In Week 10, both the Buffalo Bills and Tampa Bay Buccaneers lost games they thought they should have won, and both teams fell to 6-3.
The Bills lost to the Dolphins, a bad team that Buffalo has dominated for years now. The Bills had no business losing to Miami, and yet, they did. Not only did they lose, they lost 30-13, and Josh Allen did not play well for most of the game.
Tampa Bay lost 28-23 to a very strong Patriots team. However, the Buccaneers still probably think they should have won, as it was Tampa Bay who had the ball down by five, driving for a game-winning touchdown. In a season where Baker Mayfield has already led four game-winning drives, he did not have the magic to come back and defeat a red-hot New England team.
Now, both teams are 6-3, and both teams are desperate to prove themselves as true contenders. The game is particularly crucial for Tampa Bay, which is looking to avoid what could easily be a three-game skid, as they play the Los Angeles Rams in Week 12.
3 bold predictions for Bills vs. Buccaneers
1. Neither QB will turn the ball over
That does not necessarily mean there will not be a turnover. A fumble or a special teams mistake could definitely affect both of these teams. However, it will not be because of either quarterback. Josh Allen and Baker Mayfield are both elite quarterbacks, and both will be playing at a very high level, trying to lead their teams to victory.
2. Baker Mayfield will out-perform Allen, but Bills win
Mayfield and Allen are both on the outskirts of the MVP race, but with a great game, both quarterbacks could launch themselves back into the middle of the discussion. In this game, it will be Mayfield who shines the brightest. He will toss three touchdowns and no interceptions, putting together a stellar performance. However, the Bills will win in the end, despite Allen throwing for fewer yards, fewer completions, and fewer scores.
3. The game will be decided by two points
Not many games are decided by two points, but this week's showdown will not be like many other games. The Bills and Buccaneers will play a back-and-forth football game that will come down to a final drive by the Bills. With Tampa Bay leading by one point, the Bills will drive down the field and kick a game-winning field goal, thus winning by two points. It will be an instant classic!