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NFL: Week 9 Previews

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Week 9 NFL Capsules

Miami Dolphins (6-2) at Kansas City Chiefs (6-2): The Dolphins aren’t getting much attention for their defense, but with safety Jevon Holland (concussion) back in the lineup a week after cornerback Jalen Ramsey (knee) returned, Miami has potential to be menacing for teams without multiple threats in the passing game. Enter the Chiefs, who looked mortal at Denver in a 24-9 loss, the third time this season they’ve been held under 20 points. The Chiefs find themselves in unfamiliar territory — no, not the Frankfurt, Germany part — going conservative to keep the ball away from Tua Tagovailoa and former KC No. 1 receiver Tyreek Hill. The Chiefs’ passing defense is no slouch, allowing 176.1 yards per game in 2023. Hill is already over 1,000 receiving yards and has 61 catches, more than twice the number for the Chiefs’ leading wide receiver (Rashee Rice, 30). Tagovailoa has 18 TD passes, tied with Kirk Cousins for the NFL lead, but far more weapons to lean on than Patrick Mahomes. What’s uncertain is the merit of the Dolphins’ position in the AFC pecking order. Miami is winless (0-2) against teams with winning records this season.

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Minnesota Vikings (4-4) at Atlanta Falcons (4-4): Imagining a more chaotic week of quarterback change for two teams going head-to-head isn’t easy to fathom. The Vikings lost Kirk Cousins (Achilles) for the season just as he got Minnesota back to .500 following an 0-3 start. Atlanta benched Desmond Ridder “for this week” with turnovers becoming a detrimental factor. That sets up a save-your-ticket-stub type of QB pairing not to be confused with Montana-Elway: Vikings rookie Jaren Hall gets the call against journeyman Taylor Heinicke. Heinicke makes his first start for the first-place Falcons but the 30-year-old is 12-12-1 as a starter in his career. Minnesota’s toothy defense depends on chaos caused by blitzing more than 57 percent of snaps. DE Danielle Hunter has 10 of Minnesota’s 23 sacks, but if the mobile Heinicke can get Atlanta aligned and see the pressure coming, big plays are possible. Opponents complete 72.2 percent of their passes and converted third downs 43.5 percent of the time. Hall could benefit from a more reliable rushing attack and the Vikings are pushing Cam Akers ahead of Alexander Mattison in search of a spark.

Arizona Cardinals (1-7) at Cleveland Browns (4-3): Rookie Clayton Tune jumped to the front of the line at QB this week when starter Joshua Dobbs was traded to the Vikings. Dobbs was expendable with Kyler Murray nearing his return from a December 2022 ACL tear. Tune’s task would be to get the best of the NFL’s No. 1-ranked pass defense spearheaded by DE Myles Garrett (8.5 sacks). Arizona has averaged just 318.6 total yards and 18.9 points per game. In other words, the margin for error is miniscule. Cleveland coughed up the ball on a late-game interception by PJ Walker to lose at Seattle in Week 8. Deshaun Watson, sidelined with a bruised rotator cuff, said he’s getting stronger and the Browns plan to welcome him back Sunday. But the last time Watson deemed himself ready, he wasn’t, and Walker ended up finishing the game. Walker has six turnovers and one touchdown, and the Browns are also without All-Pro running back Nick Chubb (knee) for the rest of the season. Following this game, the Browns enter a stretch of pivotal AFC North games: at Baltimore next week, followed by a date with the Steelers.

Los Angeles Rams (3-5) at Green Bay Packers (2-5): Packers general manager Brian Gutekunst said publicly the next 10 games are critical for QB Jordan Love, whose future with the franchise is likely tied to his performance the rest of the way. Three losses (Falcons, Raiders, Broncos) ended with Love having a chance to win the game but failing to get the Packers points. Green Bay enters on a four-game losing streak but could get a break if Matthew Stafford (sprained thumb) can’t play. Backup Brett Rypien is untested and the Rams lost their leading rusher, rookie Kyren Williams, to a knee injury two weeks ago. Green Bay’s rushing game isn’t exactly dangerous. Aaron Jones is off to a slow start this season. He has yet to rush for more than 45 yards in any of his four games after surpassing that mark in nine of 17 games last season. Love has 11 touchdown passes but his eight interceptions are tied for second-most in the NFL.

Washington Commanders (3-5) at New England Patriots (2-6): Even with losses in five of the past six games, Commanders coach Ron Rivera appears convinced Sam Howell is the right man to lead Washington forward. With showings like last week against the Eagles, it’s easy to buy the argument. Howell have four touchdown passes and put up 31 points against Philadelphia for the second time this season. But he has nine turnovers (eight INTs) and has been sacked 41 times in 2023. With a running game averaging 85.9 yards per game, Howell is being asked to carry a heavy burden. In the team’s four losses in the past five games, the Patriots scored a combined 37 total points compared to 29 in the lone win during that stretch. The Patriots’ top two rushers, Rhamondre Stevenson and Ezekiel Elliott, are both averaging less than 4.0 yards per carry and the ground game (84.4 yards per game) isn’t a threat. Falling behind in games places the onus on Jones, as New England is being outscored 118-53 in the first half this season.

Chicago Bears (2-6) at New Orleans Saints (4-4): The Bears traded a 2024 second-round draft choice to the Commanders in return for DE Montez Sweat to try and upgrade one of the NFL’s weakest pass rushes. General manager Ryan Poles, who previously traded pass rushers Robert Quinn and Khalil Mack out of Chicago, called Sweat “a huge addition” to a defense with an NFL-worst 10 sacks. Sweat has 6.5 sacks so far this season, giving him a total of 35.5 in five seasons. Rookie QB Tyson Bagent will make his third straight start in place of Justin Fields, who continues to rehab a thumb injury. Bagent completed 25 of 37 for 232 yards but was intercepted twice in a 30-13 loss to the Chargers last Sunday in Los Angeles. New Orleans had lost four of five before recording its highest-scoring performance in the last 20 games in a 38-27 victory at Indianapolis last Sunday. Just in time for Sweat’s arrival, New Orleans changed the left side of the offensive line because guard James Hurst missed the last two games due to injury, and Trevor Penning was benched three games ago. Andrus Peat moved from guard to tackle, and Max Garcia started at guard. The Saints had season highs of 350 passing yards, 161 rushing yards and 511 total yards against the Colts. It was the third consecutive game in which they gained 400 yards.

