Bills return Brady interception for touchdown, lead Patriots 17-10 after third quarter

Brady inconsistent in return, Bills lead 17-10

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. — Tom Brady returned to face an aggressive Buffalo defense, throwing an interception that Aaron Schobel returned for a touchdown and getting sacked once as the Bills led the New England Patriots 17-10 after three quarters Monday night.

Brady was knocked down three times and hampered by two dropped passes in his first meaningful game since last year’s opener against Kansas City when he tore ligaments in his left knee with 7:33 gone in the first quarter and was lost for the season.

He also ran for a 9-yard gain late in the third quarter, sliding to avoid a hit.

The heavily favored Patriots may have suffered another costly injury, though.

Inside linebacker Jerod Mayo, last year’s NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year and the team’s signal-caller, injured his right knee with about four minutes left in the first quarter on a 16-yard run by running back Fred Jackson. He did not return.

For the Bills, linebacker Paul Posluszny hurt his arm and defensive end Chris Kelsay injured a knee. Both were out for the rest of the game.

Terrell Owens, released by Dallas in March, made his debut for Buffalo and caught his only pass, a 27-yarder from Trent Edwards, with about five minutes left in the third quarter.

Brady completed 24 of 35 passes for 245 yards and one interception through three quarters. Randy Moss caught eight passes for 115 yards. Edwards went 11 for 17 for 135 yards and one touchdown through three quarters.

The Bills took a 7-0 lead as Edwards threw an 11-yard touchdown pass to tight end Shawn Nelson with 2:58 left in the first quarter. The Patriots tied it when Brady led an efficient 14-play, 76-yard drive that ended with a 1-yard run by Fred Taylor with 6:22 left in the second quarter.

The Bills punted on their next possession but went ahead on the next play as Brady tried to float a screen pass over the head of Schobel, who was limited to five games last year by a foot injury. But the defensive end reached up with his right hand, made the interception, then ran 26 yards and fell into the end zone as Sammy Morris tackled him.

On the next series, Brady completed passes of 14 yards to Benjamin Watson and 31 yards to Moss. But they chose to run the ball on third-and-goal at the 3-yard line and Kevin Faulk was held to 1 yard. Stephen Gostkowski kicked a 20-yard field goal as the half ended.

Gostkowski wasn’t as successful in the first quarter when the Patriots also chose to play conservatively. On third-and-4 at the Bills 26, Faulk ran 3 yards. Then Gostkowski’s 41-yard field goal attempt went wide right.

Rian Lindell’s 40-yard field goal made it 17-10 with 2:32 left in the third quarter. On the previous drive, the Patriots moved 61 yards in 13 plays but turned the ball over on downs at the Bills 36. Moss caught five passes on the drive.

Earlier, two of the NFL’s best receivers dropped short passes over the middle for the Patriots, Moss on the first series and Wes Welker on the second. Brady was knocked down once on each of the first two drives but got up quickly.

On the Patriots’ third possession, Brady was sacked by first-round draft pick Aaron Maybin, who got around left tackle Matt Light. The quarterback showed no effects from the hit.

The Patriots wasted opportunities on their first two possessions.

Laurence Maroney, who played only three games last season because of a broken shoulder, began the game with a 52-yard kickoff return. But the Patriots couldn’t get a first down and Buffalo got the ball at its 40 after Maroney was held to no gain on fourth down.

The Bills failed to get a first down and punted.

Both teams wore their AFL uniforms to mark the 50th anniversary of that league. Officials also wore AFL shirts.