EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — The New England Patriots are still undefeated. But their injury list includes another big name after their 27-26 victory Sunday over the New York Giants at MetLife Stadium.

Wide receiver Julian Edelman, widely regarded as the team’s third-best offensive player behind Tom Brady and Rob Gronkowski, reportedly broke a bone in his left foot on the final play of the first quarter.

The Patriots (9-0) made no statement on Edelman’s injury after the game, but Mike Garafalo of Fox Sports reported that Edelman broke the fifth metatarsal, which could end his season. He was carted to the team bus, his foot in a walking boot. He also had crutches.

ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported that Edelman will undergo surgery Monday. He also reported that a source said he could return this season.

Dallas Cowboys’ wide receiver Dez Bryant suffered the same injury earlier this season and returned to play on Nov. 1.

Edelman has been Brady’s most reliable receiver in clutch situations the last three years. His loss, combined with the loss of running back Dion Lewis (torn ACL in his left knee) last week, could put a huge dent in the Patriots’ passing game.

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Edelman had caught four passes for 53 yards. His final play was a 12-yard reception in which he broke two tackles while fighting for yardage.

Danny Amendola stepped up with Edelman out, catching a team-high 10 passes (on a team-high 11 targets) for 79 yards. He had three catches for 32 yards on the final drive that set up Stephen Gostkowski’s winning 54-yard field goal with 1 second remaining. His biggest catch was a 12-yarder on fourth-and-10 from the New England 20 on the final drive.

MALCOLM BUTLER and Odell Beckham Jr. went at each other all day in what was a delightful game-within-the-game.

Beckham, the Giants’ talented second-year receiver, caught four passes for 104 yards, including an 87-yard touchdown catch in the first quarter when he beat Butler down the right sideline and then cut inside to get past safety Devin McCourty, who bumped into Butler.

But Eli Manning also threw the ball to Beckham 12 times. And Butler, the second-year cornerback who sealed New England’s Super Bowl victory last year with a last-minute goal-line interception, was credited with three pass breakups – none bigger than when he stripped the ball away with 2:01 remaining after officials initially ruled Beckham had caught a 5-yard touchdown pass.

After review, the officials ruled it incomplete. The Giants were forced to kick a field goal, giving them a 26-24 lead and allowing the Patriots to win it with a field goal.

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“I lost us the game with the play down in the end zone, a play that should have been made,” said Beckham. “You can’t leave it up to the officials to get anything right. You’ve got to make the play yourself, and it was just a case of playing the play longer than the opponent.”

Beckham grabbed a lob pass from Manning in the left corner of the end zone, but Butler reached in and knocked it away.

“He didn’t tuck it away,” said Butler. “It’s all about finishing the play. You never give up, you just got to finish the play whenever you have the opportunity. I (saw) the ball was out, I just ran my hand through the pocket.”

Beckham said, “I definitely caught the ball and got two feet down.” He thought it was a catch.

Butler said he believed the play would be reversed while it was being reviewed.

Bill Belichick said the two went at each other hard.

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“Those two guys probably have a lot in common in terms of their competitiveness, their toughness,” he said. “They may both be a little under-sized, but (with) big hearts and big competitors.”

FORMER PATRIOT running back Shane Vereen didn’t exactly have the game he hoped for against his ex-teammates. Vereen was limited to two catches for 12 yards and four rushes for 14 yards.

THERE WERE no surprises on the Patriots’ inactive list. Marcus Cannon (toe), Sebastian Vollmer (concussion), Jamie Collins (illness) and Tre’ Jackson (knee) were already list as out on the injury report.

But the Giants’ inactive list had one big surprise: left guard Justin Pugh. He was listed with an illness and missed his first game of the season. The Giants are still missing cornerback Prince Amukamara, who has a pectoral injury.

 

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