Bills’ Victory Hardly a Breeze, 22-17 : AFC: Buffalo beats the Patriots despite two muffed punts that lead to New England touchdowns.

Strong winds whipped through Rich Stadium Sunday during the game between the Buffalo Bills and the New England Patriots.

The gusts, in fact, helped the Patriots score two touchdowns.

But in the end, the Bills prevailed for a 22-17 victory, their 16th consecutive triumph at home.

“Usually, they (the winds) have an effect more on the kicking game than anything else and they did today, to our detriment,” Bills Coach Marv Levy said. “Usually when it works against you like that, you don’t win the game.”

Buffalo quarterback Jim Kelly completed 14 of 28 passes for 237 yards and connected with Don Beebe on a 13-yard touchdown pass play early in the third quarter. Andre Reed had five receptions for 121 yards for the Bills (8-1).

Thurman Thomas gained 132 yards in 26 carries and scored on a 15-yard run with 5:48 left to give the Bills a 22-10 lead.

Scott Norwood added field goals of 19, 21 and 42 yards.

Last week, the Patriots lost in the game’s final seconds when quarterback Hugh Millen’s ill-advised scramble in the final seconds cost New England a chance at the tying field goal against Denver.

Buffalo’s Al Edwards muffed two punts that led to New England’s first two touchdowns in seven quarters.

Edwards, who earlier misjudged Shawn McCarthy punts that traveled 67 and 93 yards, dropped his first in the third quarter with the Patriots trailing, 13-3.

Rookie Leonard Russell, who gained 106 yards in 27 carries, scored on a one-yard run following the muff and the Patriots moved to within three points.

Another Edwards muff, this one recovered by Chris Gannon at the Buffalo 40, led to another Russell touchdown, this one from three yards out.

Jason Staurovsky kicked a 36-yard field goal for the Patriots, but missed attempts from 46 and 35 yards.