The Buffalo Bills have endured their share of near misses against the New England Patriots.
With Buffalo's hopes of ending a 17-year play-off drought pinned to what happened in its final two games, the Bills ran the Patriots close in the first half of Sunday's 37-16 loss .
But one play was still stinging as they trudged off the field, as their hopes of making the post-season became an even wilder jumble of scenarios than when the day began.
Trailing 13-10 in the closing seconds of the second quarter, Buffalo (8-7) was in position to take the lead, but an apparent 4-yard touchdown pass from Tyrod Taylor to Kelvin Benjamin in the corner of the end zone was overturned after an official review.
The play shocked Benjamin, who thought he had given his team a big momentum boost heading into half time.
"I mean definitely, but ref made the call and you've got to live with that," Benjamin said.
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"We just wanted to move on, try to come back out (in the second half) and put some more points on the board."
The Bills were forced to settle for a 23-yard field goal as the half expired. They only managed three points in the second half.
Initially Benjamin was ruled to have got both feet down while in possession of the ball. After looking at replays, officials ruled that he was juggling the ball when his first foot hit the turf.
"It was clear and obvious that he did not have control of the ball until he brought it all the way down into his chest," referee Craig Wrolstad said in a pool report after the game.
"The (officials) always seem to get it right for the Patriots, but that's not why we lost," said running back LeSean McCoy, who finished with 71 yards on 17 carries.
"It sure would have helped out in the game. We battled hard. We have to do a better job finishing ... It's just crazy because we put so much into it, to get robbed like that. Come on, that was a touchdown."
Coach Sean McDermott was perplexed.
"Yeah, I'm at a loss," he said. "A loss as to, I saw it as a touchdown. And other than that, all I can say right now is I am at a loss for how a play like that can get overturned."
The play was met with almost immediate criticism across social media.
The list included former NFL officiating VP Mike Pereira.
"Regarding the Buffalo no touchdown, nothing more irritating to an official than to make a great call and then someone in a suit in an office in New York incorrectly reverses it," he posted on Twitter .
Bills team owner Terrence Pegula's daughter, Jessie Pegula, also chimed in.
"Does anyone even know what a catch is anymore? I definitely don't after watching that," she wrote on Twitter .
But nothing about that play had anything to do with Buffalo's shortcomings in the second half.
They managed just 133 yards of offence in the final two quarters, while going 1-6 on third down conversions and 0-4 in the red zone.
The Bills have not scored an offensive touchdown in their last two games against New England. Buffalo managed just a field goal in its 23-3 loss at home on December 3.
"I guess they had good schemes, you know what I'm saying?" Benjamin said. "We've definitely got to do better when we get down in the red zone, punching it in. It's just something we've got to work on moving forward as a team."
Cornerback Tre'Davious White said the Bills are ready for next week's finale at Miami Dolphins, and they still have several scenarios to make the play-offs.
"We know we've got to have, you know, some things have to happen (to make the playoffs)," White said. "But if we can go out there and control what we can control and go out there and beat Miami, you know we'll just see where the chips fall."
Dr Afridi's warning signs of digital addiction
Spending an excessive amount of time on the phone.
Neglecting personal, social, or academic responsibilities.
Losing interest in other activities or hobbies that were once enjoyed.
Having withdrawal symptoms like feeling anxious, restless, or upset when the technology is not available.
Experiencing sleep disturbances or changes in sleep patterns.
What are the guidelines?
Under 18 months: Avoid screen time altogether, except for video chatting with family.
Aged 18-24 months: If screens are introduced, it should be high-quality content watched with a caregiver to help the child understand what they are seeing.
Aged 2-5 years: Limit to one-hour per day of high-quality programming, with co-viewing whenever possible.
Aged 6-12 years: Set consistent limits on screen time to ensure it does not interfere with sleep, physical activity, or social interactions.
Teenagers: Encourage a balanced approach – screens should not replace sleep, exercise, or face-to-face socialisation.
Source: American Paediatric Association
Mercer, the investment consulting arm of US services company Marsh & McLennan, expects its wealth division to at least double its assets under management (AUM) in the Middle East as wealth in the region continues to grow despite economic headwinds, a company official said.
