FOXBOROUGH — The first time around against the Bills? It proved to be an awakening of sorts for Rob Ninkovich, who was credited with five tackles (four unassisted), a sack (for a 5-yard loss), a quarterback hurry, and a forced fumble in the Patriots’ 52-28 victory Sept. 30 at Buffalo.

Ninkovich, who had recorded only six tackles in the first three games of the season, talked afterward about how he “held myself accountable the first couple of games’’ and how “I didn’t feel active enough.”