FOXBORO -- Maybe the Buffalo Bills' secondary didn't watch the Super Bowl last February.

Maybe they missed Deion Branch's 11-catch performance, tying the Super Bowl record for receptions in the big game. Maybe they missed him accepting the game's MVP trophy for picking up 133 yards.

Clearly, they didn't have an answer for the little receiver with all the big moves.

In just three catches last night, Branch had 92 receiving yards and New England's first touchdown. On one grab, the fourth-year former Louisville standout pulled in his second score of the season; on another, he had a Sports Center-worthy grab that had Buffalo head coach Mike Mularkey reaching for his red replay hankie (the play stood); and on the third, he was wide open and just missed getting his second TD of the night.

Of his big plays, Branch tipped his hat to his teammates, and when speaking about Branch, Tom Brady self-depricatingly said that he cost Branch the second score.

"I hope" his plays helped spark the offense, Branch said. "I'm pretty sure they did. The guys did a good job blocking for Tom."

On Branch's second catch, a 37-yard bomb on the first play of the drive, Brady -- who was sacked three times on the night -- had plenty of protection and threw it a little high for the 5-foot-9 receiver. But Branch tipped the ball back to himself, cradled it and rolled onto the turf.

Mularkey wanted referee Ron Winter to take a closer look, and Winter ruled in favor of the Patriots.

"It looked close," Brady said of the play. "He hit the ground, the ball bounced up, but it looked like he had it cradled."

Coming back onto the field after a first half that saw them gain just 112 yards and no points, the Patriots got going quickly in the third quarter. Corey Dillon found a gaping hole in the middle of the field for a 12-yard gain, Brady hooked up with David Givens for an 8-yard gain, Dillon got 12 more yards on two carries, and Brady hit Branch with a 33-yard scoring strike that put New England ahead, 7-3.

Later in the fourth, with the Patriots looking for a big play, they got two -- first, Rosevelt Colvin strip-sacked Bills quarterback Kelly Holcomb, giving New England the ball on the Buffalo 23; then, on the next play, Brady hit an open Branch for a 22-yard gain.

First-and-goal at the 1 for New England, Dillon spun over the goal line, and the victory was sewn up.

"I was looking at David Givens (on the 22-yard reception), he was covered, so I looked back to Deion. He was so wide open I wished I had had a better throw for him, but Corey punched it in on the next play," Brady said.

"He's been great all year and he made three of the most critical plays in the game."