ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. -- The first half of Sunday's Patriots-Bills game ended in an interesting way, with the clock running out as the two teams scuffled near the end zone and the Bills missing a chance to kick a field goal.

Buffalo took its final timeout of the half with about 30 seconds left to play, facing second and 8 at the Patriots' 15-yard line. They followed with a a three-yard pass. Then, on third down, Trent Edwards handed off to Fred Jackson. After the play, players started to push one another, and the clock ticked down to zero before the ball could be reset and the Bills could line up for a short field-goal try that would have been into the wind.

Patriots safety James Sanders said he wasn't aware that time was running out, but others on the field were.

"In football, things always happen; you get emotional, and you start tussling," he said. "It was one of those things that worked in our favor, and their guys did a poor job of clock management."

Referee Gene Steratore told a pool reporter after the game that it would have been possible for the Bills to get one final snap off before the end of the half.

"We did bring a kicking ball in with approximately 10 seconds left and the game clock running," Steratore said. "A member of the Buffalo offense was downfield in another situation [with two New England players] after the play had ended. We were breaking that up. But we did have a football to be set down with nine seconds remaining in the half. The Buffalo player was not being restricted in any way to not be able to get back to the line to set up for the next play; therefore there would be no foul for delay of game on the defense for not allowing an offensive player to get back to get set for the next play."

smanza@projo.com