Bills collapse dents playoff hopes in 38-24 loss to Raiders

Things do not get easier today as they take on the Oakland Raiders (9-2), who are now tied with the Patriots for the best record in the AFC.

While they aren’t ideal, the Raiders do own the second-best record in the NFL. And if the past 16 years have taught me anything, it’s that Buffalo usually doesn’t handle prosperity well.

It was the first time LeSean McCoy rushed for over 100 yards in a game in a losing effort for the Bills. Following the penalty the Bills offense was able to strike first in war would become a defensive standstill for the early part of this one. The next minute, they’re walking off the field, 38-24 losers.

More like an avalanche, if you ask me.

The Raiders (10-2) didn’t get much of a chance to savor their sixth straight victory before turning their attention Monday to an AFC West showdown against the Chiefs (9-3) on Thursday night in Kansas City. Too many obstacles to overcome, starting with themselves.

The reality is, Buffalo’s playoff hopes, after Sunday afternoon’s depressing 38-24 loss to the Raiders at Oakland, are toast. Given Tyrod Taylor’s struggles in recent weeks and the looming decision on his contract this spring, it might make sense for the Bills to find out what they have in Jones before deciding what to do with Taylor. After an 8-yard rush by McCoy, Mike Gillislee entered the game and opened with a 29-yard rush.

Rex Ryan echoed his quarterback’s thoughts. The offense was flat, and the defense was giving up score after score.

Kickoff is at 4:05 p.m. on Sunday.

Wide receiver Michael Crabtree caught seven passes for 74 yards and one touchdown for the Raiders. That’s what made Clive Walford’s big game last week so important.

Murray, having accounted for 471 yards rushing and nine TD’s to date on the season, continued to see limited practice this week as he deals with a bad ankle. We got to study it and get better in a hurry.

Right now, Taylor hasn’t been good enough for this team to be better than.500.

Buffalo’s offense started out hot with a surprising emphasis on the pass. Tyrod Taylor began the first half 10 of 11 for 110 yards, and the team drove down to the final ten yards of the field on two drives.

BILLS KEY TRENDS: The Bills are 4-1 against the spread in their last five games after allowing less than 150 yards passing in their previous game and are 5-2-1 against the number in their last eight games when playing an opponent with a winning record.

The bigger question is whether Taylor is worth the $30 million or so that he would be guaranteed if he is under contract after mid-March.

He and Sammy Watkins seemed to be out-of-synch. Not only is Carr putting up MVP numbers, but he has shown the uncanny ability to bring his team back late in games. Every player in that room, every coach in that room. But the Steelers are in a divisional dogfight, so this will be a tough challenge.

BILLS defense has held 6 opponents under 310 total yards, including the Jaguars (301 yards allowed) in Week 12 win. Mack has sacks in six straight and leads National Football League with 24 over past two seasons.

His Bills shifted so dramatically from being great, to playing disgusting within the span of one game, it forced Buffalo reporters had to ask what exactly happened. The Bills would punt for the first time of the day.