Winners and losers from Patriots’ gusty win over the Bills in Week 16

Tom Brady finally started to get some momentum in the passing game.

Winner: Julian Edelman, WR

Maybe N’Keal Harry managed to draw two defensive penalties. And maybe he rushed for 18 yards to go with his 22 yards receiving.

But Julian Edelman is the most important member of this offense not named Brady. And perhaps Edelman is growing just as essential to the offense as Brady. Harry is a nice new toy. Edelman is what makes the offense work. That became apparent on his first play back from getting evaluated for a head injury. Edelman and Brady linked up for a 30-yard play. A few plays later on the drive, they managed the go-ahead touchdown. The offense simply looked more competent and more dangerous with Edelman in the lineup.

He finished the game with five catches for 72 yards. But that stat line doesn’t show the pain he’s fighting through (with shoulder, knee and head injuries). That stat line doesn’t show the defensive attention he’s getting. That stat line doesn’t show how ugly New England’s offense looked without him.

Loser: Patrick Chung, S

The Patriots safety lost in a 1-on-1 against tight end Dawson Knox on three separate post routes. The first proved inconsequential, as Bills quarterback Josh Allen overthrew Knox, who probably would have scored a touchdown if not for the misfire. But the tandem made up for it on their following attempt of the same pattern. In the closing moments of the first half, Allen found Knox, who had beaten Chung. Allen dropped the ball perfectly into Knox’s hands, and that put them on the 1-yard line. The Bills scored a few plays later, and tied the game going into halftime.

Allen overthrew to Knox on the exact same route in the fourth quarter. Had they connected, they would have tied the game.

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