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FOXBORO — You can’t fault Dick Jauron for trying.

The coach of the Buffalo Bills knew he had a chance to stick a dagger into the hearts of the New England Patriots early in the third quarter of Sunday’s game, so he went for it. Just about anyone else would do the same.

"With their talent I don’t think you can put them away at any time, particularly not that early," Jauron said after the Bills’ season-opening, 19-17 loss to the Patriots at Gillette Stadium. "But with that down and distance, at that part of the game, you know you would love to have it 24-7."

As a result, Jauron sent his offense back onto the field on a fourth-and-1 play from the Patriots’ 7 with 9:30 left in the third quarter, hoping to put the distance of two touchdowns and a field goal between them and the Patriots. But when Don Davis, a goal-line package linebacker, pulled McGahee down from behind for no gain, it was like waving a red cape in front of an enraged bull.

The Patriots scored on the ensuing possession, and ended the game having scored 12 unanswered points. "Because we didn’t get it, I would like to have the decision back and kick it through," Jauron said, "and make them kick it in the end. You know, to make them have to kick it at the end of the game to have to beat us."

In his first game as the Bills’ head coach, Jauron may have been looking to send a message to his team that he has confidence in it in crucial situations.

"It was the time of the game, how we had taken it down the field, the down and distance, the score ... I don’t know, I might have done it again, I’d probably do it again," he said. "I’m sure I will do it again sometime, but hopefully it will work out better."

For his part, McGahee (20 carries, 70 yards) said he supported his coach’s decision.

"There isn’t anything you can do but go out there and try and get the first down," he said. "They had a good defense out there and they stopped it ... it was designed to go to the right, but they shut it off. They have a great defensive line and they made a great play and penetrated. There wasn’t anything I could do about it."

McGahee also said he thought he had gotten the ball far enough ahead of him to get the first down.

"I think I got it," he said. "I stretched the ball at the end, but the ball got kicked back and that’s where the referee spotted it. There isn’t anything you can do about it."