The one player the banged-up New England Patriots could least afford to lose limped through most of Sunday's game and had X-rays taken after it. A day later, though, coach Bill Belichick said Tom Brady was "fine," and the quarterback said he didn't think his lower left leg injury was "too major." Brady has started 84 consecutive games, beginning with his first pro start on Sept. 30, 2001. And New England really needs him Saturday when it plays the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (9-4), a strong defensive team that has won more games than the Patriots' last two opponents combined. Brady was hurt less than 10 minutes into Sunday's 35-7 win at Buffalo (4-9) on his 3-yard scoring run, his first touchdown on the ground in two seasons. He was injured while diving into the end zone, where he was hit by linebacker Jeff Posey.