No doubting Thomas' solid fill-in job

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By Tom E. Curran

ORCHARD PARK, New York - Stepping in for one of the best offensive linemen in football, Donald Thomas was just hoping to hold down the fort.

Consider it held down.

Playing left guard in place of the injured Logan Mankins, Thomas was part of an offensive line that allowed just one sack while opening enough holes for the Patriots to rush for 247 yards on 40 carries.

"I started off OK, dipped a little bit in the second quarter, then we came together as an offense in the third and got rolling," said Thomas, a 27-year-old from UConn who's finally gained a toehold in New England. Trying to fill Logan's shoes is impossible for a guy like me. I hope that I can just do enough to keep the game manageable. I strive to be as good as somebody like Mankins but he's a blessed athlete."

The Patriots like their linemen versatile and Thomas fits that bill. He can play guard or tackle, on either side, apparently.

Whether the Patriots will need Thomas again next week as Mankins rests his injured hip remains to be seen. But Thomas already know the Patriots talking points.

"Every win is hard and you're happy to get a win but by tomorrow morning we'll be on to Denver.

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