Orchard Park, N.Y. (WGR Sports Radio 550) - For the first time since 2020, the Buffalo Bills are off to a 4-0 start in the regular season thanks to a 31-19 win over the New Orleans Saints on Sunday at Highmark Stadium.
The Bills received the opening kickoff, and were able to make quick work of the Saints to find the end zone.
Bills quarterback Josh Allen capped off the seven-play drive with a short pass to wide receiver Khalil Shakir, who then bounced off multiple tackles to take it 43 yards for a touchdown.
The Saints responded on their first drive of the game to even the score.
Second-year quarterback Spencer Rattler helped extend the drive with a couple of first-down runs. New Orleans eventually found the end zone with an 18-yard touchdown run from running back Kendre Miller.
On Buffalo's next drive, Allen hit Keon Coleman on two passes of 17 and 19 yards.
Then it was James Cook taking over the drive and capping it off with another rushing touchdown, this one from one yard out. With the score, Cook set a Bills franchise record for the most consecutive games with a rushing touchdown with eight.
The Saints' next drive saw New Orleans advance as far as the Buffalo 40-yard-line. However, some pressure by linebacker Terrel Bernard forced an intentional grounding penalty, backing the Saints out of field goal range.
After a solid punt by the Saints, the Bills ended up turning the ball over for the first time all season on their next drive. A deep shot from Allen on third down from their own 12-yard line ended up being picked off by Saints safety Jonas Sanker at the Buffalo 49-yard line.
However, the Saints were unable to move the ball off the turnover, going three-and-out and punting.
Following a three-and-out from the Buffalo offense, the Saints started their next drive from midfield, and managed to advance far enough to set up a 54-yard field goal for Blake Grupe.
The following Bills drive after the New Orleans field goal goes backwards, as Allen ended up being sacked twice, resulting in Buffalo being backed up 21 yards before punting out of their own end zone.
Starting again in Buffalo territory, the Saints drove the ball back into the Bills' red zone, advancing as far as the 5-yard line. However, with just about 90 seconds left in the half, the Bills defense makes a huge play as safety Cole Bishop collects his first career interception as New Orleans tried to pull off a "Philly Special" trick play.
The Bills were only able to get one first down before the end of the half, with Buffalo holding on to a four-point lead.
Starting the second half, the Saints were only able to get just past midfield before punting back to Buffalo.
The Bills offense marched down the field on their opening drive of the second half, led by James Cook on the ground. Eventually, Allen took things into his own hands with a five-yard touchdown run to extend the Buffalo lead to 21-10.
The Saints answered right back with a long drive of their own, capped off by a three-yard touchdown pass from Rattler to wide receiver Chris Olave. The Saints attempted to make it a three-point game with a two-point conversion, failed after Rattler was unable to find the end zone on his feet.
After getting the ball down to midfield, the Bills' next drive stalls after failing to convert on a fourth down. It was the first time the Bills did not convert on fourth down this season.
Looking to take the lead, the Saints thought they had converted on a touchdown connection between Rattler and veteran wide receiver Brandon Cooks. However, review showed the ball hit the turf and was ruled incomplete.
The Saints ended up having to settle for a 35-yard field goal from Grupe to cut the deficit to 21-19 with 8:53 to go.
Allen and the Buffalo offense respond quickly, though, and managed to put the game a bit further out of reach for New Orleans.
After a huge 27-yard run by Allen on a 3rd-and-5, the Bills quarterback connected on a huge 28-yard touchdown pass to tight end Dalton Kincaid to put Buffalo back up by nine.
With the Saints facing a must score situation with less than six minutes remaining on the game clock, the Bills defense came up with a huge stop on fourth down, as veteran cornerback Tre'Davious White stopped running back Alvin Kamara short of the line to gain, giving the ball back to Buffalo.
The Saints shot themselves in the foot after forcing a three-and-out of the Buffalo offense and burning through all three timeouts, as they ended up getting flagged for roughing the kicker on the fourth-down punt. That gave the Bills an automatic first down, and put Buffalo in a position to add some more points on the board.
The Bills ended up settling for a 35-yard field goal from kicker Matt Prater, as that put Buffalo over the 30-point mark in a game for the fourth time this regular season.
With one last desperation drive down by 12 points, the Saints ended up being stuffed thanks to a pair of Buffalo sacks. The first came from A.J. Epenesa, and then the last came from Joey Bosa on fourth down, who also forced a fumble in the process.
That allowed the Bills to take victory formation and seal the 31-19 win, and secure their first 4-0 start to a season since 2020. The win for Buffalo was also their first over the Saints in Orchard Park since the 1983 season.
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SCORING RECAP:
First Quarter:
- 7-0 BUFFALO: Bills Touchdown (10:49) - Khalil Shakir takes a short pass from Josh Allen for a 43-yard touchdown. (Matt Prater's extra point attempt is good)
Drive info: 7 plays, 79 yards, 4:11
- 7-7 TIE: Saints Touchdown (6:46) - Kendre Miller breaks multiple tackles for an 18-yard touchdown run. (Blake Grupe's extra point attempt is good)
Drive info: 7 plays, 69 yards, 4:03
- 14-7 BUFFALO: Bills Touchdown (2:19) - James Cook powers in for a 1-yard touchdown run. (Matt Prater's extra point attempt is good)
Drive info: 7 plays, 66 yards, 4:17
Second Quarter:
- 14-10 BUFFALO: Saints Field Goal (5:31) - Blake Grupe's 54-yard field goal attempt is good.
Drive info: 7 plays, 13 yards, 3:12
Third Quarter:
- 21-10 BUFFALO: Bills Touchdown (6:42) - Josh Allen keeps it himself and finds the end zone for a 5-yard touchdown run. (Matt Prater's extra point attempt is good)
Drive info: 9 plays, 80 yards, 6:09
- 21-16 BUFFALO: Saints Touchdown (0:14) - Spencer Rattler finds Chris Olave for a 3-yard touchdown pass. (New Orleans' two-point conversion attempt is unsuccessful)
Drive info: 11 plays, 65 yards, 6:28
Fourth Quarter:
- 21-19 BUFFALO: Saints Field Goal (8:53) - Blake Grupe's 35-yard field goal attempt is good.
Drive info: 9 plays, 32, 3:59
- 27-19 BUFFALO: Bills Touchdown (7:07) - Josh Allen hits Dalton Kincaid for a 28-yard touchdown pass. (Matt Prater's extra point attempt is good)
Drive info: 4 plays, 60 yards, 1:46
- 31-19 BUFFALO: Bills Field Goal (2:09) - Matt Prater's 35-yard field goal attempt is goal.
Drive info: 9 plays, 42 yards, 3:27
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SKYWORKS EQUIPMENT RENTAL STATS OF THE GAME:
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What's next:
The Bills will close out their three-game homestand next Sunday night when they host the New England Patriots at Highmark Stadium. Kickoff for "Sunday Night Football" is slated for 8:20 p.m. on the official voice of the Bills - WGR Sports Radio 550.