Seattle Seahawks (5-2) at Baltimore Ravens (6-2): Division leaders separated by 2,300 miles duel in Maryland with critical matchups against more familiar rivals dead ahead. The Seahawks moved past struggling San Francisco and into first place in the NFC West with last Sunday’s 24-20 victory against visiting Cleveland. Geno Smith threw a 9-yard touchdown pass to rookie Jaxon Smith-Njigba with 38 seconds remaining for the winning score. “Our team is such a scrappy team. We find ways to win no matter what,” Smith said. “I feel like if I can play up to my capabilities, play up to my standard, who knows where we can be. Because we’re one of the best teams in football if we play right.” Seattle’s defense has been a big reason why it is atop the division. Over the past four games, the Seahawks have allowed a total of nine second-half points and zero touchdowns. They also acquired DT Leonard Williams from the Giants this week. The Ravens have used their usual ground-and-pound approach to build a 1 1/2-game lead in the AFC North. They labored offensively at Arizona last week, with just 268 yards of total offense. Gus Edwards ran for three touchdowns — two after interceptions — as the Ravens came away with a 31-24 victory, their third in a row.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers (3-4) at Houston Texans (3-4): Despite losing three in a row, Tampa Bay resides in the NFC South, where front-running Atlanta is only a half-game ahead with a matching record and has made a quarterback change. The Texans are 2 1/2 games behind streaking Jacksonville in the AFC South. The Buccaneers’ position might have influenced their thinking when New York Jets general manager Joe Douglas came calling with a trade proposal involving their top wide receiver, Mike Evans. Playing his 10th season, Evans is on his way to his 10th 1,000-yard season with 507 yards on 33 receptions.
Tampa Bay’s decision not to trade means quarterback Baker Mayfield retains his most reliable target. Mayfield is enjoying the most accurate season of his career at 64.2 percent with 10 touchdowns and four interceptions. He intends to make the start Sunday despite a knee contusion. Mayfield and the Bucs are looking to revive an offense that has struggled during their recent slide. They’ve managed just 37 points during the losing streak. The Texans missed a chance to get over the .500 mark last week with a 15-13 loss at previously winless Carolina. The Texans managed only 229 total yards against a team ranked 30th in the NFL in scoring defense at more than 28 points per game. That’s part of a recent trend for Houston, which after averaging 24 points and 368.5 yards per game in the first four games has regressed to 17.3 ppg and 279.7 yards per game in the past three games.

Indianapolis Colts (3-5) at Carolina Panthers (1-6): Frank Reich scored his first win with the Panthers last week, just in time to roll out the red carpet for the team that fired him one year ago. Reich would love to dish out a defeat to the Colts on the near-anniversary of being canned. Indianapolis has lost three games in a row to fall from the top of the AFC South to the bottom. Carolina is last in the NFC South and faces a sharp turnaround to a short week date with the Chicago Bears (2-6) next Thursday. “We’ve got to just continue to find ways for us to take the next step,” Reich said. Reich had a 40-33-1 record in four-plus seasons with the Colts. He was fired Nov. 7, 2022. The Colts are consistently putting up points and are the only team with at least 20 in every game this season. But blending the running game to preserve leads — and prevent self-inflicted wounds from QB Gardner Minshew (four fumbles, five interceptions) — remains a challenge. The Colts’ defense has been part of the issue, allowing an NFL-high 28.6 points per game. Carolina is averaging 18.1 points per game (25th in the NFL).

New York Giants (2-6) at Las Vegas Raiders (3-5): Points are a problem for two teams in and out of disarray since Week 1. The Giants started 6-2 last season but enter with the opposite record for numerous reasons. Anyone tuning in to this late afternoon kickoff to see TE Darren Waller’s return to Las Vegas can skip it. Waller could be headed to IR with a hamstring injury. But there are still a few storylines simmering after dramatic ends to October for both franchises. The Raiders fired GM Dave Ziegler, head coach Josh McDaniels and offensive coordinator Mick Lombardi. Former Giants linebacker Antonio Pierce was promoted to interim head coach, and promptly benched Jimmy Garoppolo in favor of rookie Aidan O’Connell. The Giants have been decimated by injuries and haven’t scored more than 16 points since beating Arizona 31-28 on Sept. 17. New York gets QB Daniel Jones back and could be healthier on the offensive line than at any point this season with both offensive tackles in line to play. The Giants have allowed 41 sacks and must contend with Raiders edge rusher Maxx Crosby (6.5 sacks). Las Vegas has scored over 18 points just once this season and has four offensive touchdowns in the past four games.

Dallas Cowboys (5-2) at Philadelphia Eagles (7-1): November games don’t typically settle division titles in the NFL, but there’s plenty of anticipation for the top two teams in the NFC East to meet for the first time this season. Cowboys QB Dak Prescott is 8-3 as a starter against the Eagles, completing 67.5 percent of his passes for 2,757 yards with 19 TDs and eight picks. All the Eagles did last week was add an All-Pro safety, trading for Kevin Byard of the Titans, to shore up one of their few defensive weaknesses. The Eagles allowed 31 points to the Commanders for the second time this season, but won last week on a huge performance from Jalen Hurts. He matched his career high with four TD passes and matched his season high — set in the first meeting with Washington in Week 4 — with 319 passing yards against Washington. Hurts (shoulder) didn’t play in the December loss to Dallas last season and Prescott (hand) didn’t play when the Cowboys lost at Philadelphia in Oct. 2022. Dallas’ defense gives up 17.1 points per game and has nine interceptions, including three returned for touchdowns by cornerback DaRon Bland. Hurts is 1-2 in his career against the Cowboys.

Buffalo Bills (5-3) at Cincinnati Bengals (4-3): Cincinnati knocked the Bills out of the AFC playoffs with a 27-10 win in the divisional round last season, and the Bengals are on a three-game winning streak that corresponds with QB Joe Burrow (calf) saying he’s healthy. His play backs up the claim. Burrow completed 28 of 32 passes for 283 yards and three touchdowns against the 49ers last week. He also completed 19 consecutive passes, one shy of Ken Anderson’s team record set on Jan. 3, 1983. The Bills are fourth in the NFL with 27 sacks, which could limit the amount of time the Bengals have to separate from Buffalo’s man coverage. Burrow said he won’t be thinking about the last game at this site between the teams, in January, when the game was canceled due to the medical emergency involving Bills safety Damar Hamlin. The Bills also claim their focus is on this week and enter with a little extra rest, having defeated the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 24-18, on Oct. 26. Bills quarterback Josh Allen needed the time off. He is dealing with an injured right shoulder and wasn’t a full participant in practice. Allen will be going against Bengals linebacker Logan Wilson, with whom he played collegiately at Wyoming in 2016 and 2017.

