New England Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel's frustration over a controversial defensive holding call on cornerback Marcus Jones resulted in a 15-yard unsportsmanlike conduct penalty during a 29-26 win over the Buffalo Bills on Sunday in Week 4.

The incident occurred late in the second quarter with Buffalo facing third-and-goal from New England's 16-yard line. Bills quarterback Josh Allen's pass fell incomplete, but Jones was flagged for defensive holding, giving Buffalo an automatic first down.

“That's a fing terrible fing call,” Vrabel was spotted saying to an official.

Referee Bill Vinovich explained through the postgame pool report, via ESPN's Mike Reiss, that Vrabel's language and his position outside the coaches' box resulted in the penalty. When asked whether the Patriots coach should have received a warning, Vinovich said the language made a warning unnecessary because it was considered an automatic penalty.

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The ruling improved the Bills' position considerably. Without the penalties, Buffalo would have faced fourth-and-goal from the 16. Instead, the holding call and Vrabel's penalty moved the Bills inside the 10-yard line with a fresh set of downs. Just three plays later, Allen scored on a 2-yard run to tie the game at 14.

The Patriots overcame the sequence and several first-half mistakes. Quarterback Drake Maye finished 22-of-37 for 269 yards, three touchdowns and an interception, while also rushing for 56 yards. He threw touchdown passes to Romeo Doubs and Efton Chism III, including a 23-yard score to Chism with 1:50 remaining.

Buffalo had a chance to respond, but Allen threw an interception while targeting Joshua Palmer in the closing minute. New England's defense held the Bills to 91 rushing yards and.

The victory moved the Patriots to 2-2, while Buffalo suffered its first loss of the season.