Orchard Park, N.Y. (WGR 550) - The Buffalo Bills decided to play many of their starters in preseason game No. 2 on Saturday afternoon in a 42-15 victory over the Denver Broncos at Highmark Stadium.
The Bills got off to a very strong start with their starters, but most importantly, got out of the game healthy.
It was a thorough domination of the Broncos for the Bills from beginning to end.
The Bills offense started hot early in the opening drive, as Josh Allen spread the ball around to the likes of Stefon Diggs, Isaiah McKenzie, and Gabriel Davis. It resulted in Allen hitting Davis with a beautiful pass after buying time in the pocket to put the Bills up 7-3 in the first quarter.
Shaq Lawson was the star of the Bills' second drive on defense. On back-to-back plays, Lawson chased quarterback Josh Johnson out of the pocket and out of bounds, and followed it up with a batted pass that almost resulted in an interception.
One drive was all she wrote for Allen. Bills head coach Sean McDermott saw enough of his starting quarterback and put Case Keenum into the game. However, some of the starters were able to get in another series.
Keenum drove the Bills down the field again with several nice throws before running back Zack Moss pounded the ball into the end zone from two yards out.
Following Moss' touchdown run, that was it for most of the Bills' starters.
In his first action in the second quarter, rookie running back James Cook flashed on two-straight runs. His first run saw him hitting an open hole with speed, breaking a tackle, and grabbing 19 yards. On his next run, Cook shimmied a linebacker in the backfield to pickup six yards.
The Bills kept their perfect game on offense up at the end of the second quarter, as Keenum led the Bills down the field using Khalil Shakir, Isaiah Hodgins, and Jake Kumerow as targets. The drive culminated with a touchdown throw to tight end O.J. Howard to make the score 28-6 heading into halftime.
The second half was controlled by the Bills' second-team offensive line. Cody Ford and Bobby Hart both had great games, leading the Bills' rushing attack to 208 yards. Both Duke Johnson and Raheem Blackshear combined for 108 yards and two touchdowns on 14 carries.
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GAME SUMMARY
First Quarter:
- 3-0 DENVER: Broncos field goal (8:15) - Brandon McManus’ 33-yard field goal attempt is good.
Drive info: 12 plays, 64 yards, 6:45
- 7-3 BUFFALO: Bills touchdown (4:51) - Josh Allen fired a 28-yard touchdown pass to Gabriel Davis. (Tyler Bass’ extra point attempt is good)
Drive info: 6 plays, 70 yards, 3:24
Second Quarter:
- 14-3 BUFFALO: Bills touchdown (13:25) - Zack Moss pounds his way in for a two-yard touchdown run. (Tyler Bass’ extra point attempt is good)
Drive info: 8 plays, 80 yards, 4:27
- 14-6 BUFFALO: Broncos field goal (9:39) - Brandon McManus’ 43-yard field goal attempt is good.
Drive info: 8 plays, 42 yards, 3:46
- 21-6 BUFFALO: Bills touchdown (4:31) - Zack Moss scampers in for a one-yard touchdown run. (Tyler Bass’ extra point attempt is good)
Drive info: 9 plays, 78 yards, 5:08
- 28-6 BUFFALO: Bills touchdown (0:13) - Case Keenum tosses a seven-yard touchdown pass to O.J. Howard. (Tyler Bass’ extra point attempt is good)
Drive info: 10 plays, 80 yards, 2:29
Third Quarter:
- 35-6 BUFFALO: Bills touchdown (9:02) - Duke Johnson finds the end zone on a two-yard touchdown run. (Tyler Bass’ extra point attempt is good)
Drive info: 10 plays, 80 yards, 5:58
- 35-9 DENVER: Broncos field goal (6:17) - Brandon McManus’ 55-yard field goal attempt is good.
Drive info: 6 plays, 36 yards, 2:45
- 42-9 BUFFALO: Bills touchdown (2:05) - Duke Johnson runs it in for an eight-yard touchdown run. (Tyler Bass’ extra point attempt is good)
Drive info: 8 plays, 73 yards, 4:12
- 42-15 BUFFALO: Broncos touchdown (10:55) - Brett Rypien fires a one-yard touchdown pass to Eric Saubert. (Denver’s two-point conversion attempt is unsuccessful)
Drive info: 12 plays, 84 yards, 6:10
Fourth Quarter:
- NO SCORING
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SKYWORKS EQUIPMENT RENTAL STATS OF THE GAME:
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What's next:
The Bills will wrap up the 2022 preseason schedule on Friday when they travel to Carolina to take on the Panthers at Bank of America Stadium. Kickoff is slated for 7 p.m. ET on the official voice of the Bills - WGR Sports Radio 550.