–Field Level Media

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NFL: Week 9 Player Props

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ATLANTA – (Staff and Wire Service Report) – With eight weeks of the regular season in the books, we have a mature player props market with plentiful data points. Finding winners will become increasingly difficult as the bookmakers sharpen their lines. As a result, this is the time of year when exercising discipline can save your bankroll.

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When studying player props, we typically skew more toward playing under this time of year. However, after beginning with an overall handicap of the Week 9 games, I noticed that quite a few overs piqued my interest.

That can sometimes be a red flag, so we will be a bit cautious in adding more plays. As a result, these are three most intriguing player props heading into Week 9.

–Falcons QB Taylor Heinicke over 10.5 rushing yards (-115 at BetMGM)
Falcons head coach Arthur Smith announced they’re turning to Heinicke after the veteran backup replaced Desmond Ridder last week in the third quarter against the Titans.

Ridder underwent a concussion evaluation at halftime and, despite being cleared, did not check back into the game. He’s been turnover-prone and Heinicke was very productive, albeit against a Titans’ defense clearly playing it safe with a big lead.

Heinicke orchestrated four scoring drives for 20 points and 253 total yards compared to one scoring drive for three points in the first half for Ridder. And while Smith doesn’t view this change as permanent, Heinicke is clearly auditioning for the job.

Opportunities for Heinicke to run the ball against a Minnesota defense that forces opposing quarterbacks to step up in the pocket.

According to Pro-Football-Reference, the Vikings lead the league with a 52.7 percent blitz rate. That’s almost 10 percent higher than the Giants, who rank second at 43.1.

The Vikings have also allowed the sixth-most rushing yards (170) to opposing quarterbacks this season.

Based on these factors, we have enough to play Heinicke over his rushing prop.

–Dolphins QB Tua Tagovailoa over 22.5 pass attempts (-130 at FanDuel)

There are plenty of storylines in Germany as two of the AFC’s top teams take part of the NFL’s International Series.

The Dolphins and Chiefs have matching 6-2 records. But Miami has yet to beat a team with a record over .500. In comparison, the Chiefs have three wins over .500 teams.

There’s also the Tyreek Hill angle, as the dynamic wide receiver will line up against his former team after spending five years in Kansas City before he was traded during contract talks with the Chiefs.

Even before playing his first game with the Dolphins, Hill drew some criticism after commenting that Tagovailoa was a more accurate passer than Mahomes.

While some in the media interpreted Hill’s comments as a slight towards Mahomes, he never said Tagovailoa was the better quarterback. Hill praised Mahomes for having the stronger arm between the two.

Nonetheless, we have a revenge angle here with Hill facing the Chiefs.

This game will take place at Deutsche Bank Park, which has a retractable roof. The total remains steady at 50.5, the highest of the week.

Given the subplots with Tagovailoa vs. Mahomes and Hill facing his former team, it wouldn’t surprise me if this game turns into a track meet.

–Tyson Bagent over 18.5 completions (-110 at DraftKings)
With Justin Fields still nursing a right thumb injury, Bagent will make his third straight start. While the rookie has only 80 passes this season, he’s completing 70 percent of his attempts.

It also doesn’t hurt that his average intended air yards (5.6) puts him dead last among quarterbacks with at least 68 pass attempts.

It’s not a stretch to think that the Bears’ passing offense is somewhat risk-averse with Bagent under center.

If the Bears continue with this conservative approach, Bagent should be able to pick up some easy completions against the Saints with this prop going over the number.

–Field Level Media

Can Levis Keep Up the Pace?

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PITTSBURGH – (Staff and Wire Service Report) – Tennessee QB Will Levis made a stellar first impression and is a near-certainty to start for the Tennessee Titans for the second time in five days. Meanwhile, Pittsburgh QB Kenny Pickett insists a rib injury won’t prevent him from answering the bell when the Steelers host the Titans on Thursday night.

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Tennessee (3-4) took the wrapping off second-round draft pick Levis this past Sunday, and he put on a show with four touchdown passes in a 28-23 victory over the Atlanta Falcons in his NFL debut.

Titans injured QB Ryan Tannehill missed the contest with a sprained right ankle and is unlikely to play against the Steelers (4-3). He sat out practice Tuesday while Levis was being prepared to start.

“I would imagine, as of today, it will be Will unless something changes,” Titans coach Mike Vrabel said Tuesday. “Right now, I don’t see Ryan being able to do much with the ankle.”

Levis said he has been looking forward to playing in Pittsburgh.

“Playing or not, I’ve had this game circled on the schedule because of how great the environment is going to be,” Levis said. “I know their fans are going to come out and it’s going to be a nice environment. So, we are ready to handle it. I am looking forward to taking it all in and then just doing my thing.”

Levis clicked well in his debut with wideout DeAndre Hopkins, who caught his first three touchdown passes of the season while making four receptions for 128 yards.

“We knew we were going to go out there and make those plays,” Hopkins said of his time on the field with Levis. “He felt confident in me and trusted me. Obviously, I want to be there for my quarterbacks, especially a first-time starter — that helps build his confidence.”

Tennessee insisted it wouldn’t trade star running back Derrick Henry, and Tuesday’s deadline passed without a deal. Henry has rushed for 10 or more touchdowns in five straight seasons, but he has just three through seven games. He has rushed for 526 yards.

As for Pickett, he was injured during the second quarter of Sunday’s 20-10 loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars and was replaced by Mitch Trubisky.

He was limited during Tuesday’s walk-through and was able to do light throwing and later anointed himself as the starter.

“I’m playing, for sure,” Pickett said.

Pickett has passed for 1,330 yards, five touchdowns and four interceptions this season. The Steelers are near the bottom of the league in both scoring offense (29th at 16.1 points per game) and total offense (30th at 271.7 yards per game).

Pittsburgh offensive coordinator Matt Canada said he didn’t think the short week will hinder Pickett.

“Great faith in Kenny that if he’s able to play, he’ll play,” Canada said. “If he feels like he’s not able to perform and do his job, he’ll tell us.”

While star outside linebacker T.J. Watt (8.5 sacks) will be trying to torment Levis, standout free safety Minkah Fitzpatrick (hamstring) will miss the game. Fitzpatrick leads Pittsburgh with 54 tackles.

