Sunday 29 October 2017 22:34, UK
The Buffalo Bills extended their perfect home record to 4-0 with an impressive performance to beat the Oakland Raiders 34-14 in the rain.
LeSean McCoy ran for 151 yards on 27 carries as Buffalo improved to 5-2 in the AFC East while the Raiders slipped to 3-5 to leave them propping up the AFC West.
The Bills, who lead the NFL in turnover differential, enjoyed another fine day in that regard, forcing four Raiders mistakes and committing none of their own to score 27 unanswered points and set up the win.
The Raiders had made a positive start, with Jamize Olawale's first rushing touchdown of the season putting them 7-0 ahead.
But the Bills levelled when Tyrod Taylor showed great patience to find Andre Holmes in the end zone and as the heavy rain continued to pour, so it began to take effect on the field.
First DeAndre Washington lost his grip when hit, the ball looping into the hands of Matt Milano, who rumbled home from 40 yards to give the Bills a 14-7 half-time lead they would not relinquish.
They extended the lead at the start of the third quarter as Jalen Richard fumbled a punt return to hand the home side the ball and although they could not take full advantage, Steven Hauschka was on hand to split the posts from 35 yards and put them 10 points clear.
That became 13 points when Carr was picked off again when Preston Brown, having almost snaffled an errant pass two plays earlier, again made the crucial touch and this time tipped it into the hands of a diving Micah Hyde - setting up Hauschka's 44-yard kick.
Taylor then found his range in the air, hitting Andre Holmes for 36 yards, which in turn opened up space for McCoy on the ground as he began to enjoy his day. That set up Taylor to sneak in on fourth down to make it 27-7 and although Derek Carr responded by capping a 75-yard drive with a four-yard TD pass to Washington with 10:54 remaining, that was as close as the Raiders got.
Indeed, McCoy then added the gloss to the win with a 48-yard run after breaking a stacked line and there was still time for Carr to throw his second interception - Trae Elston stepping in - as the Bills remained within touching distance of the New England Patriots and on course for their first play-off appearance since 1999.
Elsewhere, in the other early games in the NFL....
49ers 10-33 Eagles
Carson Wentz threw for 211 yards and two touchdowns as Philadelphia (7-1) overcame a sluggish start to rout winless San Francisco (0-8).
Wentz has now tossed a franchise-record 19 touchdown passes through the first eight games.
Falcons 25-20 Jets
Staring at a fourth-straight loss to an AFC East opponent, Matt Ryan hit Mohamed Sanu for the go-ahead touchdown in the fourth quarter, and Atlanta (4-3) hung on to beat New York (3-5).
The Jets (3-5) were about to get the ball back down 22-20 inside nine minutes to play, but Jeremy Kerley muffed a punt and Kemal Ishmael recovered for Atlanta (4-3) on the New York 13-yard line.
Chargers 13-21 Patriots
Tom Brady threw for 333 yards with a touchdown and Stephen Gostkowski kicked four fields goals, leading New England (6-2) past mistake-prone Los Angeles (3-5).
It was the fourth straight win for the Patriots, Brady's 81st career 300-yard game and his fifth this season.
Colts 23-24 Bengals
Defensive end Carlos Dunlap's interception return for a touchdown with seven minutes left lifted Cincinnati (3-4) to victory over Indianapolis (2-6).
With the Colts leading 23-17, Dunlap batted Jacoby Brissett's pass up in the air, caught it and then ran 16 yards for the TD, putting the Bengals ahead after the extra point.
Bears 12-20 Saints
Drew Brees completed 23 of 28 passes for 299 yards as New Orleans (5-2) overcame two fourth-quarter fumbles by Mark Ingram to hold off Chicago (3-5) and win its fifth consecutive victory.
Panthers 17-3 Buccaneers
Carolina (5-3) broke a two-game losing streak and reclaimed some momentum in the NFC South with a comfortable victory over the slumping Tampa Bay (2-5).
