Orchard Park, N.Y. (WGR Sports Radio550) - Following a poor performance against the Miami Dolphins in South Florida, the Buffalo Bills bounced back with an impressive 44-32 win over the visiting Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Highmark Stadium.
Josh Allen was back in MVP form for the Bills on Sunday, as he accounted for six total touchdowns and 357 total yards of offense. This included three passing touchdowns and three rushing touchdowns in a game for the second time in his career.
After receiving the game's opening kickoff, the Buccaneers offense was able to drive into Buffalo territory, but elected to punt from the Bills' 39-yard line. However, a nice punt pinned the Bills deep in their own territory.
On the second play of Buffalo's opening offensive drive, Allen made a costly turnover by attempting a shuffle pass that ended up being intercepted by Buccaneers cornerback Jacob Parrish.
The Buccaneers offense was unable to find the end zone, though, thanks to a couple of stops by the Bills defense, resulting in a 23-yard field goal from Chase McLaughlin for the game's opening points.
Following a big 61-yard kickoff return from newcomer Mecole Hardman, the Bills offense was set up with prime field position to respond, and they did 10 plays later.
After getting a clutch fourth-down catch from wideout Gabe Davis earlier in the drive, the Bills eventually found the end zone with Allen using his legs from two yards out to take a 7-3 lead.
As the clock bled into the second quarter, the Buccaneers offense responded with a touchdown of their own as quarterback Baker Mayfield used his legs to put Tampa Bay back on top from four yards out on a fourth down.
The back-and-forth nature of this game became prevalent early, as Buffalo regained the lead on the next drive thanks to a beautiful deep pass from Allen to wide receiver Tyrell Shavers for a 43-yard touchdown.
Sean Tucker became a weapon for the Buccaneers on the very next Tampa Bay drive, as the running back managed to break free and score from 43 yards out to put his team back in front, 17-14, with 5:37 left in the opening half.
After another nice kickoff return from the Bills, the ensuing drive resulted in another Buffalo turnover with Allen being picked off on a fourth-down pass attempt intended for tight end Dawson Knox. The second interception of the day from the Tampa Bay defense set Mayfield and the offense up at their own 32-yard line and a chance to extend the lead.
However, the Buffalo defense ended up forcing another Buccaneers punt, giving Allen and the Bills offense a chance to respond just before halftime.
With less than a minute left in the half, the Bills struck gold again, this time with a long catch-and-run score from Ty Johnson, who took an Allen pass and scampered 52 yards for the touchdown.
With 36 seconds remaining in the second quarter, the Buccaneers offense managed to cut into the deficit with a 24-yard field goal from McLaughlin to trail the Bills, 21-20, heading into the locker room.
After each offense struggled to start the second half, exchanging three-and-out drives, the Buccaneers capitalized on a muffed punt by Hardman, as Tucker found the end zone for the second time. Following the six-yard touchdown run, Tampa Bay tried to make it a seven-point game with a two-point conversion attempt, but failed.
Another solid kick return from Ray Davis helped Buffalo on its next drive, with the Bills starting at the Tampa Bay 46-yard line. Despite getting into field goal range, Allen and the offense were only held to a 39-yard kick from kicker Matt Prater to cut into the Buccaneers lead, 26-24.
The Bills defense came up big on the next Tampa Bay drive, as safety Cole Bishop stepped in front of a Mayfield pass and picked it off. His 12-yard return following the interception put Buffalo in a great spot to re-take the lead at the Buccaneers' 25-yard line.
On the very next play from scrimmage, it was Allen tossing a touchdown strike to running back James Cook, who took advantage of his matchup and found some open space to score and put the Bills back on top, 31-26, with close to three minutes left in the third quarter.
Once again, the Buccaneers were able to re-take the lead as the game clock bled into the fourth quarter of play.
It was Tucker scoring his third touchdown of the afternoon, this time through the air with a 28-yard catch-and-run to give the Buccaneers a 32-31 lead. Tampa Bay ended up missing another two-point conversion attempt as they tried to extend the lead to three with 13:38 left in the contest.
The ninth lead change of the game came four-and-a-half minutes later following an eight-play drive that was capped off by another touchdown run from Allen, this time from five yards out to put the Bills ahead, 37-32, with 9:06 to go. Buffalo also tried to extend the lead to seven, but missed on their two-point conversion attempt.
