Quarterback Tom Brady has terrorized the Buffalo Bills for most of his 16-year career with the New England Patriots. While his performance during a Week 13 victory over Buffalo in Orchard Park wasn’t vintage Brady, it was enough to help Brady break the NFL record for most career wins against one team.
Thanks to a 23-3 win over the Bills Dec. 3 at New Era Field, Brady improved his career record vs. Buffalo to 27-3, breaking Hall of Fame quarterback Brett Favre’s old record of 26 wins vs. the Detroit Lions, set when Favre repeatedly played against the Lions for the Green Bay Packers and the Minnesota Vikings.
Brady also pulled into a tie with both Ryan Fitzpatrick and Drew Bledsoe for most wins at Ralph Wilson Stadium/New Era Field (14) since the start of the 2001 season. Brady, who improved his record playing in Western New York to 14-2 in 16 career starts, plays in Buffalo once per season, while it took Fitzpatrick 30 games and Bledsoe 24 games to amass 14 home wins.
While Brady broke one NFL record in earning another win over Buffalo, the Bills kept Brady from breaking another dubious record: most passing touchdowns thrown at Ralph Wilson Stadium/New Era Field over the last 20 years. Brady needed two passing touchdowns to surpass Ryan Fitzpatrick (39) for most passing touchdowns during that time frame, but the 40-year-old veteran will have to wait until the 2018 season for another crack at that record.
The Week 13 contest was different than most other matchups between Brady and the Bills, as Brady did not throw a touchdown pass in the win, just the third time in 30 career starts against Buffalo that he was held without a passing touchdown. It was also the third time in his career against Buffalo that Brady threw more interceptions (one) than touchdowns (zero).
Fitzpatrick, who was Buffalo’s starting quarterback from 2009-2012, needed 24 games to toss those 39 TDs, while it took Brady, who makes one pilgrimage to Western New York per season, only 15 games to compile 38 passing TDs.
During his career, Brady now has 66 touchdown passes compared to only 21 interceptions when facing Buffalo, good enough for a 101 QB rating.
The Bills get a shot at revenge when they travel to Foxborough for an important clash at 1 p.m. Sunday. The Patriots have already clinched their record ninth straight AFC East championship, while the Bills need help to punch their playoff ticket for the first time since the 1999 season.