Orchard Park, N.Y. (WGR Sports Radio 550) - The Buffalo Bills won a back-and-forth affair over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 44–32, on Sunday to improve to 7–3 on the season.
Here are my Arrows Up and Down after the contest, getting back to starting with Up:
ARROW UP:
QB - Josh Allen
While Allen made a rough mistake early in the game, he rebounded and played like the league MVP, accounting for six total touchdowns, including three rushing and three passing scores.
Allen completed 19-of-30 passes (63.3%) for 317 yards and ran six times for another 40 yards, totaling 357 yards of offense.
The Bills quarterback was at his best when his team needed him to be.
WR - Tyrell Shavers
Just like last year when he got a limited opportunity, Shavers made the most of it in a big way, catching four passes for 90 yards, including a 43-yard touchdown.
Ty Johnson and James Cook in passing game
Cook caught three passes for 66 yards, while Johnson caught a pair for 61 yards, and each tallied a receiving touchdown. That’s five catches for 127 yards and two touchdowns from the running backs.
WR - Gabe Davis
In his first action back in a Bills uniform since 2023, Davis grabbed three passes for 40 yards, including a crucial fourth-down conversion in the first quarter.
Ray Davis and kick returns overall
The Bills were excellent on kick returns, especially Davis, who totaled 158 yards on four returns. Mecole Hardman started the game with a 61-yard return.
The Bills' average starting field position following kickoffs was their own 44-yard line.
OC - Joe Brady
Brady did a good job to find answers in the passing game, and for giving Allen more time against the Tampa Bay blitz after the Buccaneers started the game putting him under a lot of pressure.
Passing game flow
It wasn’t just the numbers - 317 yards, nine different receivers catching passes. It was also the flow and look of the passing game that was much better for the Bills. Things seemed more in-sync and available.
Explosive plays
The Bills had eight offensive plays of, at least, 20 yards.
Pass protection
On the first two plays of the game for the Bills offense, Allen was hurried. After that, they did a great job to keep him protected and give him time.
Allen was not sacked at all, and the Bucs were credited with just one total quarterback hurry in the game.
S - Cole Bishop
With the Bills trailing by two points and needing a stop late in the third quarter, Bishop came up with a huge interception of Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield. The Bills scored a touchdown on the very next play.
Bishop finished the game with six total tackles, the interception, and a pass breakup.
LB - Terrel Bernard
Bernard was tied for the game’s leading tackler with 11 total stops, including two for loss, and added two pass breakups, as well.
DaQuan Jones’ strip sack
With the Bills leading 44-32 and the Buccaneers with the ball at the Buffalo 31-yard line with 1:52 remaining, Mayfield dropped back to pass on first down, but was sacked by Jones, who jarred the ball loose. Dorian Williams recovered the ball and sealed the game for the Bills.
K - Matt Prater
On a very windy day, Prater connected on all six of his attempts, including five extra points and a 39-yard field goal.
P - Mitch Wishnowksy
Wishnowksy punted just twice in this game, but both punts benefitted Buffalo. The first pinned Tampa Bay at its own 4-yard line, while the second was downed right at their 20-yard line with no return.
Third-down offense
The Bills converted 6-of-11 third down chances (54.5%).
Red zone offense
Four trips inside the Buccaneers' 20-yard line, and three touchdowns for the Bills offense (75%).
ARROW DOWN:
WR - Keon Coleman
Coleman was late for a meeting once again, resulting in him being benched as a healthy scratch for the game. It’s the third time in his young career, and the second this season he’s had this issue and been disciplined.
He needs to be more professional and accountable to his team and teammates.
Run defense
The Bills got gashed in the run game once again. Tampa ran the ball 39 times for 202 yards, averaging 5.2 yards per-carry.
Quarterback runs against
Once again, quarterback scrambles and designed runs hurt the Bills like they had earlier this season.
Mayfield ran five times for 39 yards, and accounted for a touchdown. He used his legs on several third-down runs for conversions, and also a fourth-down run for the score.
WR - Khalil Shakir
Maybe Shakir was still impacted by his ankle and ribs injuries this week, but he caught only one pass for -3 yards.
Run game
The Bills ran the ball 23 times for just 97 yards, a 4.2 yards per-run average. James Cook ran 16 times for just 48 yards.
The Buccaneers defense did a god job to shut them down.
PR - Mecole Hardman
Hardman started the game with an excellent kick return, but then put the ball on the ground on a punt, which cost the Bills excellent field position. Seven plays later, Tampa Bay scored a touchdown to take the lead.
Turnovers
The Bills turned the ball over three times, including a pair of interceptions and the fumble on a punt.
Squandering excellent field position
The Bills started drives at their own 49, own 44, and Tampa 46, and totaled just one field goal in those drives.
Third-down and fourth-down defense
Tampa converted 9-of-16 third down chances (56.3%) and also a fourth down chance for a touchdown.
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