Bills Central

Uncharacteristically sloppy Bills end NFL-record streak, lose 2 early fumbles vs. Pats

After not losing a fumble in almost 700 offensive snaps, the Buffalo Bills lost two in the first quarter of a sloppy game vs. the New England Patriots.

Richie Whitt

Bills quarterback Josh Allen (17) rushes the ball against the Patriots Sunday night.
Bills quarterback Josh Allen (17) rushes the ball against the Patriots Sunday night. / Mark Konezny-Imagn Images
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It's white at Highmark Stadium. But it certainly isn't clean.

Entering their Sunday night game against the New England Patriots on "white out" night at Highmark Stadium, the Buffalo Bills had an epic streak of protecting the football. Had, as in past tense. The Bills are off to one of their sloppiest starts in recent memory, committing two turnovers and five penalties in falling behind the Pats, 3-0.

Remember back when the Bills never fumbled, or committed turnovers?

MORE: Rodney Harrison picks Patriots to upset Bills, because of course he does

They had an NFL-record streak of 636 offensive snaps without losing a fumble early in this game. Then, out of nowhere, they lost two in the span of five plays.

Quarterback Josh Allen was officially credited with the first fumble, when his timing was off and he collided with tight end Dawson Knox in the backfield to jar the ball loose. That gaffe ended their clean streak, the longest in the NFL since 1950.

Just five plays later, receiver Keon Coleman caught a short pass but was tackled and stripped by Pats' linebacker Robert Spillane.

Both turnovers occurred in Bills' territory, with Coleman's record inside the 10-yard line. Buffalo's uncharacteristically sloppy offense has been bailed out by the defense, which also forced a Pats' turnover and held New England to a field goal after Coleman's fumble.

Bills wide receiver Khalil Shakir (10) makes a catch against the Patriots Sunday night.
Bills wide receiver Khalil Shakir (10) makes a catch against the Patriots Sunday night. / Gregory Fisher-Imagn Images

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Richie Whitt
RICHIE WHITT

Richie Whitt has been a sports media fixture in Dallas-Fort Worth since graduating from UT-Arlington in 1986. His career is highlighted by successful stints in print (Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Dallas Observer), TV (NBC5) and radio (105.3 The Fan). During his almost 40-year tenure, he's blabbed and blogged on events ranging from Super Bowls to NBA Finals to World Series to Stanley Cups to Olympics to Wimbledons to World Cups. Whitt has been covering the NFL since 1989, and in 1993 authored The 'Boys Are Back, a book chronicling the Dallas Cowboys' run to Super Bowl XXVII.