The Bills brought the fight to the Patriots before the opening bell and kept throwing haymakers throughout, stunning New England with a 16-0 decision at Gillette Stadium.

It was the first time the Patriots had been shut out since 2006, when Nick Saban’s Dolphins pulled the trick in Miami, and it was their first whitewashing at home since 1993, when the Jets blanked them, 6-0.

With rookie quarterback Jacoby Brissett starting his second straight game in place of the injured Jimmy Garoppolo, the Patriots’ offense was stagnant from the get-go. New England scored on its first play from scrimmage — a 90-yard catch-and-run by Julian Edelman — but it was called back for a penalty on Chris Hogan. From there, the highlights were few and far between for the home team.

Bills quarterback Tyrod Taylor was at his improvisational best, completing 27 of 39 for 246 yards and a touchdown.

Brissett came back to earth after his sterling start against the Texans. He finished 17 for 27 for 205 yards. Brissett, who injured his right thumb against Houston, said it wasn’t an issue.

During the pregame, as Brissett and fellow rookie Malcolm Mitchell were doing sprints along the sideline, Bills safety Robert Blanton shoved Brissett. Mitchell jumped to Brissett’s defense and a minor brouhaha ensued. Several Bills joined in the jawing.

Martellus Bennett, who turned in his fourth straight standout game (five catches, 109 yards), said he would have had something to say had he been on the field at the time of the scuffle.

“It would’ve been different if I was out there,’’ he said. “I don’t let that [stuff] happen.’’

The Patriots made a ton of mental mistakes — committing nine penalties for 74 yards — and their third-down efficiency was abysmal — converting just 1 of 12.

The Bills converted 7 of 15 third-down attempts.