Orchard Park, N.Y. (WGR Sports Radio 550) - The Buffalo Bills destroyed the Jacksonville Jaguars, 47-10, at Highmark Stadium, and in front of a national television audience on "Monday Night Football".
On a night when so much went right and very little went wrong for the Bills, here are my Arrows Up and Arrows Down, starting with plenty pointing Up:
ARROW UP:
QB - Josh Allen
Allen was sensational all night long, threading needles and spreading the ball around through the air. He was also running for needed yardage with his legs and extending drives.
When his night was said and done, Allen threw four touchdown passes in the first half alone, and finished by going 23-of-30 (76.6%) for 263 yards, and no interceptions. He also ran six times for 44 yards, totaling 307 yards of offense.
Joe Brady
Brady was on point all night, coming up with the perfect scheme and plays to counter the mostly man-to-man defense the Jaguars used.
Jacksonville's defense did not have an answer for anything the Bills did. Brady kept them on their heels all night long.
Bobby Babich
Babich continues to impress as a first-time coordinator and play-caller, dialing up pressures at the right time and trusting his guys to be in the right position.
The Bills held the Jaguars to a minuscule 3.5 yards per-play over the entire contest, and Jacksonville gained just 70 yards in the first half.
Firsts!
It was a game of firsts for the Bills.
Keon Coleman caught his first NFL touchdown, a 24-yard strike from Allen in the second quarter.
Ray Davis scored his first NFL touchdown, a three-yard run in the dying moments of the fourth quarter.
Javon Solomon and Ja'Marcus Ingram both collected their first NFL sack.
Damar Hamlin picked up his first NFL interception in the second quarter, leading to another Bills touchdown moments later.
Also, Joe Andreessen, a Lancaster native and University at Buffalo alum, played in his first NFL game on "Monday Night Football".
Hamlin emotion
After Hamlin recorded his first NFL interception and returned it for 19 yards, Highmark Stadium was incredibly emotional. Fans behind the Bills bench were putting up the love sign with their hands, one that Hamlin often gives and puts on social media.
DE - Von Miller
Miller continued his comeback with another solid performance, sacking Trevor Lawrence on a key fourth down early in the fourth quarter, and also adding two quarterback hurries.
WR - Khalil Shakir
Yet another incredibly efficient and solid performance by Shakir, who caught all six footballs thrown his way for 72 yards, including a 27-yard catch-and-run for a touchdown.
Offensive line
Not only did the Bills offensive line keep Allen off the ground all night (no sacks given up), the Jaguars were credited with only one quarterback hurry all game.
CB - Christian Benford
Benford, once again, was steady and consistent all game in the Buffalo secondary. He was credited with four total tackles and a pass breakup.
DB - Ja’Marcus Ingram
Ingram continues to shine in his role as the extra safety in dime packages, coming up with a pair of tackles, his first sack, another quarterback hurry, and a big pass breakup in the end zone.
PR/DB - Brandon Codrington
Codrington was electric both times he touched the ball, returning two punts. His first return went for 22 yards, followed by another for 19 yards.
He then got in on defense and recorded a pair of tackles and a pass breakup.
Third- and fourth-down defense
The Bills defense was excellent on third down, holding the Jaguars to just two conversions on 13 attempts (15.4%). The Jaguars also went for it on eight different fourth downs, converting four of them.
On the two downs combined, the Bills held Jacksonville to just 6-for-21 (28.5%).
Third- and fourth-down offense
Conversely, the Bills converted 6-of-11 third downs, and both of their fourth down attempts, finishing 8-for-13 on third and fourth down (61.5%).
Red zone on both sides
The Bills were inside the Jaguars' 20-yard line five different times and scored touchdowns on four of those trips (80%).
On the other side, they held the Jaguars to just 1-of-4 red zone touchdowns (25%).
ARROW DOWN:
Blocked extra point
After the Bills scored their first touchdown, Tyler Bass had his extra point attempt blocked. It didn't cost them, but something they'll need to correct.
James Cook dropped touchdown
With the Bills up 20-3 and three minutes remaining in the first half, Allen put a beautiful ball down the sidelines into James Cook's hands, but the running back could not come up with it.
Fortunately for the Bills, they scored a touchdown just two plays later.
Keon benching
Coleman did not play at all in the first quarter on offense.
After the game, head coach Sean McDermott said it was due to him not being on time for something.
While Coleman did come right into the game and score a touchdown, it's obviously not a situation you want to see with the rookie.
