The Buffalo Bills were back at home Monday night, losing to the Denver Broncos 24-22.
Buffalo’s offense once again couldn’t get going until the second half of the contest.
This was in large part to the teams four turnovers, which is tied for their highest total of the season with their week one tilt with the New York Jets.
Bills quarterback Josh Allen completed just 15 of his 26 passes for 177 yards with one touchdown and two interceptions.
Allen also added a rushing touchdown in the game, but Buffalo would end up losing to Denver at home for the first time since 2007.
Running back James Cook also fumbled multiple times, two of which were recovered by the Broncos adding to a poor offensive effort.
Despite the high volume of turnovers, the Bills defense was able to hold Denver to just six points off the turnovers, keeping Buffalo in the game.
However, there efforts weren’t enough, as the Bills offense couldn’t score until it was too late, and Buffalo walked away with a .500 record.
Recap
The Bills won the coin toss and elected to receive the ball first. On the opening play, Bills running back James Cook fumbled and Denver would recover, taking possession deep in Buffalo territory.
The Broncos offense was able to turn this into three points and Denver took an early 3-0 lead.
Buffalo would then get the ball back and after a lengthy drive down field, wide receiver Gabe Davis would drop a pass and it would end up being intercepted for the teams second turnover in as many drives.
However, Denver wouldn’t be able to do anything with this, punting the ball back to Buffalo.
The teams would end up trading punts on back-to-back drives, before Denver received good field position off a return from rookie Marvin Mims to their 48-yard line.
The Broncos offense was able to march the field on a seven-play drive that was capped with a miraculous touchdown on fourth down by Courtland Sutton, who dragged his feet in the back of the endzone to extend Denver’s lead.
However, the extra point would from kicker Will Lutz would end up going off the left upright and fall no good, keeping the score 9-0.
Now down two scores, the Bills offense had some sense of urgency, quickly driving the field and responding with an 8-play 81-yard drive ending with a 22-yard touchdown pass from Josh Allen to rookie tight end Dalton Kincaid.
Buffalo would attempt the extra point, but after an offsides penalty against Denver, would instead try a two-point conversion that was successful, bringing Buffalo within one 9-8.
Denver would then respond, driving down the field again, but this time Buffalo’s defense was able to hold the Broncos to a 49-yard field goal. Will Lutz redeemed himself for the missed extra point, nailing the kick to extend Denver’s lead to 12-8.
Buffalo would then get the ball back late in the first half, but quarterback Josh Allen would throw an interception, giving Denver another chance before halftime.
The Broncos would take advantage of this opportunity, as Will Lutz would drill his second field goal, this time from 40 yards out, to send Denver to the half with a 15-8 lead.
2nd Half
Denver would start the second half with the football, but after three plays would punt the ball back to Buffalo.
The Bills would get the ball at midfield, but the team would fail to convert their good starting field position into points, turning the ball over on downs.
The Broncos Courtland Sutton would then fumble, giving Buffalo the ball back once again in good field position.
Buffalo’s offense would capitalize this time, taking the ball down the field on seven plays, the last of which running back Latavius Murray would run in to tie the game at 15.
Denver wasn’t able to respond to the Bills touchdown, punting the ball back after just six plays.
However, the Broncos defense was able to force another fumble on James Cook, giving Denver the ball inside Buffalo’s territory.
Despite the good start, Buffalo’s defense was again able to step up and force a punt. The Bills weren’t able to do anything on the drive, punting for the third time.
After another great return from Mims, the Broncos offense was able to drive down the field on a seven minute and 54-second-long drive, that took 12 plays, capped off with a three-yard touchdown pass from Russel Wilson to Javonte Williams.
Although they got the touchdown, the Broncos Will Lutz missed the extra point, leaving the door open for Buffalo.
Allen would take the Bills 75 yards in just six plays, running the ball in with just less than two minutes to go, giving Buffalo their first lead of the night 22-21.
However, Denver wasn’t done taking the ball into Buffalo territory quickly, before the Bills defense started to make a stand.
On 3rd down and 10, Russel Wilson heaved a deep pass down the middle of the field that would fall incomplete, but Bills cornerback Taron Johnson would be flagged for pass interference and Denver would get the ball inside Buffalo’s 30-yard line.
After a few kneel downs, Denver was ready to attempt a last second 41-yard field goal to win, but again Will Lutz would miss, but the bills would yet again be flagged, this time for having 12 players on defense, allowing Lutz one last chance to win the game.
On his second attempt, this time from 36 yards out, Lutz drilled the field goal, handing Buffalo their fifth loss of the season.
Takeaways
Buffalo’s offense couldn’t get it going until the second half of the game, turning the ball over four times in the contest, not to mention a failed fourth down conversion.
While the defense kept the game close for three quarters, the unit failed to make a stop when the team needed it most, including two costly penalties on the final drive that led to the game-winning field goal.
In the end, Buffalo would end up losing, falling to 5-5 on the season.
The team now prepares for their rematch with the division rival New York Jets on Sunday November 14th.
