With week ten of the NFL season basically in the books, these three teams put on abysmal performances yesterday. The Buffalo Bills suffered a horrible loss at home to the New Orleans Saints, the Dallas Cowboys got beat up by the Atlanta Falcons and the Denver Broncos season continue to fade away after another loss.
Buffalo Bills
The Buffalo Bills were facing a key home game against the red-hot New Orleans Saints after coming off of an embarrassing Thursday night loss to the rival New York Jets last week. They managed to score the first points of the game, getting a field goal on the opening drive before the Saints annihilated them.
New Orleans scored 47 unanswered points, racked up 482 total yards, 32 first downs and held the ball for 41:23. Buffalo did not score again until there was 1:54 left in the fourth quarter to make it 47-10. The Bills have now lost two games in a row, getting outscored 81-31 in the process. Now, sitting at 5-4 they face what seems like a must-win road game next week against the Los Angeles Chargers.
The #Bills' 37-point loss today vs NOR (47-10) is the 5th largest margin of defeat at home in franchise history- worst since a franchise record 46 point loss (56-10) vs the Patriots on Nov 18, 2007
— StatsCentre (@StatsCentre) November 12, 2017
Dallas Cowboys
The Dallas Cowboys went on the road to face the Atlanta Falcons but were without star running back Ezekiel Elliott and All-Pro left tackle Tyron Smith.
They started the game well, intercepting Matt Ryan on his first pass and scoring to take an early 7-0 lead. Dallas was then outscored 27-0 the rest of the game, as they turned the ball over twice and missed a field goal.
Dak Prescott is 1 of 4 players since 1970 to account for 50 touchdowns (39 passing, 11 rushing) in his first 25 NFL games@DanMarino, 62@kurt13warner, 60
— NFL Research (@NFLResearch) November 12, 2017
Daunte Culpepper, 55@dak, 50
Dak Prescott was under siege the entire game, as he was sacked eight times, Defensive end Adrian Clayborn recorded four of those sacks against Smith's replacement Chaz Green.
He then got two more against Byron Bell, who replaced Green after he was benched.
The Cowboys were also quick to abandon the run without Elliott. In their first two drives, their running backs had six carries. After the 6:19 mark in the first quarter, they only had nine carries the rest of the game. Without middle linebacker Sean Lee, who aggravated his hamstring in the second quarter, the Cowboys defense fell apart at the seems.
Next week, Dallas faces what seems like a much win matchup against the 8-1 Philadelphia Eagles.
Dak Prescott has been sacked 4 times in the first half today
— NFL Research (@NFLResearch) November 12, 2017
That is twice as many sacks as he has taken in any complete game this season
This is most sacks allowed by #Cowboys since Sept. 15, 1991 against Eagles. They had 11 that day.
— Drew Davison (@drewdavison) November 13, 2017
Denver Broncos
The Denver Broncos went into a Sunday night matchup against the New England Patriots and continued their horrific snide. New England punted on their first drive and then proceeded to score on five consecutive drives, including a 103-yard kick return touchdown by Dion Lewis.
Dion Lewis: Only player since the 1970 merger with 2 career games with a kick return TD & rushing TD (including playoffs)
— NFL Research (@NFLResearch) November 13, 2017
The last time the Broncos allowed 27 points in the first half at home was on Dec. 18, 2011 when they trailed 27-16 at the break against ... the Patriots
— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) November 13, 2017
Meanwhile, the Broncos settled for three field goals, had a punt blocked and muffed a punt return in the first half to find themselves in a 27-9 hole at halftime. Denver scored first in the third quarter but ultimately never made it interested as they lost 41-16. After starting the season 3-1 they have now lost five in a row, having been outscored 165-68.
Patriots are the first team in the last two seasons to score on 7 straight drives within a game.
— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) November 13, 2017
Since their Week 5 bye, the Broncos have been outscored 55-9 in the first quarter, the worst point differential in that span
— NFL Research (@NFLResearch) November 13, 2017
The Broncos have allowed 92 combined points over the last two weeks, the most over a two-game span in franchise history since 1988
— NFL Research (@NFLResearch) November 13, 2017
1988: 94 combined points allowed in Week 8 (at PIT) & Week 9 (at IND)
1988 Broncos starting QB: Gary Kubiak