Buffalo Bills lose composure, lack confidence in meltdown against Oakland Raiders

Another week, another remarkable comeback for the Oakland Raiders.

Khalil Mack #52 of the Oakland Raiders tips a pass from Tyrod Taylor #5 of the Buffalo Bills during their National Football League game at Oakland Alameda Coliseum on December 4, 2016 in Oakland, California.

Mid-way through the third quarter, the Raiders were down 24-9. This was the biggest comeback for the Raiders since overcoming a 21-point deficit to Indianapolis to win 38-31 on September 10, 2000.

Buffalo appeared capable of putting together an impressive win against a top-notch opponent the way the offense opened the second half.

“I don’t know where that came from”, Richard said of the high step. But then Derek Carr and the offense rallied for 29 points while the defense shutout the Bills for the remainder of the game. He loves to win. We didn’t score, we couldn’t even go down there and put three points up. “Sometimes I think we lose confidence. This is a heck of an offense”.

NY quarterback Eli Manning completed just 24 of 39 passes for 195 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions in the red zone as the Giants’ (8-4) six-game winning run ended with a thud.

Amari Cooper only had two catches but still had a huge impact. He finished the day with 17 carries for 130 yards along with seven catches for 61 additional yards. Even if the Raiders manage to keep McCoy under control, quarterback Tyrod Taylor is also unsafe with 423 yards rushing and a 6.3 average. Taylor has amassed over 2,000 yards passing this season, while throwing for 11 touchdowns.

When the Buffalo Bills took a 15-point lead midway through the third quarter, the game was right in the comfort zone for the Oakland Raiders. Punter Colton Schmidt struggled by mis-hitting consecutive punts – one for 35 yards and the other 39 – to set up Raiders scoring drives. On the first drive of the 3rd quarter, the Bills would only need two plays to put points up on the board. Four plays later Latavius Murray scored from three yards out for his second rushing touchdown of the game. In his career, Carr is 1-4 against the Chiefs with a completion percentage of 57.7 and has five interceptions to six touchdown passes.

“I just felt like this is a game that we had in our hands that we let slip away”, running back LeSean McCoy said. If Mack plays the way he has the last six weeks, quarterback Tyrod Taylor will have problems getting the ball to Watkins and other receivers.

Nor did they somehow mistake Carr’s No. 4 jersey for Mack’s No. 52. And on first down, Mack deflected Taylor’s pass and safety Nate Allen intercepted, giving Oakland a first down at Buffalo’s 16. Being an Oakland fan for so long, I have been going into every game with a somewhat pessimistic attitude, but after the resilience this team showed me last week, I am all in.

Khalil Mack was his usual beastly self and helped force a Tyrod Taylor interception late in the game.

“I took a Denver team and went in there and beat them twice”, said Del Rio, a former Broncos defensive coordinator. Moreover, not only can he get you the tough yards, he can break off a 70 yard touchdown run, at any time.

Detroit’s Matthew Stafford passed for 341 yards and two touchdowns to lead the Lions over New Orleans 28-13.

Mike Gillislee averaged 6.1 yards per carry and had a pair of rushing touchdowns, but the run game that was working so well vanished after Gillislee’s second TD at the nine minute mark of the third quarter.