“We have multiple guys who are going to have to step up,” Steelers defensive coordinator Teryl Austin said Tuesday. “Guys are going to have to do some different things, and it’s our job on the short week to try to get them in the right position so they can play to their strengths. But it’s hard. You’re not going to replicate that guy.”

Damontae Kazee is slated to start in place of Fitzpatrick.

It’s possible that star defensive tackle Cameron Heyward (groin) will be cleared to play for the first time since being injured in Week 1. He was a full participant on Tuesday.

For Tennessee, Henry (ankle), Hopkins (toe) and defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons (ankle) were all limited Tuesday for the second straight day.

Pittsburgh has won the past four meetings with Tennessee. The Titans last beat the Steelers in 2013.

–Field Level Media

NFL Week 8 Round-Up

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NASHVILLE – (Staff and Wire Service Report) – Tennessee QB Will Levis threw four touchdown passes, including three to DeAndre Hopkins, as the Titans held off a late surge by the Atlanta Falcons for a 28-23 win.

Levis completed 19 of 29 passes for 238 yards in his NFL start for Tennessee (3-4). Hopkins had four receptions for a team-high 128 yards.

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Derrick Henry had 22 carries for 101 yards and added four receptions for 21 yards. Nick Westbrook-Ikhine added a 33-yard scoring reception to give the Titans a commanding 28-16 lead with 6:59 to go in the fourth quarter.

Atlanta cut the lead to 28-23 on an 8-yard touchdown pass from Taylor Heinicke to Scotty Miller with 3:46 left in the game. But the Falcons (4-4) were stopped on downs on their last possession following a Titans punt.

Desmond Ridder completed 8 of 12 passes for 71 yards before leaving the game due to concussion protocol. He was sacked five times. Heinicke replaced Ridder and completed 12 of 21 passes for 175 yards.

Jets 13, Giants 10 (OT)

Greg Zuerlein converted the game-tying and game-winning field goals for the Jets to stun the host Giants in overtime in rain-soaked East Rutherford, N.J.

The Jets (4-3) forced overtime when Zuerlein drilled a 35-yard field goal as time expired in regulation. The Giants’ Graham Gano had missed his own 35-yarder with 24 seconds left. The Giants (2-6) went three-and-out to start the extra session, and the Jets — aided by a pass interference call on Adoree’ Jackson — traveled 46 yards in six plays to set up Zuerlein’s winner.

Zach Wilson finished 17-for-36 passing for 240 yards and one touchdown for the Jets. Quarterback Tommy DeVito, an undrafted rookie and New Jersey native, came in for the Giants when starter Tyrod Taylor suffered a rib injury during the second quarter and was taken to a hospital for further evaluation.

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Broncos 24, Chiefs 9

Russell Wilson became the first Denver quarterback since Peyton Manning to defeat Kansas City as the Broncos claimed a home victory.

The Chiefs had won 16 straight games against Denver, dating back to 2015. Wilson was 12-of-19 passing for 114 yards with three touchdowns. The Denver defense forced five Kansas City turnovers.

Kansas City quarterback Patrick Mahomes fell to 29-4 vs. the AFC West in his career. This was his first loss in a division road game. He finished 24-of-38 passing for 241 yards with two interceptions and a lost fumble. It also was Mahomes’ first loss to the Broncos in 13 career starts.

Panthers 15, Texans 13

Eddy Pineiro kicked a 23-yard field goal on the game’s final play and Carolina won for the first time under first-year coach Frank Reich, beating Houston in Charlotte, N.C.

Panthers rookie quarterback Bryce Young, the first overall draft pick, directed the decisive 15-play, 86-yard drive that used the final 6:17 of the game. The Panthers (1-6) became the last team in the NFL to win a game this season, while the Texans (3-4) lost for just the second time in their last five games.

Young finished 22-of-31 passing for 235 yards and a touchdown. Houston’s C.J. Stroud was 16 of 24 for 140 yards and had a touchdown run.

Cowboys 43, Rams 20

Cornerback DaRon Bland cashed in another interception for a touchdown, Dak Prescott threw four TD passes and Dallas cruised to a comfortable win over Los Angeles in Arlington, Texas.

CeeDee Lamb caught two TDs and finished with 12 receptions for 158 yards and Prescott threw scoring passes to Brandin Cooks and Jake Ferguson in a game in which the Cowboys (5-2) led by 30 just before halftime.

Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford left the game in the third quarter with a right hand injury. He was 13 of 22 for 162 yards with a touchdown. Royce Freeman scored on a 1-yard run and led the Rams (3-5) with 44 rushing yards on nine carries.

Vikings 24, Packers 10

Kirk Cousins completed 23 of 31 passes for 274 yards and two touchdowns before leaving with an Achilles injury, and Minnesota held on to beat host Green Bay.

Jordan Addison and T.J. Hockenson caught one touchdown pass apiece for Minnesota (4-4), which won its third game in a row. Cam Akers added a touchdown on the ground.

Jordan Love completed 24 of 41 passes for 229 yards, one touchdown and one interception for Green Bay (2-5). The Packers have lost four consecutive games.

Saints 38, Colts 27

Derek Carr threw two touchdown passes, Taysom Hill ran for two scores and Alvin Kamara had a touchdown run and a touchdown catch as visiting New Orleans held off Indianapolis.

Rashid Shaheed had 153 receiving yards and a touchdown on three catches as the Saints (4-4) had their largest point total in 20 games. Carr passed for 310 yards, while Hill accounted for 121 (63 rushing, 44 passing, 14 receiving).

Gardner Minshew passed for 213 yards and two touchdowns for the Colts (3-5), who lost their third straight game.

Dolphins 31, Patriots 17

Tyreek Hill caught eight passes for 112 yards and one touchdown in a milestone performance and Tua Tagovailoa passed for 324 yards and three touchdowns as Miami beat New England in Miami Gardens, Fla.

Hill became the first player to reach 1,000 receiving yards in the first eight games of a season during the Super Bowl era. Tagovailoa completed 30 of 45 passes with one interception while improving to 6-0 in career starts against Patriots coach Bill Belichick. The Dolphins improved to 6-2 on the season.

Mac Jones was 19-of-29 passing for 161 yards, two touchdowns and one interception for New England (2-6). Kyle Dugger had an interception and sack for the Patriots.

