CBS Sports

‘The Carolina Panthers and Buffalo Bills didn’t have a first half that football fans will discuss for generations, yet the two teams were able to make some history in the first 30 minutes. The Bills led the Panthers 17-8 at halftime — the first game in NFL history that had a 17-8 halftime score, according to Fox.’

‘The losses put Buffalo at 7-6 and Carolina at 5-8. A pair of defensive numbers to keep in mind before kickoff: The Bills rank first in the league when it comes to passing touchdowns allowed, with only ten on the season. As for the Panthers, they enter the matchup with only 293 yards allowed per game on average, good for second best in the NFL.’

‘”People in Buffalo, when they are aware of an opportunity to help, they just rise to the occasion,” Tammy Owen, president and CEO of VIA, told News 4 Buffalo. “It makes you feel great, not only about the clients that we serve but the wonderful nature of the people who live in this community.”‘

‘”People in Buffalo, when they are aware of an opportunity to help, they just rise to the occasion,” Tammy Owen, president and CEO of VIA, told News 4 Buffalo. “It makes you feel great, not only about the clients that we serve but the wonderful nature of the people who live in this community.”‘

‘Allen stayed in immediately following his 23-yard run to bring Buffalo inside the Bucs’ 20-yard line with less than 10 minutes to go, throwing a touchdown pass to Dawson Knox right afterward. After limping to the sideline, he got attention from the Bills’ athletic trainers, who taped his left ankle and also examined his left big toe. Despite this, Allen assured reporters Sunday night that he’s not concerned about missing time.’

‘”He’s a great player,” Brady said. “He has been kind of playing that really unique style — part quarterback, mostly quarterback, but he’s got that running ability and they give him a lot of quarterback runs and he does a great job with it. He’s a real threat back there.”‘

‘You do have to give the Bills credit for clawing their way back into this game, but they didn’t do themselves any favorite throughout the evening. One of the more noticeable things that was lacking by Buffalo to begin the game was a running game. They didn’t have a single running back carry throughout the first half, which made them the first team since 1991 to do so. When they finally did give a running back a carry it came on a fake punt attempt in the opening drive of the third quarter, which resulted in a 3-yard loss. That play was one of a number of questionable decisions by Sean McDermott throughout this game.’

‘Buffalo returns to the field next Sunday, when the Bills will host the Panthers (5-8), who’ve now lost three straight after falling to the Falcons on Sunday. In the event Allen is unable to practice ahead of — or play in — the Week 15 matchup, Buffalo would likely turn to backup Mitchell Trubisky as an emergency starter under center.’

‘The Bills didn’t hand the ball off to a running back once in the first half against Tampa, and became the first team since 1991 that played an entire first half with no carries registered by a running back, per Scott Pioli. Quarterback Josh Allen was the only Bill who ran the ball, as he recorded four carries for 43 yards in the first two quarters.’

‘Score: Buccaneers 31, Bills 24.’

‘A seventh-round pick out of Georgia Tech in the 1986 NFL Draft, Pike — listed as a defensive lineman — would become one of the greatest special teams players in the history of the Bills and an integral part of their dominant units of the 1990s. On a special teams unit that starred the legendary Steve Tasker, Pike’s speed and ability to run combined with his size as a defensive lineman made him especially effective at running through blocks and making plays as part of Buffalo’s coverage units.’

‘Defensively, the Patriots continued to come up in the clutch, including a key a red-zone stand in the final minutes of the fourth quarter where they forced three-straight incompletions by Josh Allen that resulted in a turnover on downs that effectively eliminated any chance of comeback for the Bills. Allen finished his night completing 50% of his throws for 145 yards and a touchdown. He also rushed for 39 yards as well. This loss now pushes the Bills down to the No. 7 seed in the AFC.’

‘Things don’t get any easier this coming week as the Bills travel to take on Tom Brady and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, with another matchup against Belichick and the Patriots looming on Dec. 26, so the sooner they can cure whatever infected their mojo in Week 6 and beyond, the better. Currently sitting at 7-5 on the year and falling further behind a surging Patriots team, it’s either go time for Buffalo, or go home time.’

‘The Weather Channel forecasts just a 9 percent chance of rain or snow, with temperatures only dropping to the mid- or high-30s, but predicts steady and strong winds throughout the afternoon and evening — regularly above 20 miles per hour. The high-wind warning, in effect until 7 p.m. Eastern, projects southwest winds between 25-35 mph, with gusts up to 60 mph. Widespread power outages are also anticipated as a result of the high winds.’

‘”He doesn’t get fooled much by anything. It’s really, really impressive to watch how he’s developed there.”‘