FOXBOROUGH, Mass. (AP) -The New England Patriots need just one more win to reach the playoffs. Going far in the postseason will require substantial improvement.
An unimpressive 17-10 victory over the Buffalo Bills on Sunday won’t send the hopes of Patriots fans soaring.
“We didn’t have the kind of consistency we’d like to have in any area,” coach Bill Belichick said Monday.
Tom Brady is dealing with finger and rib injuries and has had two of his worst games of the year the past two weeks. The offense managed a season-low 224 yards against the Bills. The defense allowed only 241 yards, but the Patriots two best linemen, Vince Wilfork and Ty Warren, missed the game with injuries and could be sidelined again Sunday against the Jacksonville Jaguars.
unday. They were designated as the road team in London, where they beat Tampa Bay.
“A win on the road is huge,” defensive lineman Mike Wright said. “If we’re fortunate enough to be in the playoffs, a lot of the games are not going to be at home so we’ve got to start winning on the road.”
With Wilfork and Warren hurt, Wright made his seventh start of the season, had his fifth sack of the season and a total of six tackles.
“Mike Wright had a tremendous game, about as good as a defensive lineman can play,” Belichick said. “All the things he did in the running game, passing game. (He) pursued. He played a couple different positions. … So individually there were some great things along the way, too.”
Wright has been with the Patriots since signing as a rookie free agent out of Cincinnati in 2005. He’s been primarily a backup and had just four sacks in his career coming into this season.
So Belichick’s praise was special.
“It feels good, especially coming from coach,” Wright said. “I try to up my standards a little bit every game. I expect a lot out of myself and I think (Sunday) was a product of my preparation and my hard work throughout the week.”
Was it his best game ever?
“I think so,” he said quietly.
against a team whose current record is above .500, and the Ravens are just 8-6.
The Jaguars (7-7) are still in the playoff hunt and nearly ruined Indianapolis’ unbeaten season before losing 35-31 last Thursday night on a touchdown with less than six minutes remaining. The Patriots lead the AFC East by two games and would clinch the division title with a win or a tie or a loss or tie by the Miami Dolphins against Houston.
The Patriots were 11-5 last season, the same record as Miami, but missed the playoffs on a tiebreaker. Brady was sidelined for all but the first quarter of the first game after injuring his knee. This year, he hasn’t played up to his lofty standards that helped the Patriots win three Super Bowls and get there in the 2007 season, where they lost to the New York Giants and finished 18-1.
In a 20-10 win over Carolina on Dec. 13, Brady threw for 192 yards. A week later, at Buffalo, he completed just 11 of 23 passes for 115 yards with one touchdown and one interception. His 47.9 percent completion rate was his lowest of the season. Only four players had receptions.
“We didn’t hit a lot of passes, period,” Belichick said. “It didn’t matter who we’re throwing to. When you’re under 50 percent completion, that’s not where you want to be.”
ed for 94 yards against the Panthers and 81 against the Bills.
That’s the kind of consistency the Patriots could use throughout their team.
“You always can do a better job with consistency,” Wright said. “Every play’s not perfect. Especially going on through the season and into the playoffs, everybody, every team is trying to be more consistent in their play because every mistake can cost you.”
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