The Bills got run over by a train against the Colts. As a result of this monumental skid, they are now slipping to second place in the Eastern Division of the American Conference, behind… well, well, the Patriots!
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Not so long ago, the Bills had a solid 5-2 record. The Patriots, 2-4, seemed infinitely far behind. This division, no doubt, was that of the Bills.
That’s how strong the wind can blow and upset the established order in the NFL in no time.
Since those times that now seem distant, the Patriots have won their last five games; they now have seven wins and four losses.
The Bills have lost three of their most recent five games and have a record of six wins and four losses.
There is, of course, nothing decided, since the Bills and the Patriots will meet twice in the next five weeks.
So the division’s portrait won’t be decided based on current missteps by the Bills or current good moves by the Patriots. The fact remains that fortune is smiling on the Patriots right now.
No constancy
Strangely, the Bills seem unable to maintain any form of consistency. They haven’t been able to win back-to-back games since Weeks 4 and 5, when they scored what was to be their hallmark victory over the Chiefs.
Since then, it’s been a destabilizing ride that this team offers week after week.
A heartbreaking defeat against the Titans. A narrow victory against the Dolphins. An unthinkable setback against the Jaguars. A great comeback against the Jets. A crush in good standing against the Colts…
In yesterday’s slump, the defense was trampled on unrestrainedly by running back Jonathan Taylor.
The Colts’ 264 rushing yards are the Bills’ worst defensive total in the past five seasons. Okay, linebacker Tremaine Edmunds and tackle Star Lotulelei were missing, but still…
The Bills are generally strong against the run, but when a physical heavy hitter comes along, as was the case against Derrick Henry in mid-October, the scenario changes quickly. This is a problematic element.
On offense, for the third game in a row, the Bills committed at least two turnovers. The situation must be corrected quickly.
The Bills have too much talent to lose the fight in their division. They must still be considered favorites in the race. Against the Patriots, such rambling games won’t be enough, however.
Taylor, Most Valuable Player?
For the Colts, the win is huge as they stay in the playoff race. If they qualify at the end of the course, the carrier Jonathan Taylor should be considered a logical candidate for the title of the most valuable player.
His five touchdowns against the Bills are a franchise record. He produces fiercely every week, with 15 touchdowns and nine games over 100 yards from the line of scrimmage.
No runner has been named MVP since Adrian Peterson in 2012. If the Colts make it through to the playoffs, they’ll owe it to their second-year runner.
WINNERS
Jonathan Taylor
With 185 yards rushing, 19 receiving and five touchdowns, Jonathan Taylor has once again shown that he will be one of the league’s best rushers for years to come. The Colts ace had his eighth straight game with at least 100 yards from the line of scrimmage and a touchdown.
Justin Jefferson
Kirk Cousins could also have been mentioned in this column, but receiver Justin Jefferson was spectacular with 169 yards and two touchdowns, including a superb touchdown late in the fourth quarter.
Ron Rivera
The Washington head coach defeated his former team in Carolina, in front of an excited crowd at Cam Newton’s first start. His men kept their cool and won a second straight game to stay alive in the playoff race.
Jalen Hurts
His passing numbers aren’t spectacular (13 for 24, 147 yards), but the Eagles quarterback has scored three rushing touchdowns, including a sublime one. Hurts is shopping for another season as a starter next year.
Steve Spagnuolo
The Chiefs’ defensive coordinator straightened out a defense that looked horrible early in the season. The Chiefs deprived the Cowboys of a touchdown, they who had scored at least two in all their games this season.
LOSERS
Ryan Tannehill
The Titans quarterback had a horrible game with four interceptions. You’d think the Titans would have learned from their crummy loss to the Jets earlier in the season, but they once again stooped to their competitive level against the Texans.
Les Bears
So the Bears can’t beat the Ravens without their quarterback (Lamar Jackson), top receiver (Marquise Brown) and top three running backs? Plus, Justin Fields got hurt. A nightmarish day…
The Saints
The Saints have dropped their last three games, a first since 2016. Trevor Siemian threw two interceptions. It will obviously not be the solution, even temporary.
Arbitration
A few more questionable decisions this week, but the most egregious was punishing Chiefs carrier Clyde Edwards-Helaire for pointing the finger at linebacker Luke Gifford on a touchdown… Penalties for provocation are a scourge.
Les Seahawks
The team is 3-7 for the first time since 2009. Russell Wilson has lost three straight starts for the first time in his career. The Seahawks are 1-4 at home. In short, nothing is going right.
5 highlights of the week
1. THE RETURNING “DOC”
Laurent Duvernay-Tardif will not have taken long to make his place on the starting alignment of the Jets. Last week, he had been in uniform, but hadn’t seen any ground on the offensive. This week against the Dolphins, he got his right guard back and looked good in the loss. The Jets had been betting on the same five starters since Week 2 and that eight-game streak was their longest since 2015. It was clear that “LDT” was going to supplant Greg Van Roten.
2. ENCORE DARIUS SLAY !
When it comes to big defensive plays, few players are doing better these days than Darius Slay of the Eagles. Late in the second quarter, Slay provided a good cushion for his team when he returned an interception for a touchdown. He scored his third touchdown of the last four weeks!
3. LONG GAME FOR TUA
Since the beginning of his career, Tua Tagovailoa has been criticized for not being a fan of the long game. Against the Jets, he threw a 65-yard touchdown pass to Mack Hollins, his longest play to date. Tagovailoa fled the pressure to spot Hollins at the other end of the field. Casually, the Dolphins have won three games in a row.
4. ALWAYS SUSPENSE
The Vikings are the undisputed kings of suspense. Nine of their ten games ended on the last play of the encounter.
This time, it was a 29-yard field goal from Greg Joseph that put an end to the debate against the Packers, on the last play of regular time.
Three times, they found themselves in overtime. It becomes a habit.
5. MCCOY HOLDS THE FORT
The Cardinals, still without Kyler Murray, signed a second win in three games with quarterback Colt McCoy. Late in the game against the Seahawks, the latter came within three points of the Cards, but McCoy orchestrated a 10-play 67-yard offensive drive that led to James Conner’s touchdown to put the Seahawks aside for good.
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