Mercer Wealth, which globally has $160 billion in AUM, plans to boost its AUM in the region to $2-$3bn in the next 2-3 years from the present $1bn, said Yasir AbuShaban, a Dubai-based principal with Mercer Wealth.
“Within the next two to three years, we are looking at reaching $2 to $3 billion as a conservative estimate and we do see an opportunity to do so,” said Mr AbuShaban.
Mercer does not directly make investments, but allocates clients’ money they have discretion to, to professional asset managers. They also provide advice to clients.
“We have buying power. We can negotiate on their (client’s) behalf with asset managers to provide them lower fees than they otherwise would have to get on their own,” he added.
Mercer Wealth’s clients include sovereign wealth funds, family offices, and insurance companies among others.
From its office in Dubai, Mercer also looks after Africa, India and Turkey, where they also see opportunity for growth.
Wealth creation in Middle East and Africa (MEA) grew 8.5 per cent to $8.1 trillion last year from $7.5tn in 2015, higher than last year’s global average of 6 per cent and the second-highest growth in a region after Asia-Pacific which grew 9.9 per cent, according to consultancy Boston Consulting Group (BCG). In the region, where wealth grew just 1.9 per cent in 2015 compared with 2014, a pickup in oil prices has helped in wealth generation.
BCG is forecasting MEA wealth will rise to $12tn by 2021, growing at an annual average of 8 per cent.
Drivers of wealth generation in the region will be split evenly between new wealth creation and growth of performance of existing assets, according to BCG.
Another general trend in the region is clients’ looking for a comprehensive approach to investing, according to Mr AbuShaban.
“Institutional investors or some of the families are seeing a slowdown in the available capital they have to invest and in that sense they are looking at optimizing the way they manage their portfolios and making sure they are not investing haphazardly and different parts of their investment are working together,” said Mr AbuShaban.
Some clients also have a higher appetite for risk, given the low interest-rate environment that does not provide enough yield for some institutional investors. These clients are keen to invest in illiquid assets, such as private equity and infrastructure.
“What we have seen is a desire for higher returns in what has been a low-return environment specifically in various fixed income or bonds,” he said.
“In this environment, we have seen a de facto increase in the risk that clients are taking in things like illiquid investments, private equity investments, infrastructure and private debt, those kind of investments were higher illiquidity results in incrementally higher returns.”
The Abu Dhabi Investment Authority, one of the largest sovereign wealth funds, said in its 2016 report that has gradually increased its exposure in direct private equity and private credit transactions, mainly in Asian markets and especially in China and India. The authority’s private equity department focused on structured equities owing to “their defensive characteristics.”
Avatar: Fire and Ash
Director: James Cameron
Starring: Sam Worthington, Sigourney Weaver, Zoe Saldana
Rating: 4.5/5
'Laal Kaptaan'
Director: Navdeep Singh
Stars: Saif Ali Khan, Manav Vij, Deepak Dobriyal, Zoya Hussain
Rating: 2/5
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The National's picks
4.35pm: Tilal Al Khalediah
5.10pm: Continous
5.45pm: Raging Torrent
6.20pm: West Acre
7pm: Flood Zone
7.40pm: Straight No Chaser
8.15pm: Romantic Warrior
8.50pm: Calandogan
9.30pm: Forever Young
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Korean Film Festival 2019 line-up
Innocent Witness, June 26 at 7pm
On Your Wedding Day, June 27 at 7pm
The Great Battle, June 27 at 9pm
The Witch: Part 1. The Subversion, June 28 at 4pm
Romang, June 28 at 6pm
Mal Mo E: The Secret Mission, June 28 at 8pm
Underdog, June 29 at 2pm
Nearby Sky, June 29 at 4pm
A Resistance, June 29 at 6pm
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
The Birkin bag is made by Hermès.
It is named after actress and singer Jane Birkin
Noone from Hermès will go on record to say how much a new Birkin costs, how long one would have to wait to get one, and how many bags are actually made each year.
Pathaan
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