Buffalo Bills (5-3) – Tampa Bay Buccaneers (3-4): 24-18
Too soft at the start of the match for three weeks, the Bills have this time succeeded in taking off. With a sharper Josh Allen (31/40, 324 yards, 2 TDs, 1 int) and more receivers involved, Buffalo was never behind in this match.
Tampa still had the opportunity to pull off an incredible hold-up by getting closer at the end of the match, before recovering the ball 21 seconds from the end. Baker Mayfield (25/42, 237 yards, 2 TDs) then attempted a 55-yard Ave Maria pass which reached the end zone, but without a Buccaneers receiver managing to get his hands on it. The leather nevertheless passed close to the hands of Chris Godwin (5 rec, 54 yards, 1 TD).
Gabriel Davis finally present for the Bills
Khalil Shakir (6 rec, 92 yards) and Gabriel Davis (9 rec, 87 yards, 1 TD) were the first to catch the ball for Buffalo in this game. A symbol for an attack which finally seemed to want to get rid of its dependence on Stefon Diggs (9 rec, 70 yards).
But it was Josh Allen himself who scored on the ground at the start of the second quarter to allow his team to lead 10-0. The problem ? The quarterback aggravated his shoulder injury and spent time in the medical tent. On his return, Tampa scored on his foot and his first pass was intercepted. Tampa takes advantage of the short field to seek the equalizer on a touchdown from Chris Godwin (10-10).
But the response was immediate, with a 75-yard offensive from the Bills, capped by Dalton Kincaid’s first career touchdown (5 rec, 65 yards, 1 TD). 17-10 Bills at the break.
The Buccaneers dominated in the details
Buffalo continues with another touchdown, this time by Gabriel Davis, upon returning from the locker room (24-10). And the Buccaneers can’t react. Perfectly contained by the Bills defense, Baker Mayfield and his teammates still have no ground game. They are not helped by special teams, with several Buffalo punts forcing them from very far away.
After three punts on each side, Tampa managed to roll out a 92-yard offensive, well concluded by Mike Evans then a two-point conversion.
While they struggled at the start of the game in previous weeks, the Bills this time seem stuck in the end of the game. They give the ball back with a fourth punt in a row. There are only 21 seconds left, but it’s more than enough to scare yourself as you watch Mayfield’s desperation pass cross the end zone and finally crash to the ground.
The victory is logical, as Buffalo was solid in defense (302 yards for the Buccaneers), but it missed a final boost in attack to experience a completely quiet evening.
