Throughout Bill Belichick’s Patriots tenure, New England’s special teams unit has always ranked near the top of the league. This year, however, things have been different. That showed in Buffalo on Sunday, as Nyheim Hines returned two kickoffs for touchdowns - including the opening play of the game.
“Two breakdowns,” Bill Belichick said postgame.
“We just didn’t go a good job of using our hands and getting off blocks,” Matthew Slater added. “It comes down to fundamentals. You got to be able to shed a block, you got to be able to diagnose a return and avoid to the ball and we just didn’t do it.