Patriots... 13, Bills ...0

A year after flirting with perfection, the New England Patriots will be sitting out the playoffs.

A season that began with star quarterback Tom Brady’s injury concluded just short of a postseason berth despite an 11-5 record. A blustery 13-0 victory Sunday over the Buffalo Bills wasn’t enough to get the Patriots in.

Miami won the AFC East later in the day and Baltimore took the only available wild-card spot when it beat Jacksonville. The Patriots had to settle for a fun day at the ballpark, their bid for a sixth consecutive playoff berth denied.

The Patriots, whose bid last season for a perfect 19-0 record ended with a Super Bowl loss to the New York Giants, are the first NFL team with an 11-5 record to miss the playoffs since Denver in 1985.

The Bills face another long off-season after their third consecutive 7-9 finish, this one after a 5-1 start. Coach Dick Jauron’s status is uncertain.

Quoteworthy: “I’m really proud of our team today. Going 11-5, winning the last four, coming here today, I thought we played well as a football team.” -- Bill Belichick, Patriots coach