After forcing a three-and-out, the Bills looked to put this contest out of reach for Tampa Bay, and, once again, called on the reigning MVP.
Allen, once again, put the offense on his back as he found the end zone for a sixth time on Sunday with a nine-yard touchdown run to extend the Bills lead 44-32.
With just over two-and-a-half minutes left in regulation, the Buccaneers needed to make quick work offensively to cut into the deficit. However, on a 1st-and-10 at the Buffalo 40-yard line, Mayfield ended up being sacked by defensive tackle DaQuan Jones, which was recovered by linebacker Dorian Williams.
Despite going three-and-out, Buffalo forced Tampa Bay to burn its remaining timeouts, giving little-to-no time for the Buccaneers to properly respond. Buccaneers backup quarterback Teddy Bridgewater ended up taking a knee to finish off the game, capping the Bills victory at Highmark Stadium.
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SCORING RECAP
First Quarter:
- 3-0 TAMPA BAY: Buccaneers Field Goal (8:54) - Chase McLaughlin's 23-yard field goal attempt is good.
Drive info: 4 plays, 2 yards, 1:32
- 7-3 BUFFALO: Bills Touchdown (4:09) - Josh Allen sneaks it in for a 2-yard touchdown run. (Matt Prater's extra point attempt is good)
Drive info: 10 plays, 36 yards, 4:45
Second Quarter:
- 10-7 TAMPA BAY: Buccaneers Touchdown (12:00) - Baker Mayfield takes off for a 4-yard touchdown run. (Chase McLaughlin's extra point attempt is good)
Drive info: 11 plays, 69 yards, 7:09
- 14-10 BUFFALO: Bills Touchdown (8:52) - Josh Allen fires a 43-yard touchdown pass to Tyrell Shavers. (Matt Prater's extra point attempt is good)
Drive info: 6 plays, 67 yards, 3:08
- 17-14 TAMPA BAY: Buccaneers Touchdown (5:37) - Sean Tucker breaks loose and runs in a 43-yard touchdown. (Chase McLaughlin's extra point attempt is good)
Drive info: 6 plays, 66 yards, 3:15
- 21-17 BUFFALO: Bills Touchdown (0:36) - Ty Johnson takes a pass from Josh Allen 52 yards for a touchdown. (Matt Prater's extra point attempt is good)
Drive info: 4 plays, 92 yards, 0:32
- 21-20 TAMPA BAY: Buccaneers Field Goal (0:00) - Chase McLaughlin's 24-yard field goal attempt is good.
Drive info: 5 plays, 58 yards, 0:36
Third Quarter:
- 26-21 TAMPA BAY: Buccaneers Touchdown (7:26) - Sean Tucker finds a hole and scores a 6-yard rushing touchdown. (Tampa Bay's two-point conversion attempt is unsuccessful)
Drive info: 7 plays, 43 yards, 3:46
- 26-24 BUFFALO: Bills Field Goal (5:01) - Matt Prater's 39-yard field goal attempt is good.
Drive info: 5 plays, 25 yards, 2:25
- 31-26 BUFFALO: Bills Touchdown (3:48) - Josh Allen finds James Cook open for a 25-yard touchdown pass. (Matt Prater's extra point attempt is good)
Drive info: 1 play, 25 yards, 0:05
Fourth Quarter:
- 32-31 TAMPA BAY: Buccaneers Touchdown (13:38) - Sean Tucker reels in a 28-yard touchdown pass from Baker Mayfield. (Tampa Bay's two-point conversion attempt is unsuccessful)
Drive info: 9 plays, 62 yards, 5:10
- 37-32 BUFFALO: Bills Touchdown (9:06) - Josh Allen scampers for a 5-yard touchdown run. (Buffalo's two-point conversion attempt is unsuccessful)
Drive info: 8 plays, 81 yards, 4:32
- 44-32 BUFFALO: Bills Touchdown (2:35) - Josh Allen takes off for a 9-yard touchdown run. (Matt Prater's extra point attempt is good)
Drive info: 8 plays, 85 yards, 4:40
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SKYWORKS EQUIPMENT RENTAL STATS OF THE GAME:
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What's next:
The Bills will have a quick turnaround this week, as they will travel to Houston to take on the Texans for "Thursday Night Football". Kickoff from NRG Stadium is set for 8:15 p.m. on the official voice of the Bills - WGR Sports Radio 550.