The New England Patriots take on the Buffalo Bills in a regular season game at Gillette Stadium on Sunday, December 23, 2018.
File-This Dec. 23, 2018, file photo shows Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen, left, passing under pressure from New England Patriots defensive end Deatrich Wise during the second half of an NFL football game, in Foxborough, Mass. Bills rookie quarterback Allen has some unfinished business to take care of with Buffalo (5-10) closing the season hosting Miami (7-8) on Sunday, Dec. 30, 2018. Allen is still stung by the memories of coming up short in a 21-17 loss at the Dolphins four weeks ago. (AP Photo/Steven Senne, File)
File-This Dec. 23, 2018, file photo shows New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady passing against the Buffalo Bills during the second half of an NFL football game, in Foxborough, Mass. Brady and the Patriots are the only team in the NFL without a loss at home (7-0). They could complete an undefeated home regular season for the seventh time since 2002 with a sixth straight victory over the Jets. (AP Photo/Elise Amendola, File)
FILE - In this Dec. 23, 2018, file photo, New England Patriots defensive back J.C. Jackson (27) intercepts a pass intended for Buffalo Bills wide receiver Deonte Thompson (10) during the first half of an NFL football game in Foxborough, Mass. From Malcolm Butler to James Develin, the Patriots have scored often with undrafted rookies. Jackson, out of Florida Riverside Community College, is the latest to make a statement. (AP Photo/Elise Amendola, File)
New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady, left, and Buffalo Bills offensive coordinator Brian Daboll, who formerly coached at the Patriots, speak at midfield after an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 23, 2018, in Foxborough, Mass. (AP Photo/Elise Amendola)
Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen, left, and New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady speak at midfield after an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 23, 2018, in Foxborough, Mass. (AP Photo/Steven Senne)
New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady watches from the sideline in the fourth quarter of an NFL football game against the Buffalo Bills, Sunday, Dec. 23, 2018, in Foxborough, Mass. (AP Photo/Elise Amendola)
Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen tries to flip the ball to a receiver as New England Patriots defenders Trey Flowers, left, and Lawrence Guy chase him down during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 23, 2018, in Foxborough, Mass. (AP Photo/Elise Amendola)
New England Patriots wide receiver Julian Edelman, right, rolls over Buffalo Bills defenders including Rafael Bush (20) on the way to a touchdown after catching a pass during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 23, 2018, in Foxborough, Mass. (AP Photo/Steven Senne)
New England Patriots wide receiver Julian Edelman (11) runs from Buffalo Bills defenders Corey Thompson, left, Lorenzo Alexander and Micah Hyde, right, on his way to a touchdown after catching a pass during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 23, 2018, in Foxborough, Mass. (AP Photo/Elise Amendola)
New England Patriots defensive back Patrick Chung, bottom, tackles Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 23, 2018, in Foxborough, Mass. (AP Photo/Steven Senne)
New England Patriots running back Sony Michel (26) runs from Buffalo Bills linebackers Tremaine Edmunds, left, and Lorenzo Alexander (57) during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 23, 2018, in Foxborough, Mass. (AP Photo/Steven Senne)
New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick studies notes on the sideline during the first half of an NFL football game against the Buffalo Bills, Sunday, Dec. 23, 2018, in Foxborough, Mass. (AP Photo/Elise Amendola)
New England Patriots running back James White, right, celebrates his touchdown run with lineman Shaq Mason during the first half of an NFL football game against the Buffalo Bills, Sunday, Dec. 23, 2018, in Foxborough, Mass. (AP Photo/Elise Amendola)
New England Patriots defensive lineman Ufomba Kamalu (97) tackles Buffalo Bills running back LeSean McCoy (25) during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 23, 2018, in Foxborough, Mass. (AP Photo/Elise Amendola)
New England Patriots defensive back Stephon Gilmore, front, breaks up a pass in the end zone intended for Buffalo Bills wide receiver Robert Foster, rear, during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 23, 2018, in Foxborough, Mass. (AP Photo/Elise Amendola)
New England Patriots running back James White (28) dives to the pylon for a touchdown in front of Buffalo Bills safety Micah Hyde (23) during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 23, 2018, in Foxborough, Mass. (AP Photo/Steven Senne)
New England Patriots defensive back J.C. Jackson (27) intercepts a pass intended for Buffalo Bills wide receiver Deonte Thompson (10) during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 23, 2018, in Foxborough, Mass. (AP Photo/Elise Amendola)
New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady, right, hands off to running back Sony Michel during the first half of an NFL football game against the Buffalo Bills, Sunday, Dec. 23, 2018, in Foxborough, Mass. (AP Photo/Elise Amendola)
New England Patriots running back Sony Michel runs from Buffalo Bills defenders Kyle Williams (95) and Levi Wallace (47) during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 23, 2018, in Foxborough, Mass. (AP Photo/Elise Amendola)
New England Patriots running back Sony Michel gains yardage against the Buffalo Bills during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 23, 2018, in Foxborough, Mass. (AP Photo/Elise Amendola)
New England Patriots running back Sony Michel gains yardage against the Buffalo Bills during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 23, 2018, in Foxborough, Mass. (AP Photo/Elise Amendola)
