Reigning Super Bowl champions the New England Patriots have taken a 24-13 lead into the halfway stage of their AFC East clash with the Buffalo Bills this evening.
The two rivals were embroiled in a war of words during the build-up to this match, but it was the hosts who were the first to do their talking on the pitch when Karlos Williams walked in from two yards out for the touchdown.
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The Patriots soon got into their stride, however, with Tom Brady beginning to run the match with his passing game. The first touchdown arrived with just over four minutes remaining on the clock when Julian Edelman collected an eight-yard pass to level things up at the Ralph Wilson Stadium.
Bills head coach Rex Ryan claimed to not know who Dion Lewis was before the game, but he soon found out when the Patriots running back made his way into the endzone from six yards to hand New England the lead late in the opening quarter.
The visitors picked up where they left off at the start of the second when Rob Gronkowski collected a two-yard pass from Brady to open up a 14-point lead.
Buffalo did pull a score back later in the quarter when Tyrod Taylor found Charles Clay from nine yards, but Dan Carpenter's extra point was sent wide right to leave the Bills trailing by eight.
Stephen Gostkowski made it a two-score difference with a 46-yard field goal, and that was how it stayed until half time as the Patriots went into the break in the driving seat.
Barney Corkhill
