ORCHARD PARK — Donald Jones needed three games to justify the Bills’ faith in him as a starting receiver in Buffalo’s No. 1-ranked offense.

Jones made a pair of key receptions in the fourth quarter on Sunday, including a 29-yard pass down the right sideline from Ryan Fitzpatrick to help set up the eventual game-winning field goal as the resilient Bills overcame an early deficit and finally got past mighty New England, 34-31.

“It definitely feels good to be able to silence the critics somewhat,” said Jones, who made just six catches for 27 yards in his previous two games. “The first two games I only had one touchdown. I didn’t have too many targets, so I was starting to get a lot of critics out there. To be able to go out yesterday in a big game and come up big for the team was big for me.”

Jones let an easy catch go right through his hands on the Bills’ second play from scrimmage and it was intercepted by New England’s Kyle Arrington to later set up the Patriots’ second score to make it 14-0.

But like the week prior against Oakland, Jones rose to the occasion in the second half.

“It’s definitely real big confidence-wise against a team like that to be able to do what I did (Sunday),” he said. “I’m sure it gives Fitz a lot of confidence in me to go to down the stretch, like he did (Sunday). I plan to do the same thing for the rest of the season.”

Fitzpatrick also found Jones for a 48-yard fade to Jones on a double move past cornerback Leigh Bodden. Jones finished with five catches for a team-high 101 yards, the first 100-yard receiving game of his career.

“We knew from film that we could get past those corners,” Jones said. “We knew that they ran a lot of man coverage, which was a lot different than they ran last year. It was a lot more zone.

“We said if we get the one-on-ones, we’re going to take advantage of it. And the line did a great job of protecting, Fitz did a great job of putting the ball down the field and I just made the play.”

Jones’ speed was one of the main reasons the Bills decided it was time to part ways with Lee Evans. Jones proved Sunday that when matched up in man coverage, the Bills can exploit opposing secondaries and use his speed to their advantage.

While many doubted Jones’ abilities as a receiver on the outside, Bills coach Chan Gailey knew that it wouldn’t be long before he emerged as a big-play threat.

“He is a great deep threat for us. He’s got great body control, strong hands,” Bills coach Chan Gailey said. “He can go down the field and get the ball and compete for the ball when it’s in the air. He can compete for the ball when it’s in the air.

“I could see it all along,” he added. “Maybe other people couldn’t, but I could see it all along.”

Contact reporter Brandon Koch at brandon.koch@tonawanda-news.com