Raiders stage big rally in 38-24 win over Bills
Derek Carr threw for 260 yards and two touchdowns to rally the Oakland Raiders to their biggest comeback in 16 years, with a 38-24 victory over the Buffalo Bills on Sunday.
After falling behind 24-9 following TDs on the first two drives of the second half for Bills (6-6), the Raiders (10-2) took the game over with 29 straight points and won their sixth straight to remain a game ahead of Kansas City in the tough AFC West.
Oakland scored TDs on three straight drives including scoring strikes from Carr, to Michael Crabtree and Amari Cooper, for his sixth fourthquarter comeback this year. It was their biggest comeback since overcoming a 21-point deficit to the Colts in a 38-31 win Sept. 10, 2000.
The defence also tightened by forcing three straight three-and-outs, then getting a turnover when Khalil Mack deflected Tyrod Taylor’s pass Nate Allen intercepted. Oakland took over at the 16 and put the game away with Latavius Murray’s second TD run of the game to make it 38-24 on Carr’s two-point conversion pass to Seth Roberts.
The loss was crushing for the Bills, who entered December with hopes of ending the league’s longest playoff drought. A big day by LeSean McCoy, who had 130 yards rushing, helped stake Buffalo to the big lead, but it wasn’t enough.
The Bills are two games behind Denver for the second wild-card in the AFC and may be headed to a 17th straight year out of the playoffs. RARE TURNOVER: The Bills have been on a record pace protecting the ball, but had a bad time for a rare turnover. After taking over at their own 4 midway through the fourth quarter trailing by six, Taylor was hit by Mack on the first play, leading to just the seventh turnover of the season for Buffalo. Mack then sealed the game with a sack and fumble recovery with Buffalo driving late. CARR’S FINGER: A week after injuring the pinky on his throwing hand and missing a series, Carr played without a glove on his right hand. But the injury still hurt he took no snaps under centre, even in short-yardage. FAST START: The Bills gained a season-high 147 yards in the first quarter, scoring on their first two drives with a field goal and 1-yard run early in the second. Buffalo ran just once on nine plays on the opening drive, and then ran on nine of 11 plays the next drive.