Jaguars 20, Steelers 10

Trevor Lawrence threw for 292 yards and a touchdown as Jacksonville stretched its winning streak to five games with a victory over host Pittsburgh.

Lawrence completed 24 of 32 passes with an interception. His biggest throw was a 56-yard scoring strike on a wheel route to running back Travis Etienne with 5:05 left in the third quarter, giving the Jaguars (6-2) a 17-3 lead. Etienne rushed 24 times for 79 yards and Evan Ingram caught 10 passes for 88 yards.

The Steelers (4-3) got within 17-10 when backup quarterback Mitch Trubisky found George Pickens for a 22-yard touchdown pass with 53 seconds remaining in the third. Trubisky relieved starter Kenny Pickett (rib) with 14 seconds left in the first half and completed 15 of 27 passes for 138 yards with two interceptions, one on a Hail Mary to end the game.

Eagles 38, Commanders 31

Jalen Hurts and A.J. Brown delivered again, and Philadelphia denied another upset bid by Washington in a shootout in Landover, Md.

Hurts finished with four touchdown passes and 319 yards, including Brown’s eight receptions for 130 yards and two touchdowns for the Eagles (7-1). They forced Washington quarterback Sam Howell into two fourth-quarter turnovers, with Haason Reddick recording a strip-sack off the left edge with 2:13 left to play.

Howell completed 39 of 52 passes for 397 yards and four touchdowns, Jahan Dotson had a team-high eight catches for 108 yards and a score and Jamison Crowder caught seven passes for 95 yards and a touchdown for the Commanders (3-5).

Seahawks 24, Browns 20

Geno Smith threw a 9-yard touchdown pass to rookie Jaxon Smith-Njigba with 38 seconds remaining as Seattle defeated visiting Cleveland.

The win, combined with the San Francisco 49ers’ third straight loss, left Seattle (5-2) alone atop the NFC West.

P.J. Walker, starting for the injured Deshaun Watson (strained right rotator cuff), failed in his bid to guide the Browns (4-3) to a third consecutive comeback victory. He completed 15 of 31 passes for 248 yards with one touchdown but threw two interceptions and lost a fumble.

Ravens 31, Cardinals 24

Gus Edwards rushed for 80 yards and a career-high three touchdowns, and Baltimore notched a win over Arizona at Glendale, Ariz.

Lamar Jackson completed 18 of 27 passes for 157 yards and a touchdown for the Ravens (6-2), who won their third consecutive game. Mark Andrews, who grew up in nearby Scottsdale, had a touchdown reception while Edwards registered his first game with multiple rushing touchdowns since Oct. 23, 2022, against the Browns.

Joshua Dobbs passed for two touchdowns and rushed for another for Arizona (1-7), which has lost five games in a row. Dobbs completed 25 of 37 passes for 208 yards with two interceptions.

Bengals 31, 49ers 17

Joe Burrow threw three touchdown passes and Cincinnati’s defense intercepted Brock Purdy twice as the Bengals beat San Francisco in Santa Clara, Calif.

Burrow finished 28-of-32 passing for 283 yards with touchdown passes to Tyler Boyd, Andrei Iosivas and Ja’Marr Chase. At one point in the first half, Burrow completed 19 straight passes for the Bengals (4-3).

The Bengals won their third straight game while the Niners (5-3) lost their third in a row after winning their first five. San Francisco also had its 11-game home winning streak (regular season and postseason) snapped.

–Field Level Media

NFL Previews: Week 8

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Week 8 NFL Capsules

Houston Texans (3-3) at Carolina Panthers (0-6): Carolina selected Bryce Young with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2023 draft and Houston took C.J. Stroud next. The rookie quarterbacks are the main attraction Sunday with each team coming off of bye weeks. The Texans beat the New Orleans Saints in their most recent game for their third win in their last four outings. The Panthers are still searching for their first victory under coach Frank Reich. Young is leading a different setup as offensive coordinator Thomas Brown has taken over the play-calling in place of Reich and plans to commit to running the ball and getting RB Miles Sanders more involved. The Panthers have been outscored by 74 points and have a net-TD total of -11. Only the New York Giants are worse (89, 13).

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Los Angeles Rams (3-4) at Dallas Cowboys (4-2): Health is on the side of the Cowboys, who come out of the bye week for their first home game in four weeks. After throwing three interceptions against the 49ers, Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott completed 70 percent of his passes (21 of 30) against the Chargers in a 20-17 victory Week 6. He threw for a season-best 272 yards with a touchdown and no picks. The Rams are working to replace starting RB Kyren Williams (ankle) with a combination of Royce Freeman and Darrell Henderson and a goal of balancing a steady passing game. QB Matthew Stafford has been sacked 18 times, causing concern about his longevity if Los Angeles continues falling behind.

Minnesota Vikings (3-4) at Green Bay Packers (2-4): The Vikings were being escorted to the NFL cellar after an 0-3 start but with three wins in the past four games, they’re closer to the top of the NFC North after seven games. The Packers have lost three in a row and haven’t scored more than 20 points in four consecutive games. QB Jordan Love has posted a subpar 79.4 passer rating this season while completing 57.5 percent of his passes for 1,263 yards, 10 touchdowns and seven picks. Much of the Vikings’ recent confidence has come from the emergence of rookie wideout Jordan Addison, who has formed a fast connection with quarterback Kirk Cousins. Addison caught seven passes for 123 yards and two touchdowns against the 49ers, and he has six touchdown receptions in his first seven games.

New Orleans Saints (3-4) at Indianapolis Colts (3-4): Despite injuries (QB Anthony Richardson) and unrest (RB Jonathan Taylor), the Colts are the only team in the NFL to score 20-plus points in every game this season. First-year coach Shane Steichen said the Colts are 3-4 for one primary reason. “We need to protect the football,” he said. QB Gardner Minshew has four fumbles and four interceptions and the Colts have lost consecutive games for the first time this season entering Week 8. This will be New Orleans’ third game against an AFC South opponent in two weeks. The loss to the Jaguars was preceded by a 20-13 setback at Houston four days earlier. New Orleans wide receiver Chris Olave is expected to play against the Colts despite being arrested for suspicion of reckless operation of a motor vehicle on Monday night.

