FOXBORO — The Payments’ game-winning landing Sunday at Gillette Stadium got here after a controversial penalty on Patriots cornerback Carlton Davis.
Davis was flagged for pass interference after breaking apart a third-down go to Keon Coleman with 8:13 remaining. The penalty gave Buffalo a primary down at New England’s 32-yard line. James Prepare dinner scored from 11 yards out three performs later, and the Payments went on to win 35-31, snapping the Patriots’ 10-game win streak.
Requested after the sport for his tackle the decision, a visibly pissed off Davis stated the truth that the flag was thrown late — a couple of seconds after Josh Allen’s incomplete go hit the turf — was proof that it wasn’t definitive. Replays confirmed him grabbing the facet of Coleman’s jersey earlier than the ball arrived.
“You can see how late the flag got here out,” the veteran nook stated. “If it’s a flag and it’s, like, definitive — throw the flag. If it’s not a flag, in a detailed recreation like this, then allow us to play. You perceive? Simply by seeing how late the flag got here in, I believe we’re all pondering the identical factor.”
A Patriots penalty prolonged every of the Payments’ ultimate two scoring drives. Earlier within the fourth quarter, slot cornerback Marcus Jones was whistled for go interference on a fourth-down deep ball to Khalil Shakir.
“The identical man thought it was a penalty the identical approach,” Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel stated. “So, it’s a judgment name. Whether or not I disagree with it or not doesn’t matter. He referred to as it. That’s how this factor goes.
Buffalo scored touchdowns on 5 consecutive possessions to beat a 21-0 first-half deficit and foil New England’s likelihood to clinch the AFC East with three video games remaining.
“It’s irritating,” Davis stated of his penalty. “You understand what’s on the road. This recreation’s so shut, and it comes all the way down to a recreation of inches, and at that second, you’re both going to throw the flag otherwise you’re not. You don’t take 10 seconds to throw a flag, you recognize what I’m saying? If it’s a definitive flag, throw it. If it’s not, allow us to play.”
Davis missed a part of the Payments’ comeback with a groin damage however returned for the ultimate three sequence.
“That’s simply in my DNA,” he stated. “I do know what’s on the road. It’s so exhausting to look at your crew play and never be capable of be on the market and contribute, particularly once I’m wanted and when it’s a detailed recreation. And clearly, we all know what’s on the road within the division. We all know No. 1 seed, every part’s on the road. So I’m not about to remain out. I’ve received to limp on the market, I’m going to limp. Credit score to the trainers. We got here in right here, we did some workout routines that allowed me to get a pair drives in, and that was it.”