The Buffalo Bills, left, face off at the line of scrimmage against the New England Patriots during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 23, 2018, in Foxborough, Mass. (AP Photo/Elise Amendola)
New England Patriots wear Christmas outfits as they watch their team warm up before an NFL football game between the Patriots and the Buffalo Bills, Sunday, Dec. 23, 2018, in Foxborough, Mass. (AP Photo/Elise Amendola)
New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady (12) passes under pressure from Buffalo Bills defensive end Trent Murphy (93) during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 23, 2018, in Foxborough, Mass. (AP Photo/Steven Senne)
New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft, right, greets offensive lineman Shaq Mason on the sideline before an NFL football game against the Buffalo Bills, Sunday, Dec. 23, 2018, in Foxborough, Mass. (AP Photo/Elise Amendola)
New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady (12) speaks to wide receiver Phillip Dorsett (13) alongside New England Patriots offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels, second from left, and running back James White, far left, before an NFL football game against the Buffalo Bills, Sunday, Dec. 23, 2018, in Foxborough, Mass. (AP Photo/Elise Amendola)
New England Patriots tight ends Jacob Hollister (47) and Rob Gronkowski (87) warm up before an NFL football game against the Buffalo Bills, Sunday, Dec. 23, 2018, in Foxborough, Mass. (AP Photo/Elise Amendola)
New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft, left, speaks to Buffalo Bills owner Terry Pegula before an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 23, 2018, in Foxborough, Mass. (AP Photo/Steven Senne)
New England Patriots cheerleaders perform before an NFL football game between the Patriots and the Buffalo Bills, Sunday, Dec. 23, 2018, in Foxborough, Mass. (AP Photo/Steven Senne)
New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady warms up before an NFL football game against the Buffalo Bills, Sunday, Dec. 23, 2018, in Foxborough, Mass. (AP Photo/Elise Amendola)
New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady warms up before an NFL football game against the Buffalo Bills, Sunday, Dec. 23, 2018, in Foxborough, Mass. (AP Photo/Elise Amendola)
New England Patriots wide receiver Julian Edelman (11) and tackle Marcus Cannon (61) warm up before an NFL football game against the Buffalo Bills, Sunday, Dec. 23, 2018, in Foxborough, Mass. (AP Photo/Elise Amendola)
New England Patriots wide receiver Chris Hogan pauses while warming up before an NFL football game against the Buffalo Bills, Sunday, Dec. 23, 2018, in Foxborough, Mass. (AP Photo/Elise Amendola)
New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady takes the field to warm up before an NFL football game against the Buffalo Bills, Sunday, Dec. 23, 2018, in Foxborough, Mass. (AP Photo/Elise Amendola)
New England Patriots wide receiver Julian Edelman warms up before an NFL football game against the Buffalo Bills, Sunday, Dec. 23, 2018, in Foxborough, Mass. (AP Photo/Elise Amendola)
New England Patriots cheerleaders pose with mascot Pat Patriot in the parking lot of Gillette Stadium before an NFL football game between the between the Patriots and the Buffalo Bills, Sunday, Dec. 23, 2018, in Foxborough, Mass. (AP Photo/Elise Amendola)
Esta tarde los Patriots de New England lograron su cometido inicial, coronarse campeones de la división este de la AFC (por décimo año consecutivo) tras su victoria frente a los Bills por 24-12.
Una victoria que tuvo un regalo de Navidad de parte de los Eagles, quienes, con su victoria sobre los Texans de esta tarde, pusieron a los Patriots una vez más en control de la segunda plaza de la conferencia americana.
En lo que se refiere al juego propio, esta no fue la actuación más resaltante de Tom Brady. El QB solo lanzó en 24 ocasiones para 13 pases completados, 126 yardas, 1 TD, 1 captura y 2 intercepciones.
El WR Julian Edelman fue su arma más efectiva del QB, al receptar 6 de 10 pases para 126 yardas y 1 TD; por su parte el TE Rob Gronkowski acabó su actuación con 0 de 3 pases receptados.
"No hicimos nuestro mejor juego aéreo, pero ganamos. Creo que todos se sienten bastante bien por haber ganado", dijo Brady en su conferencia.
Contrario al limitado e irregular juego aéreo de Brady, el juego terrestre de los Pats salió a relucir frente a la férrea defensa-contra-la-carrera de los Bills. Ya en la primera mitad los corredores de NE habían acumulado un total de 179 yardas y 2 TDs.
Al final de la faena, Sony Michel lideró al grupo de corredores (18 acarreos, 116 yardas, 1 TD), seguido por Cordarrelle Patterson (4 acarreos, 66 yardas), James White (8 acarreos, 41 yardas, 1 TD) y Rex Burkhead (13 acarreos, 39 yardas).
"Hay que darles crédito, tuvieron un buen plan de juego…. Pero al final del día no puedes permitir que un equipo corra de esa manera", comentó el entrenador de los Bills Sean McDermott.
Defensivamente vimos un buen trabajo por parte de New England que supo mantener bajo control al escurridizo QB de los Bills, Josh Allen, manteniéndolo dentro de su bolso de protección y obligándolo a jugar por el aire más veces de lo deseado.
El QB de los Bills acabó su jornada lanzando 41 pases y completando 20 para 217 yardas, 1 TD y 2 INT.
Buena actuación otra vez del CB J.C Jackson (intercepción) y también del CB Jason McCourty (produjo un balón suelto y una intercepción).
"Estoy contento que haya salido adelante y jugado muy bien el día de hoy: intercepción, balón suelto forzado; dos jugadas claves que nos ayudaron a ganar el partido", dijo Devin acerca de su hermano Jason McCourty.
Igualmente efectivo fue la defensa-contra-la-carrera de los Patriots que en 18 intentos de los Bills, solo cedieron 72 yardas a ras del césped.
Como mencionamos al inicio, ahora los Patriots están otra vez en 'control de su destino', tras la derrota de último segundo sufrida por los Texans sobre los Eagles (30-32).
De esta manera, si los Patriots ganan su último partido de temporada regular frente a los Jets (próximo domingo en el Gillette Stadium), descansarán durante la semana de wild-card en espera de su próximo rival.
