Brady Keeps Upper Hand

For the second consecutive season, Tom Brady is pushing Drew Bledsoe toward a disappointing finish.

Bledsoe threw four interceptions, and his former understudy threw two touchdown passes as the New England Patriots beat the Buffalo Bills, 27-17, Sunday.

That put the Patriots (8-5) in first place in the AFC East by a half-game over Miami, which plays Chicago tonight. The Bills (6-7) trail by two games with three to play.

This was Bledsoe’s first game at New England since the team traded him following its Super Bowl win.

“Every game I’ve ever played I’ve taken personally, this one more than most,” Bledsoe said. “With the turnovers, it falls heavily on my shoulders.”

At least Bledsoe reached the playoffs last season with the Patriots. He suffered a severe chest injury late in the second game, and Brady took over. Brady kept the job after Bledsoe healed, then became the MVP of the Super Bowl, which Bledsoe watched from the sideline.

Bledsoe’s career was revived in Buffalo, and he helped the Bills go from a 3-13 season to challenging for the playoffs.

But his four interceptions Sunday were the most he had thrown in 33 games, and the Bills lost for the fourth time in five games.

“It feels weird [playing against Bledsoe],” Patriot center Damien Woody said. “I think the trade worked out well for both teams. It certainly worked out for us.”

New England led, 20-0, at halftime on the way to its fifth win in six games.

“With everybody so bunched together in the standings, we have to be in playoff mode,” New England safety Lawyer Milloy said. “We understand that each week, if you lose a game, you could be bumped out of the playoffs.”