updated 10:35 p.m. ET Dec. 28, 2008

The New England Patriots had television sets on their plane as they flew home from Buffalo, so they were able to watch as their playoff hopes slipped away.

On the bus ride from the airport, they learned the Miami Dolphins had defeated the New York Jets to clinch the AFC East. A year after becoming the first NFL team to go 16-0 in the regular season, the Patriots are missing the playoffs.

Then again, coming this close to making the postseason seemed unlikely back when quarterback Tom Brady was lost to a season-ending knee injury in the opener.

"You look at all the good things that came out of the season, everything we overcame from Week 1 and then losing Rodney (Harrison) and losing Adalius (Thomas) and losing Laurence (Maroney),'' fullback Heath Evans said. "I'm proud of this team, proud of this coaching staff. We'd love to keep playing, but you've got to keep your head high.''

In nearly any other year, New England's accomplishments would have been enough to reach the postseason. The Patriots are the first NFL team with an 11-5 record to miss the playoffs since Denver in 1985.

They kept their hopes alive with a 13-0 victory Sunday over the Bills. But New England also needed the Dolphins or the Ravens to lose, and both won.

Matt Cassel, who hadn't started since high school, ably filled in for Brady. The Patriots' 2005 seventh-round draft pick out of USC, Cassel spent his four-year college career backing up Carson Palmer and then Matt Leinart.

The Patriots won their last four to stay in the playoff race.

"As disappointed as we are that the season is over,'' coach Bill Belichick said, "I remain very proud of this team.''

The Bills will settle for another long offseason after their third consecutive 7-9 finish and wonder how things could’ve been different had they built off a 5-1 start. Coach Dick Jauron’s status is also uncertain, with his future to be decided during end-of-season meetings with team owner Ralph Wilson.

“It’s been a trying season,” receiver Lee Evans said. “We weren’t used to winning at the beginning of the season, so you can learn as much as you can from that. Learning how to win is key.”

The Patriots need no such lessons.

In defeating Buffalo for an 11th straight time, New England showed no signs of wilting when confronted by 55 mph winds that had the power to rip strips off nearby rooftops and tilt goal posts.

LaMont Jordan scored on a 2-yard run while Stephen Gostkowski hit two of three field-goal attempts. Matt Cassel’s performance didn’t go unnoticed in showing how capable he’s been filling in since Brady went down in Week 1.

In going 6-of-8 for 78 yards, Cassel’s 12-yard completion into the wind to Wes Welker on fourth down set up Jordan’s score. He also hit Welker for a 14-yard pass on third down in helping set up Gostkowski’s 23-yard field goal that put the game out of reach early in the fourth quarter.

The conditions were so bad that the goal posts had to be centered three times before game time, and again in the second quarter before Gostkowski missed a 26-yard attempt. Another stoppage came in the third quarter, when referee Gene Steratore had his hat blown off and was forced to chase it 20 yards downfield in front of a cheering crowd.

Rick Stewart / Getty Images The goalpost tips after being blown by high winds during the Patriots' win over the Bills on Sunday.

Bills kicker Rian Lindell had the wind at his back, but missed a 47-yard attempt, which started left and then hooked right.

The Patriots won with a rushing attack that produced 168 yards and ate up 32 minutes of the clock. Under Belichick, they also proved to be the superior team in handling the conditions.

Belichick took advantage by taking the wind after winning the coin toss. He extended that advantage by calling several timeouts while New England had the wind at its back. And he even surprised the Bills by calling a quick kick in the fourth quarter, which Cassel hit for 57 yards and pinned Buffalo at its 2.

The Bills had no response, and seemed incapable of handling any adversity.

Their biggest miscue came in the final minute of the second quarter with Buffalo threatening to score. With no timeouts, 22 seconds left and facing third-and-5 from the Patriots 12, the Bills ran Fred Jackson up the middle for a 3-yard gain. Though it was initially unclear whether he got the first down as officials were late in spotting the ball, the Bills immediately sent out their field goal unit.

Buffalo, however, couldn’t get a play off amid the confusion and didn’t get any help from Bills tight end Derek Schouman and center Duke Preston. They were involved in shoving matches with Patriots players at the 5, making it impossible for the team to line up before time ran out.

Steratore said umpire Jeff Rice did, in fact, spot the ball with 9 seconds left, and added that Bills players were not restricted from returning to the line of scrimmage.

Notes: With one catch for 13 yards, Patriots WR Randy Moss upped his career total to 13,201 yards, moving to ninth in the NFL, 3 yards ahead of former Buffalo star Andre Reed. ... Jackson set career highs with 27 carries for 136 yards, playing in place of injured starter Marshawn Lynch (shoulder).

NFL game stories Quick look at Week 9 games STEELERS 28, BRONCOS 10: Roethlisberger throws 3 TDs COWBOYS 20, EAGLES 16: Austin’s TD puts Dallas atop NFC East COLTS 20, TEXANS 17: Indy's 17th-straight regular season win  |    Video SAINTS 30, PANTHERS 20: N.O. now 8-0 for first time in its history CHARGERS 21, GIANTS 20: N.Y. loses 4th straight  |    Video BUCS 38, PACKERS 28: Rookie QB leads Tampa to first win  |    Video PATRIOTS 27, DOLPHINS 17: Brady-Moss connection thrives  |    Video CARDINALS 41, BEARS 21: Warner tosses 5 TDs  |    Video BENGALS 17, RAVENS 7: Cincy cements AFC North status  |    Video FALCONS 31, REDSKINS 17: Atlanta gets into scuffle, still wins TITANS 34, 49ERS 27: Young improves to 2-0 as a starter this year SEAHAWKS 32, LIONS 20: Seattle overcomes 17-0 hole JAGUARS 24, CHIEFS 21: Chargers cast-off Chambers can't save K.C. Byes: Bills, Browns, Raiders, Rams, Vikings, Jets

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