FOXBOROUGH, Mass. (AP) - Devin McCourty has made several costly mistakes at cornerback this season. At safety, the New England Patriots lost both starters to injury.

So they shifted McCourty to safety and, suddenly, their prospects at both positions look brighter.

A Pro Bowl player as a rookie in 2010, McCourty's athleticism and knowledge of the defense have made the transition easier to a position he played his first two seasons at Rutgers. He has started the last two games at safety when Steve Gregory and Patrick Chung were sidelined. And he could be there again Sunday when the Patriots (5-3) face the Buffalo Bills (3-5).

McCourty played some safety last year and said he has no preference. But he said it's ``cool'' to get a wider view of the field playing that spot.