FOXBORO, Mass. — It did not take long for tempers to flare Sunday in the first New England Patriots-Buffalo Bills game of the season.
During pregame warmups at Gillette Stadium, Bills safety Robert Blanton delivered a shove to the left shoulder of Patriots starting quarterback Jacoby Brissett.
New England wide receiver Malcolm Mitchell, who had been jogging alongside Brissett, jumped to his teammate’s defense, and a scuffle broke out, involving several Bills defensive backs and various members of the Patriots’ coaching staff.
Here's a photo from @projo's Bob Breidenbach of Robert Blanton shoving Jacoby Brissett as he jogged up the sideline pic.twitter.com/aDAmHSo7X3
— Mark Daniels (@ByMarkDaniels) October 2, 2016
Video of the altercation shared by Rochester, N.Y.-based photographer Prescott Rossi showed Bills safety Aaron Williams pushing Patriots defensive line coach Brendan Daly multiple times in the back while Daly attempted to separate the teams.
WHOA. Pregame shoving between the #Bills and #Patriots. Malcolm Mitchell and Robert Blanton getting things started. @News_8 pic.twitter.com/nbntMSK2hX
— Prescott Rossi (@PrescottRossi) October 2, 2016
The longtime AFC East rivals combined for 25 penalties in their first meeting last season, including three unsportsmanlike-conduct or unnecessary-roughness infractions by Bills players.
Thumbnail photo via Greg M. Cooper/USA TODAY Sports Images
