Orchard Park, N.Y. (WGR 550) - Following a dismal performance this past Sunday against the New England Patriots, the Buffalo Bills were able to bounce back on "Thursday Night Football" with a 24-18 win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Highmark Stadium on the national stage.
The Buffalo defense opened Thursday's game with a strong statement, stopping the Buccaneers in six plays and forcing punt to give the offense a chance to start off strong.
In its first drive of the game, the offense did move down the field in 10 plays, spanning 77 yards before Tyler Bass nailed a 37-yard field goal to put the Bills up, 3-0.
Tampa Bay bounced back with a drive to get into scoring range, but a 50-yard field goal attempt from kicker Chase McLaughlin ended up being blocked by defensive end Shaq Lawson.
Starting their next drive at their own 40-yard line, the Bills mounted a strong, eight-play drive, getting down to the Buccaneers' one-yard line to start the second quarter. However, the Bills elected to go for the touchdown on a 4th-and-goal, and Allen's short pass attempt was batted down at the goal line.
After the defense forced a three-and-out and a great punt return from Deonte Harty to the Buccaneers' 23-yard line, the Bills only needed five plays to find the end zone for the first time on the evening. It was quarterback Josh Allen capping off the drive himself with a 13-yard touchdown run.
Tampa Bay did respond quickly with their first scoring drive of the game, as McLaughlin was able to put a 57-yard field goal through the uprights to cut into Buffalo's lead, 10-3.
Buffalo's next drive only lasted one play before the Buccaneers forced a turnover, as an Allen pass attempt to tight end Dalton Kincaid was deflected up in the air and picked off by defensive end William Gholston.
Just two plays later, the Buccaneers were in the end zone to tie the game at 10-10, as quarterback Baker Mayfield threw a short, three-yard touchdown pass over the middle to wide receiver Chris Godwin.
With less than seven minutes remaining in the first half, the Bills went to work again on offense, executing a 75-yard drive that resulted in Kincaid scoring his first touchdown of his NFL career from 22 yards out.
With one more chance to score before the half, the Buccaneers offense sputters right around midfield, as the Bills took a 17-10 lead heading into the locker room.
After receiving the second half kickoff, the Bills picked up right where they left off, producing a dominant nine-play, 75-yard drive with Allen connecting on a four-yard touchdown strike to Gabe Davis.
From there, both teams exchanged punt-after-punt, with the Bills and Buccaneers' offenses struggling to gain any sort of momentum heading into the later stages of the fourth quarter.
With the Buccaneers needing to get something going offensively in the dying moments of the game, they ended up going on a long 17-play drive, extended by a pair of fourth down penalties by the Bills, that ended with a 24-yard touchdown strike from Mayfield to wide receiver Mike Evans. A successful two-point conversion cut Tampa Bay's deficit to six points with 2:44 left in regulation.
Tampa Bay was granted another chance for a late win with 21 seconds to go, as the Bills elected to punt on a 4th-and-1 just past midfield. The Buccaneers got as far as their own 45-yard line before Mayfield threw a last-ditch Hail Mary as time expired that fell incomplete in the end zone.
----------
Game Summary:
First Quarter:
- 3-0 BUFFALO: Bills field goal (8:04) - Tyler Bass' 37-yard field goal attempt is good.
Drive Info: 10 plays, 77 yards, 4:31
Second Quarter:
- 10-0 BUFFALO: Bills touchdown (11:03) - Josh Allen rushes up the middle for a 13-yard touchdown tun. (Tyler Bass' extra point attempt is good)
Drive Info: 5 plays, 23 yards, 2:45
- 10-3 BUFFALO: Buccaneers field goal (7:40) - Chase McLaughlin's 57-yard field goal attempt is good.
Drive Info: 8 plays, 36 yards, 3:23
- 10-10 TIE: Buccaneers touchdown (6:46) - Baker Mayfield fires a three-yard touchdown pass over the middle to Chris Godwin. (Chase McLaughlin's extra point attempt is good)
Drive Info: 2 plays, 23 yards, 0:47
-17-10 BUFFALO: Bills touchdown (2:40) - Josh Allen connects with Dalton Kincaid for a 22-yard touchdown pass. (Tyler Bass' extra point attempt is good)
Drive Info: 9 plays, 75 yards, 4:06
Third Quarter:
- 24-10 BUFFALO: Bills touchdown (10:40) - Josh Allen fires a four-yard touchdown pass to Gabe Davis. (Tyler Bass' extra point attempt is good)
Drive Info: 9 plays, 75 yards, 4:20
Fourth Quarter:
-24-18: BUFFALO: Buccaneers touchdown (2:44) - Baker Mayfield completes a 24-yard touchdown pass with Mike Evans. (Tampa Bay's two-point conversion attempt is successful)
Drive Info: 17 plays, 92 yards, 7:21
----------
SKYWORKS EQUIPMENT RENTAL STATS OF THE GAME:
----------
What's next:
The Bills will head to Cincinnati after a longer week for a Sunday night showdown with the Bengals at Paycor Stadium. Kickoff is slated for 8:20 p.m. EST on the official voice of the Bills - WGR Sports Radio 550.