When Patrick Mahomes and Josh Allen squared off in the playoffs in January, it seemed unthinkable that any game shortly (or any game in the future) could match its lunacy. The Vikings and Bills said, “hold our beer” on Sunday.
The Bills experienced the same fate as they did in that postseason game, a crushing overtime loss, this time by a score of 33-30. And Josh Allen was as depressed as he was in January. However, NFL regulations barred him from receiving the ball in overtime. This time, Allen was a major contributor to the loss.
Allen’s errors were a reoccurring theme, but only a small portion of the enthralling football we witnessed in the final minutes of Sunday’s regular season. To summarise the mind-numbing activity in the final phases (a difficult task):
Due to a botched extra point on CJ Ham’s touchdown, the Vikings are down 27-23 and need a touchdown to win.
Justin Jefferson’s 12-play, 75-yard drive proved he is not human. The receiver receives every pass within his field of vision, regardless of the number of defenders. This includes an incredible one-handed catch of 32 yards on fourth-and-18.
Following what has first ruled a touchdown, the Vikings are stopped at the goal line following a run by Kirk Cousins and a reception by Jefferson, who is ruled down at the one-yard line. The Vikings go closer after offsides, but they are unable to get Cousins across the goal line on fourth down. The Bills are poised for another triumph. (Enough to induce anxiety in non-Bills and Vikings fans. I cannot fathom how the actual fans must have felt.)
Then, with 41 seconds remaining and the Bills leading 27-23, they have the worst snap of all time at their 1-yard line. The Vikings recover a loose ball in the end zone of the Bills to take a 30-27 lead (Are you kidding me?).
Thanks in part to a grab that definitely shouldn’t have stood, thirty-six seconds is more than sufficient for Allen to push the Bills into field-goal range. The 29-yard field goal by Tyler Bass is good. We are entering overtime! (There was no chance this game would end in regulation.)
— Minnesota wins the toss and makes significant gains. Are we to be deprived of Allen once more? No way. The Vikings are limited to a field goal. What say you, Bills?
Allen leads a productive drive, gaining massive chunks of yardage with his feet and tenacity. But then he throws the ball directly into Patrick Peterson’s hands. Game over.
Given that Buffalo had a 27-10 lead into the fourth quarter, this was a devastating blow. Allen accepted responsibility for the botched snap when the game appeared to be over, which is a commendable display of leadership, but his decision-making under pressure is now a serious cause for concern. Allen has thrown four interceptions in the last two games, including three in the red zone, but only one touchdown. The Bills are winless throughout this span. At one point this season, the Bills appeared to be the best football team. Now they are 6-3 and tied for second place in the AFC East with the New York Jets. (The Jets have the tiebreaker due to their superior divisional record.)
Buffalo’s sole consolation was that this was not a playoff game, and Allen was playing with a sore elbow, with his status questionable almost up to kickoff. The quarterback still showed arm strength and athleticism on Sunday: after all, Allen at 75% is still superior to the majority of quarterbacks if he can eliminate the mental errors that plagued him early in his career. The wheels have not gone off in Buffalo – Allen’s elbow will continue to recover and Tre’Davious White will make his 2022 debut at some point – but you have to wonder if this team is doomed when it comes to thrilling finishes.
As for Minnesota, let me introduce you to the 8-1 Vikings. Many NFL fans did not pay much attention to the Vikings because their quarterback is not particularly flashy. But, wow, can Cousins orchestrate a comeback? On Sunday, he staged his fifth fourth-quarter comeback of the season, tying the NFL record. Von Miller’s second-half resurgence in Buffalo, where the Bills were trailing 27-10, is a remarkable feat. The claim that the Vikings’ record was the result of facing inferior opponents and a multitude of backup quarterbacks can no longer be sustained. Minnesota’s lone loss this season came against the unbeaten Philadelphia Eagles, and as Buffalo demonstrated, there is much to admire.
Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa. Before the offseason, Tua’s detractors lined up for miles. He allegedly lacked the appropriate appearance and arm strength. They said that the Dolphins should consider Deshaun Watson or Russell Wilson. Well, the line of apologies had better be as long as Tagovailoa’s performance, as he led the suddenly 7-3 Dolphins to a 39-17 victory over the Cleveland Browns. Passing for 285 yards and three touchdowns, Tagovailoa was nearly faultless. Miami’s surge is largely attributable to Tagovailoa, although having weapons as Tyreek Hill helps. His 118.4 passer rating this season is the greatest for a third-year quarterback in NFL history.
Tom Brady attempted to demonstrate his various skills to a German audience, but he was thwarted. By himself. Brady stated that he would have tackled the defender and prevented the interception if he had not been pinned to the ground. Right …
Fortunately for Brady, this interception and the one he threw while performing poorly as a quarterback were of little consequence in the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ crucial 21-16 victory over the Seattle Seahawks. The Bucs’ defense was terrific in the first half, relentlessly harassing Geno Smith and preventing the Seahawks from scoring. Richard White gained 105 yards on 22 rushing attempts for the Buccaneers on the other side of the ball, as the Buccaneers finally found a running game.
The Munich crowd was outstanding. They mastered the wave, sang “Take Me Home, Country Roads,” and remained in the stadium long after the game, swaying, singing, and enjoying the NFL spectacle.
Jim Irsay gloated after the first week of Jeff Saturday’s unorthodox hiring by Irsay. Irsay claims that Saturday entrusted a great deal to his assistants, who then streamlined the plan. The outcome was a 25-20 victory over the dismal Las Vegas Raiders and Josh McDaniels, who parted ways with Indianapolis before the start of his head coaching tenure. The Colts coaching staff made the intriguing decision to start quarterback Matt Ryan, who had been on the bench since Week 7. Ryan, a solid offensive line, and the return of Jonathan Taylor all contributed to Saturday’s first win as a head coach.
Statistics of the week
McDaniels began his head coaching tenure undefeated. Since then, he has aged 7-24 years. The Raiders have lost four consecutive games and are playing undisciplined football under McDaniels. On Sunday, they committed 10 penalties for 74 yards. Despite beginning the game 0-5, Derek Carr was able to make improvements. Regardless of your opinion of the Raiders, it is worth your time to see Carr’s emotional and “pissed off” post-game press conference. This franchise is not a cheerful one.
The remainder of the league
Former Bears wide receiver Muhsin Muhammad allegedly referred to Chicago as “the graveyard for receivers.” This phrase has been proven accurate by quarterbacks like Rex Grossman, Jay Cutler, and Mitch Trubisky, among many, many, many others. It now appears that the unthinkable has occurred, as the Bears have found a quarterback in Justin Fields who is not only talented and athletic but also a joy to watch.
Sunday, the Bears lost 31-30 to the Detroit Lions, but Fields stole the show, especially on the ground. A week after accumulating 178 rushing yards, Fields rushed for another 147 yards and scored four touchdowns. Sadly, he added a timely pick-six, but the future seems promising.
Aaron Rodgers had some harsh comments for his head coach Matt LaFleur, who did not attempt to win in the final two minutes of regulation against Mike McCarthy and the Dallas Cowboys. Christian Watson’s breakout performance helped the Green Bay Packers overcome a two-score hole as they won 31-28 in overtime. However, Green Bay’s record remains at 4-6, and the quarterback-head coach relationship is as icy as ever.
— After a seven-game hiatus, TJ Watt returned to the Pittsburgh Steelers and instantly recorded two tackles. After the game, cornerback Levi Wallace stated that Watt’s mere presence “affects everything.” The Steelers defeated the Saints of New Orleans 20-10.