New England Patriots (2-5) at Miami Dolphins (5-2): The Dolphins’ five wins this season have come against squads with a combined 8-25 record and a lowly .242 winning percentage. The Patriots are one of those foes, as Miami notched a 24-17 road win in Week 2. Dolphins QB Tua Tagovailoa passed for 249 yards, and Raheem Mostert rushed for 121 yards and two touchdowns in that encounter. While Patriots coach Bill Belichick may have recorded his 300th career regular-season victory in last week’s 29-25 win over the Buffalo Bills, Tagovailoa is 5-0 when starting against the legendary Belichick. There were positive signs of life from a heavily scrutinized offense last week, capped by Mac Jones tossing a 1-yard scoring pass to former Dolphins TE Mike Gesecki with 12 seconds left. New England has scored 46 points over the past two games after tallying just 55 over their first five.

New York Jets (3-3) at New York Giants (2-5): It might not be the Aaron Rodgers-Daniel Jones matchup most wanted to see in the quadrennial regular-season showdown, but these co-tenants lock up in a game that will be important to any turnaround plans either franchise has for the 2023 season. With Zach Wilson in for Rodgers, the Jets’ saving grace has been a defense that has yielded just 19.8 points per game. Their eight interceptions are off the Buffalo Bills’ Josh Allen (three), Kansas City’s Patrick Mahomes (two) and Philadelphia’s Jalen Hurts (two). This week, they’ll get a close up with Tyrod Taylor while attacking an offensive line under serious ridicule for allowing 37 sacks in seven games. “I say they have a really good front four,” Giants coach Brian Daboll said. “Call it more than a front four with the amount of times they rotate in there. Two good cover corners (Sauce Gardner and D.J. Reed). … This is a challenging defense to get ready for, and it shows.”

Jacksonville Jaguars (5-2) at Pittsburgh Steelers (4-2): Given the team’s minus-24 point differential, the Steelers are still questioned as a contender in the AFC. But they’re also a half-game out of first place in the AFC North and rallied to beat the Rams even as offensive production appears only in fits and starts. The Jaguars ride a four-game winning streak into Heinz Field, a run that coincides with a commitment to giving RB Travis Etienne the ball early and often. The Jaguars are in the top 10 in scoring and time of possession. Etienne leads the NFL in rushing attempts (127) and is fourth in rushing yards (504). Pittsburgh is still trying to find rhythm in the running game. Najee Harris has 300 yards on the ground through six games and just one touchdown.

Atlanta Falcons (4-3) at Tennessee Titans (2-4): The Titans scored 27 points in each of their two wins and haven’t topped 16 in any of their four losses. It could be up to rookie second-round pick Will Levis to help put points on the board Sunday with Ryan Tannehill dealing with a high ankle sprain. The Falcons won the road to jump into first place in the AFC South last week even without their bell-cow RB Bijan Robinson at full strength. Atlanta has been white-knuckling victories due to turnovers. QB Desmond Ridder fumbled three times in the red zone last week and has six total turnovers in the past two games. Levis has yet to throw a regular-season pass, pointing to a game plan that features RBs Derrick Henry and rookie Tyjae Spears. Henry has 98 carries for 425 yards (4.3 yards per carry) and three touchdowns through six games. He also has 11 receptions for 117 yards.

Philadelphia Eagles (6-1) at Washington Commanders (3-4): Philadelphia escaped the first meeting between these teams with a 34-31 overtime win and the Eagles made a big addition this week before a second spin with the Commanders this month. Hard hit by injuries at safety, the Eagles acquired two-time All-Pro Kevin Byard from the Titans to shore up the secondary. Now Philadelphia’s defensive line can focus on heating up the pocket around QB Sam Howell. He has been sacked 40 times through seven games, a record-setting pace that includes five takedowns by the Eagles in the Oct. 1 matchup. A.J. Brown caught nine passes for 175 yards and two touchdowns to lead the Eagles in that meeting, part of his active streak of five consecutive games with 125-plus receiving yards. Howell was sacked six times in last Sunday’s 14-7 road loss to the New York Giants.

Cleveland Browns (4-2) at Seattle Seahawks (4-2): Seattle has held opponents to 30 total points in three games this month and the Seahawks have four wins in their past five games. The Browns, winners of three of their last four games, shift back to No. 2 QB PJ Walker with Deshaun Watson (shoulder) focused on rehabbing from his lingering injury. Walker hasn’t thrown a TD pass with the Browns and has four interceptions with a completion percentage of 50 and QB rating of 48.2, a signal the Seahawks are likely to see a lot of RB Kareem Hunt. Jerome Ford (foot) could play, but isn’t 100 percent. Slow starts have been a bugaboo for the Browns, who average less than three points in the first quarter this season. DE Myles Garrett (7.5 sacks) leads a Cleveland defense with multiple dominant outings, but the Browns allowed 38 points at Indianapolis last week. Walker came off the bench and led the Browns to a 39-38 comeback victory against the Colts and steered Cleveland past San Francisco, 19-17, the week prior.

Kansas City Chiefs (6-1) at Denver Broncos (2-5): Kansas City’s dominance of its AFC West rival can be summarized in a pair of active winning streaks: The Chiefs (6-1) haven’t lost in Denver since 2014, and they hold a 16-game winning streak over the Broncos (2-5) that dates to the Peyton Manning era. The Broncos last beat the Chiefs on Sept. 17, 2015 — a 31-24 win in Kansas City. Denver lost 19-8 at Kansas City two weeks ago. Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes is 12-0 all-time in the matchup with a 96.4 passer rating — part of a larger dominance of the entire division. Mahomes last lost a game in the division in Week 3 of the 2021 season (against the Los Angeles Chargers). Mahomes called playing any opponent twice in less than three weeks a “unique challenge,” but it’s the Chiefs who force a more dynamic level of preparation from opponents. Mahomes is more than capable of winning a shootout, but this season he has rarely been asked to outscore teams thanks to a stellar defense. Kansas City ranks second in the NFL in both total offense and scoring defense. Denver has two big dates coming up: the NFL trade deadline is Tuesday (Oct. 31), which falls in the middle of the Broncos’ bye week.

[Read more…] about NFL Previews: Week 8

NFL: Week 8 Picks

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EAST RUTHERFORD – (Staff and Wire Service Report) – Nearly to the midseason mark in the regular season, we’re gearing up to maintain momentum after last week’s Eagles and Falcons betting victories.

This time, it’s the Battle for New Jersey between a pair of “New York” teams, the Jets and Giants.

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This is also an “eye test” game, with several factors to compare as these squads’ respective seasons continue to circle the drain.

As a betting experience, this matchup provides plenty of intrigue because, by and large, you just can’t trust one of these options.

