The Bills defensive line has wreaked some havoc on opposing offenses this season, but they’ll be down one member of their corps as they try to play spoiler against the Patriots.
The team announced that defensive tackle Marcell Dareus will sit out the entire first half of the game as punishment for a violation of team rules. There’s no word about the specific nature of the violation, but it isn’t the first time this has happened this season.
Or this month. Dareus also sat out the first quarter of last week’s victory over the Dolphins for the same reason. He’ll either clean things up over the offseason or we’ll see him in the fourth quarter of the 2014 season opener.
The Patriots drove for a field goal to open the game, converting a key third down when wide receiver Julian Edelman fell on a fumble by running back Shane Vereen on the right side of the first down marker.