Bill Belichick brought a smart plan to Buffalo, even with two undrafted receivers as his top outside playmakers, and even with a third-quarter onside-kick call in his hip pocket that should have stayed there. The New England Patriots were driving toward a potential winning touchdown, toward Belichick's 36th victory in 41 games against the Bills as Patriots coach, before Cam Newton did something Tom Brady rarely did in the closing seconds of a game.
He found a way to lose it.
Did Brady jump out of his chair, or at least muffle a cheer, when Newton's fumble was recovered by Buffalo with 31 seconds left in a defeat that left the Patriots with their first 2-5 record since Brady was a fourth-string rookie in 2000?