We have our pick and a couple of bonus options ready to roll.

(Odds per BetMGM.com)

THE HEADLINER

Jets at Giants, 1 p.m. ET Sunday

https://bettinghero.com/digital-sports-desk/The line: Jets -3, total 36.5.

The lead running backs, Breece Hall of the Jets and Saquon Barkley of the Giants, are ranked No. 12 and 11, respectively, in yards per game.

Barkley has had the advantage of facing the Buffalo Bills, Washington Commanders and Arizona Cardinals over his past three games, while Hall has shown flashes of elite talent. Metrics also credit Barkley with more than 40 percent more yards gained over expected.

Both defenses will aim to slow the ground game, and that’s where the pass rush comes in.

The Jets have one and the Giants suffer in pass protection. This isn’t good news for backup Tyrod Taylor, who is set to start in place of Daniel Jones again Sunday.

A quick nugget from Action Network:

“The Jets have played the toughest schedule of QBs in the entire NFL – Jalen Hurts, Patrick Mahomes, Dak Prescott and Josh Allen. Despite this tough schedule, the Jets are 10th in success rate and 12th in EPA per play allowed.”

The Jets are dialed in after a week off – which followed their upset of the Philadelphia Eagles – and if they are able to stuff the run, their pass defense could have a big day.

With a top-five defensive secondary in terms of coverage stats, the Jets aren’t likely to allow much from a very average Giants receiving group.

The Jets’ eight interceptions have come off the Bills’ Josh Allen (three), Kansas City’s Patrick Mahomes (two) and Philadelphia’s Jalen Hurts (two).

The pick: Jets -3.

THEY SAID IT

“I say they have a really good front four. Call it more than a front four with the amount of times they rotate in there. Two good cover corners (Sauce Gardner and D.J. Reed). … This is a challenging defense to get ready for, and it shows.”

– Giants coach Brian Daboll on Sunday’s opponent, the Jets

BONUS COMBO

Who doesn’t like a good story? Chicago Bears quarterback Tyson Bagent may be the exciting blend of good story and serviceable player.

Bears at Chargers, 8:20 p.m. ET Sunday

The line: Chargers -8.5.

You didn’t think you needed to watch the “Sunday Night Football” game? With undrafted Bagent starting at quarterback for the Chicago Bears, you almost have to tune in with the World Series on a travel day.

The Bears are looking to go back-to-back after Bagent’s impressive debut last week.

Bagent, a product of Division II Shepherd University in Shepherdstown, W.Va., started in place of Justin Fields (right thumb) and completed 21 of 29 passes for 162 yards and a touchdown in Chicago’s 30-12 victory over the Las Vegas Raiders.

With receiver DJ Moore clicking, the Bears offense could do some business against a leaky Chargers defense.

And the Chargers don’t look like a team capable of covering this wide margin. Should be fun – for a while anyway.

The pick: Bears +8.5.

PROP CORNER

The good fortune Kirk Cousins found in leading the Minnesota Vikings past the San Francisco 49ers can’t continue.

In this road contest against the Green Bay Packers, the Vikings figure to begin more conservatively as the Packers employ lessons from last Monday night’s game tape (Cousins throwing everywhere – successfully).

The number is too high for a team that relied on a stolen 60-yard TD pass last week and remains without Justin Jefferson.

Prop play: Vikings’ Cousins under 250.5 passing yards (BetMGM).

–Field Level Media

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The Bills Are Back

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ORCHARD PARK – (Staff and Wire Service) – Buffalo QB Josh Allen threw for two touchdowns and rushed for another as the Bills held off a late comeback attempt to pick up a 24-18 victory over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the NFL’s Thursday Night Football offering.

Buffalo (5-3) led by 14 when the Buccaneers took over on offense with 10:05 left in the game.

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QB Baker Mayfield led Tampa Bay (3-4) on a 17-play, 92-yard excursion, making it a six-point affair when he found Mike Evans for a 24-yard touchdown and connected with Cade Otton for the subsequent two-point conversion.

But the drive ate up 7:21 of clock, and the Bills were able to chew off an additional 2:23. That left the Buccaneers with just 21 seconds to put together a game-winning drive, and they were unable to do so.

Allen completed 31 of 40 passes for 324 yards and an interception. He also ran the ball seven times for 41 yards.

Gabe Davis had nine receptions for 87 yards and a touchdown for the Bills. Khalil Shakir added six catches for 92 yards.

Mayfield threw for 237 yards and two TDs on 25-for-42 passing for Tampa Bay, which has lost three straight.

Buccaneers running back Rachaad White totaled 109 yards (39 rushing, 70 receiving), while Chris Godwin had five catches for 54 yards and a score.

Tampa Bay erased a 10-point deficit in a span of 54 seconds in the second quarter. Chase McLaughlin drilled a 57-yard field goal and, two plays after William Gholston picked off Allen, Mayfield found Godwin for a 3-yard TD.

But Allen capped the Bills’ next drive with a 22-yard scoring strike to Dalton Kincaid to send Buffalo into the break up 17-10.

The Bills added on with 10:40 left in the third quarter, as Allen tossed a 4-yard TD to Davis.

On Buffalo’s first drive of the contest, Allen completed 6 of 7 passes for 64 yards to help the Bills work down to the Buccaneers 19. However, the hosts had to settle for Tyler Bass’ 37-yard field goal for a 3-0 lead.

Allen made it 10-0 when he used his legs to get to the end zone from 13 yards out with 11:03 left in the first half.

–Field Level Media

Patriots Re-Sign QB Cunningham

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FOXBOROUGH – (Staff and Wire Service Report) – The New England Patriots re-signed quarterback Malik Cunningham and returned him to their practice squad Thursday while also signing wide receiver Jalen Reagor from the practice squad onto the 53-man roster.

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Cunningham, who joined New England as an un-drafted free agent out of Louisville, was signed to a three-year deal before the Patriots’ game against the Las Vegas Raiders two weeks ago. But the team released him on Tuesday, and he cleared waivers.

Cunningham, 25, played six snaps against the Raiders, four at wide receiver and two at quarterback. He took one sack in the 21-17 loss. He was a healthy scratch for this past Sunday’s 29-25 win over the Buffalo Bills.

Reagor, 24, has appeared in the past two games for the Patriots, catching one pass for 11 yards against Buffalo.

Reagor was a first-round draft pick (No. 21 overall) in 2020 by the Philadelphia Eagles and spent two seasons as a starter for them. He appeared in all 17 games for the Minnesota Vikings in 2022 and has 73 career receptions for 810 yards and four touchdowns.

