No one has an answer for the Buffalo Bills defense yet, but their biggest test is yet to come.
Buffalo cruised to a 40-0 win over the hapless Houston Texans on a rainy Sunday at Highmark Stadium. The weather was a factor, with both teams losing possession of the ball due to the wet conditions, but it was the Bills who could capitalize on their opportunities.
Early on, it was a frustrating game for the Bills offense. The first drive ended with an interception on the very first play, while it took nearly the entirety of the first quarter for either team to score points.
While the Texans struggled all throughout the afternoon in Orchard Park, the Bills hit the gas once the quarter closed and never looked back.
Dawson Knox continues to be a red zone weapon that Josh Allen turns to. Knox caught two touchdowns on the day, with his first touchdown opening the scoring on a 25-yard throw from Allen.
The Bills defense posed so many problems for the Texans that Houston would spend more time near its own goal line than it would on the Bills' half of the field. Buffalo dominated the time of possession in the game as well, holding the football for more than 38 minutes.
Davis Mills was perplexed all game, throwing four interceptions in total, including turnovers to linebacker Tremaine Edmunds, safeties Jaquan Johnson and Micah Hyde, and a late interception to linebacker Tyler Matakevich.
Continuous pressure from the Bills defensive front contributed to the mistake-filled afternoon for the rookie signal caller. Carlos "Boogie" Basham, playing in his first game with the team, recorded his first sack near the Texans' goal line. Star Lotulelei also recorded a sack, his second of the season.
Allen finished the day going 20-of-29 for 248 yards and two touchdowns following his opening interception. Allen also had 41 yards on the ground in the win.
Although the offense was able to move the ball with ease, getting into the end zone was a challenge through the first three quarters. The Bills settled for four field goals from Tyler Bass, as he went perfect on the afternoon with his field goals and extra point attempts.
Zach Moss helped the Bills break out on the scoreboard in the fourth quarter with a touchdown run from five yards out.
With the game out of hand in the fourth quarter, the Bills sat Allen for quarterback Mitchell Trubisky, and the backup was able to cap the scoring with a four-yard touchdown run with 3:36 to go in regulation.
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GAME SUMMARY
First quarter:
- 7-0 BUFFALO: Bills touchdown (1:59) - Josh Allen throws a 25-yard touchdown pass to Dawson Knox. (Tyler Bass' extra point attempt is good.)
Drive info: 9 plays, 69 yards, 5:02
Second quarter:
- 10-0 BUFFALO: Bills field goal (13:09) - Tyler Bass' 33-yard field goal attempt is good.
Drive info: 5 plays, 35 yards, 1:55
- 13-0 BUFFALO: Bills field goal (7:15) - Tyler Bass' 26-yard field goal attempt is good.
Drive info: 7 plays, 41 yards, 3:31
- 16-0 BUFFALO: Bills field goal (0:26) - Tyler Bass' 21-yard field goal attempt is good.
Drive info: 8 plays, 41 yards, 1:17
Third quarter:
- 19-0 BUFFALO: Bills field goal (8:49) - Tyler Bass' 28-yard field goal attempt is good.
Drive info: 11 plays, 65 yards, 6:15
Fourth quarter:
- 26-0 BUFFALO: Bills touchdown (13:29) - Josh Allen fires a one-yard touchdown pass to Dawson Knox. (Tyler Bass' extra point attempt is good.)
Drive info: 11 plays, 84 yards, 6:49
- 33-0 BUFFALO: Bills touchdown (10:44) - Zack Moss rushes for a four-yard touchdown. (Tyler Bass' extra point attempt is good.)
Drive info: 4 plays, 27 yards, 2:15
- 40-0 BUFFALO: Bills touchdown (3:36) - Mitchell Trubisky keeps the football and rushes for a four-yard touchdown. (Tyler Bass' extra point attempt is good.)
Drive info: 7 plays, 53 yards, 4:27
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SKYWORKS EQUIPMENT RENTAL STATS OF THE GAME:
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What's Next:
Maybe the biggest test of the year for the Bills is up next with a Sunday night matchup against the Kansas City Chiefs. Pregame coverage on WGR gets started at 3 p.m. ET with kickoff slated for shortly after 8 p.m. ET with John Murphy, Eric Wood and Sal Capaccio on the call.
