The Pats have to be more disciplined, especially on the road.
Rex Ryan gets a penalty flag. I have seen this from Rex before. He gets his team so jacked up and come game time, they struggle with any adversity. The Bills had 4 personal foul penalties in the first half. That is simply poor coaching. Rex has to be better if he wants his team to be better.