Orchard Park, N.Y. (WGR 550) - The Bills earned their first win of the 2023 season on Sunday with a dominating 38-10 win over the Las Vegas Raiders in Buffalo's home opener at Highmark Stadium.
After receiving the opening kickoff, the Raiders went right to work, putting the first points of the game on the scoreboard.
Rookie running back Tre Tucker took control of the drive with a 34-yard run that put his team in the red zone. A short moment later, quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo finished the drive with a 16-yard touchdown pass to his No. 1 wide receiver Davante Adams.
The Bills offense did not get rolling on their first drive, going three-and-out and punting the ball right back to the Raiders.
However, four plays into the next drive, the Bills defense was able to put some pressure on Garoppolo, forcing the Raiders into a turnover. With defensive tackle coming up the middle with pressure, Garoppolo fired a pass that was tipped by pass rusher Greg Rousseau. In the end, middle linebacker Terrel Bernard was able to reel in the ball for the interception.
Off the turnover, Bills quarterback Josh Allen got right to work with three quick passes to wide receiver Stefon Diggs, which moved Buffalo into the red zone for the first time in the game.
On the seventh play of the drive, veteran running back Latavius Murray punched the Bills into the end zone from four yards out to tie the game at 7-7.
The Raiders conceded their first three-and-out on their next drive, allowing the Buffalo offense to get right back to work in an effort to take their first lead of the game.
Allen and the offense went to work with multiple short throws and runs to work the ball downfield on an long 11-play drive.
After a defensive pass interference call against the Raiders set Buffalo up at the Las Vegas one-yard line, Allen found tight end Dawson Knox two plays later for a two-yard touchdown pass to put the Bills ahead.
The Raiders eventually got the ball moving again on their next drive, working as far as the Bills' 29-yard line before a 47-yard Daniel Carlson field goal cut the Raiders' deficit to 14-10.
From that point on, it was all Buffalo the rest of the way.
Despite the Bills missing out an a touchdown at the Raiders' one-yard line on their next drive, the defense still came up with a three-and-out, giving Allen and the offense another chance with 1:47 to go in the first half.
The Buffalo offense kept their short plays going with big catches coming from Diggs and Gabe Davis on this drive. Then with only 18 seconds left in the half and facing extreme pressure, Allen fired an 11-yard pass over the middle to wide receiver Khalil Shakir, who managed to fight his way into the end zone for another Buffalo touchdown just before halftime.
After receiving the opening kickoff in the second half, the Bills made sure to chew plenty of time off the clock, while also making the most of their opening drive.
Allen marched the offense 75 yards down field in 15 plays over the course of nine minutes of game clock, ending with a two-yard touchdown pass from Allen to Davis to make it a 28-10 Bills lead.
The Raiders' first drive of the second half ended prematurely after Garoppolo threw his second interception of the game to Bills linebacker Matt Milano. The All-Pro linebacker was able to snatch a pass that was intended for running back Josh Jacobs near midfield.
Once again, the Bills wasted no time getting back into the groove, as Allen connected well with rookie tight end Dalton Kincaid for 22 yards on two receptions.
After coming up short of another touchdown on this drive, Bills kicker Tyler Bass added another three points on the scoreboard with a 29-yard field goal to open the fourth quarter.
Following another punt from the Raiders, Buffalo work its way down the field once more to officially put the game on ice. After a big 40-yard connection between Allen and Davis to get the Bills to the Raiders' eight-yard line, running back Damien Harris was eventually able to punch in his first touchdown with the Bills from one-yard out.
With much of the Bills' defensive starters now on the bench in the late stages of the game, the Raiders turned the ball over one more time to end the game, as cornerback Dane Jackson forced a fumble with Las Vegas driving that was recovered by safety Taylor Rapp.
The Bills then ran out the remainder of the clock to win the game, 38-10, and improve their record to 1-1 on the 2023 season.
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GAME SUMMARY
First Quarter:
- 7-0 LAS VEGAS: Raiders touchdown (12:16) - Jimmy Garoppolo finds Davante Adams on a 16-yard pass for a touchdown. (Daniel Carlson's extra point attempt is good)
Drive info: 5 plays, 75 yards, 2:44
- 7-7 TIE: Bills touchdown (4:19) - Latavius Murray punches his way into the end zone on a four-yard run. (Tyler Bass' extra point attempt is good)
Drive info: 7 plays, 28 yards, 3:58
Second Quarter:
- 14-7 BUFFALO: Bills touchdown (12:10) - Josh Allen fires a one-yard touchdown pass to Dawson Knox. (Tyler Bass' extra point attempt is good)
Drive info: 11 plays, 84 yards, 6:06
- 14-10 BUFFALO: Raiders field goal (6:48) - Daniel Carlson's 47-yard field goal attempt is good.
Drive info: 10 plays, 46 yards, 5:22
- 21-10 BUFFALO: Bills touchdown (0:18) - Josh Allen tosses an 11-yard pass to Khalil Shakir for a touchdown. (Tyler Bass' extra point attempt is good)
Drive info: 8 plays, 57 yards, 1:29
Third Quarter:
- 28-10 BUFFALO: Bills touchdown (5:59) - Josh Allen finds Gabe Davis on an two-yard touchdown pass. (Tyler Bass' extra point attempt is good)
Drive info: 15 plays, 75 yards, 9:01
Fourth Quarter:
- 31-10 BUFFALO: Bills field goal (14:56) - Tyler Bass' 29-yard field goal attempt is good.
Drive info: 9 plays, 37 yards, 3:53
- 38-10 BUFFALO: Bills touchdown (5:08) - Damien Harris runs one yard into the end zone for a touchdown. (Tyler Bass' extra point attempt is good)
Drive info: 11 plays, 95 yards, 7:32
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SKYWORKS EQUIPMENT RENTAL STATS OF THE GAME:
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What's next:
The Bills will head back on the road to the nation's capital to take on the Washington Commanders at FedEx Field next Sunday. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m. ET on the official voice of the Bills - WGR Sports Radio 550.