It’s “ON” for Buffalo

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BUFFALO – (Staff and Wire Service Report) – The Buffalo Bills have lost two of the past three games, so Bills’ players and coaches are eager to right the ship tonight when the club faces the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Upstate New York.

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The Bills (4-3) are coming off a low point of the season, last Sunday’s 29-25 loss to the New England Patriots. They trailed most of the game, took a 25-22 lead in the final two minutes and fell behind again when TE Mike Gesicki was on the receiving end of a 1-yard touchdown pass with just 12 seconds left.

Tampa Bay (3-3) is also scuffling, dropping a 16-13 decision to the Atlanta Falcons on Sunday for its third loss in the past four games.

QUICK PICK
Buffalo has fallen a game behind Miami in the AFC East and enters Week 8 seventh in the conference playoff picture. The Bills are 3-0 at Highmark Stadium this year, their lone “home” loss coming against Jacksonville in London.

The line has moved from the Bills -7.5 points to -9.5 at BetMGM, where their spread line has been backed by 64 percent of the money. That’s because the Bucs have scored a combined 19 points in losing their past two games.

Prediction: Bills 28, Buccaneers 17

PROP PICKS
Bills QB Josh Allen Over 1.5 Passing TDs (-145 at DraftKings): This has been the most popular player prop at the book for good reason. Buffalo is relying too heavily on Allen to be the all-everything on offense, which has contributed to seven interceptions through seven games. However, he also has 15 touchdown passes, with multiple TDs in four consecutive games.

Bills TE Dalton Kincaid Over 37.5 Receiving Yards (-125 at BetMGM): With Dawson Knox and Quintin Morris sidelined, Kincaid is going to garner the lion’s share of the tight end snaps, leading to the Over on this prop drawing 99 percent of the money. Kincaid is coming off a season-high eight catches for 75 yards last week. Of note, Knox failed to top 17 receiving yards in each of his past six games, so the tight end has seen sporadic use in Buffalo’s offense this season.

THE NEWS
Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield believes the Buccaneers’ problems are self-inflicted, and it’s up to them to get back on track.

“Looking at the mistakes that we’ve made, it’s things that we can control,” Mayfield said. “For us, it’s control what we can, fix those things and see where this thing can go.”

Mayfield was in the same draft class as Buffalo’s Allen in 2018. Mayfield was taken first overall by the Cleveland Browns before the Bills scooped up Allen with the No. 7 pick.

“Josh is a great guy. Tremendous athlete, great guy. He’s fun to watch,” Mayfield said. “Hopefully not too much fun on Thursday, but yeah, it’s always good to see him.”

INJURY REPORT
Tampa Bay receiver Chris Godwin was limited during Tuesday’s practice due to a neck injury, while Buffalo’s Knox will undergo wrist surgery and is out indefinitely.

“I wish I could tell you,” Bills coach Sean McDermott said of when Knox will be good to return. “Too early right now. The decision was just made to go ahead and get (surgery) done.”

Mayfield (knee) was also limited, while defensive tackle Vita Vea (groin), safety Kaevon Merriweather (ankle) and guard Matt Feiler (knee) missed Tuesday’s session.

Buffalo is missing tight ends Kincaid and Morris, while defensive tackles Ed Oliver (toe) and Jordan Phillips (back) were limited in practice along with linebacker Von Miller (knee).

KEY STAT
The Bills have a total of just 10 first-half points over the past three weeks. McDermott is hoping that trend changes on Thursday.

“We all have to do a better job, myself included,” McDermott said. “It’s putting the players in position (to succeed), then when in position, the players have to make the plays.”

THEY SAID IT
“Over the course of the season, you’re gonna have ebbs and flows, you may have performance lulls. We don’t want that. We want to be as consistent as we possibly can be from one week to the next. …

“We also know that the belief that we have in what we’ve established philosophically, the players that are in that locker room and the coaches that are informing the players, we just believe in each other.” –Bills assistant head coach Eric Washington

–Field Level Media

Patriots Stun Bills, 29-25

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Belichick Notches Win No. 300

FOXBORO – (Staff and Wire Service Report) – New England head coach Bill Belichick earned the 300th regular-season victory of his head-coaching career thanks to some late-game heroics from Mac Jones that lifted the New England Patriots to a 29-25 victory over the Buffalo Bills on Sunday in Massachusetts.

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After New England (2-5) squandered a 12-point, fourth-quarter lead, Jones found Mike Gesicki for a go-ahead, 1-yard touchdown with 12 seconds left in the game.

Belichick joins Don Shula (328 wins) and George Halas (318) as the only coaches in NFL history to reach 300 wins in the regular season.

Reaching the milestone didn’t come easy, as Josh Allen headlined a ferocious rally for Buffalo (4-3).

Allen connected with Stefon Diggs for a 25-yard TD with 5:32 left in the game before sneaking into the end zone from the goal line with 1:58 to go, giving the Bills a 25-22 edge.

But Jones then put together the game-winning, 75-yard drive that allowed the Patriots to snap a three-game skid.

Jones completed 25 of 30 passes for 272 yards and two TDs. Allen threw for 265 yards, two scores and an interception on 27-for-41 passing.

Buffalo’s Dalton Kincaid led all receivers with eight receptions for 75 yards.

Allen orchestrated a 10-play, 81-yard drive to begin the second half, capping it with an 8-yard TD pass to James Cook to cut the Bills’ deficit to 13-10.

Chad Ryland pushed the Patriots’ advantage to 16-10 with a 49-yard field goal at the end of the ensuing drive.

Jones’ 4-yard scoring strike to Kendrick Bourne with 7:36 left in the fourth provided New England with its 12-point advantage. The two-point conversion run failed.

Ryland made a 24-yarder with 7:36 remaining in the first half to put New England up 13-3, and that lead held until the break. Tyler Bass had the chance to make it a one-score game, but his 42-yard attempt sliced wide right.

The Patriots drove to the Buffalo 12-yard line on the game’s opening drive, but they had to settle for Ryland’s 30-yard field goal.

Jabrill Peppers picked off Allen on the Bills’ first offensive snap, though, and New England cashed in seven plays later, as Ezekiel Elliott rushed for a 2-yard touchdown to make it 10-0.

Bass made good on a 36-yard field goal to pull Buffalo within 10-3 just 11 seconds into the second quarter.

–Field Level Media