The Buffalo Bills are entering the downward spiral at an inopportune time. They head to the New Orleans Saints on Friday night, and things get even tougher after that. The Super Bowl co-favourites could already fail to make the playoffs.

Munich – Gamblers react sensitively, bookmakers too. After all, there’s a lot of money at stake.

Betting odds in the NFL are therefore not such a bad indicator for the sporting mood and the various currents, for the bare statistics. For the state of the league.

Depending on the development, it can go fast. With the Buffalo Bills, it happened very quickly. They were a hot Super Bowl contender, considered a sure playoff contender out of the AFC. And quarterback Josh Allen was just as hot an MVP candidate, had even knocked Tom Brady out of first place at some bookmakers most recently.

That was three weeks ago.

Buffalo Bills: Going downhill, even with bookmakers

While the Bills and Allen haven’t fallen out of favour with punters yet, they are going downhill pretty quickly, just like on the field. Right now, the Bills are at a crossroads with a 6-4 record, seventh in the AFC just enough to make the postseason. As of now, mind you.

There’s no question that Friday night’s Thanksgiving game at the New Orleans Saints will be a landmark game after the Bills’ recent two losses in three games have left them somewhat disoriented as they stumble through the season.

The 15:41 against the Indianapolis Colts in Week 10 was the negative highlight.

And since crises in the NFL often start with the most important man on the field, Allen is naturally in focus.

“We know who we are. And what we’re delivering right now? That’s not who we are,” Allen said after the bitter defeat. “It comes down to execution, and it’s not good enough right now. And that starts with me. “

Josh Allen only part of the problem

Allen is only part of the problem though, in the last three games he afforded himself five interceptions (after three in the eight games before that), in the two losses he finished with a rating of 62.7 and 72.2. The win in between came against the Jets.

Another problem that became apparent in the defeats – especially against the Colts – was the defence against the run. If the opponents run a lot and act physically, the Bills get a problem, and that despite an otherwise strong defence – as already in the losses against the Tennessee Titans and Pittsburgh Steelers.

Against the Colts, running back Jonathan Taylor was allowed a new franchise record 185 yards and five touchdowns. The absence of their own top performers like Tremaine Edmunds and Star Lotulelei was clearly noticeable.

Defensive coordinator Leslie Frazier knows the Saints will go after that weak spot, especially because they have a top running back in Alvin Kamara. “We have to respond to that the right way. Otherwise, it’s going to continue and we’re going to do everything we can to get better,” Frazier said.

Head coach Sean McDermott is also embracing the challenge. “It’s a journey every season,” he said. “There are ebbs and flows. That’s part of the challenge for me, and I love that challenge. Not that you want to lose, but you have to make those adjustments to get the team exactly where it needs to be and you have to learn who you are as a team and we will continue to grow and develop,” he said. It will be seen where you are at, McDermott said, “and we just have to take it one week at a time now.”

But that will be anything but a walk in the park.

Bills: Tough remaining schedule

For one, only one of their six wins so far has come against a team with a positive record (Kansas City, 7-4). Two of the wins have come against the weak Miami Dolphins, and the six opponents Buffalo has beaten have an overall record of 23-40.

For that, things get really crisp after the Saints.

First up in the Monday Night Game is the resurgent New England Patriots, then it’s on to the defending champion Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Then come the unpredictable Carolina Panthers before heading to Foxborough for the Patriots.

Meaning a record of 6-9 or 7-8 at Christmas isn’t even unrealistic. And for the Super Bowl contender, the season could be over by early January.

“We’ve got to put this game behind us,” Allen urged. “I think that’s fortunate for us that we can play on Thursday and try to get rid of this bad feeling.”

It could get worse, though. The punters will be prepared.