Buffalo, N.Y. (WGR Sports Radio 550) - It sure wasn't pretty, but the important thing is the Buffalo Bills won.
The offense did not have its A-game on Sunday, but still scored, at least, 30 points, as they had in the first three games of the season. Josh Allen and company had a terrific first quarter, an absolutely awful second quarter, and were good enough in the third and fourth quarters to put the game away.
The defense continues to have a number of issues that need fixing, but came up with a couple of critical stops to do its part in the Bills' 14th-straight regular season home win.
The run defense was bad, again. Third-down defense was a mixed bag. There were way too many missed tackles. The Bills don't have a consistent answer at the second cornerback position, and the safety play remains spotty at best.
Other than that, Mrs. Lincoln...
Offensively, Allen was only 16-of-22 in the air for 209 yards, but made enough key throws to, once again, make a difference. He used his legs on a pair of big scrambles in the fourth quarter when the outcome was still in doubt.
With the Bills clinging to a two-point lead and facing a 3rd-and-5 at their own 45-yard line, it was time for vintage Josh Allen. He scrambled right up the middle for a 27-yard gain that included breaking tackles and dragging defenders with him.
On the very next play, Allen hit tight end Dalton Kincaid on a 28-yard touchdown pass that allowed Bills fans to breathe a little easier.
After a breakout 2024 season, running back James Cook has taken his game to an even higher level this season. He must really be happy about that contract extension.
Cook became the first Bills running back since a guy by the name of Thurman Thomas to have three-straight games of 100-plus yards rushing and a rushing touchdown.
There was a touchdown drive in the first quarter where so many of Cook's strengths were on display.
On one run that should've been for no gain or maybe one yard, Cook used a juke move to turn it into a five-yard gain. On another run, Cook started up the middle but nothing was there, so he stopped and cut outside to his right for a nine-yard gain. On another run, Cook was hit, but kept going after contact and then dragged tacklers for another seven yards.
That set the Bills up at the Saints' one-yard line, and Cook finished the drive off with the touchdown.
For the third time in four games, the defense made Bills fans nervous. But as they have done in these games, they came up with enough key stops and had a critical takeaway.
Late in the first half and trailing 14-10, the Saints were driving for, what would have been, a touchdown to put them in front. On 3rd-and-goal from the Bills' six-yard line, New Orleans tried a trick play with a reverse that ended up with wide receiver Chris Olave throwing a pass for quarterback Spencer Rattler.
However, Bills safety Cole Bishop was reading Olave, who showed pass very quickly. That allowed Bishop to close on the play and pick off the throw.
In the fourth quarter, after the Kincaid touchdown catch gave the Bills a nine-point lead, the defense came up with a big stop on the Saints, ensuing possession. Rattler completed passes on the first two plays to get them to midfield, and that's where the Bills defense came through.
On first down, a Shaq Thompson hit on Alvin Kamara prevented the Saints running back from holding on to a short pass. Joey Bosa then hit Rattler's arm on second down, causing an incomplete pass. A Christian Benford tackle kept New Orleans short on a third down reception, and on 4th-and-3, Tre'Davious White was able to keep Kamara short of the sticks after a catch.
The Bills had 11 accepted penalties, so there was some own worst enemy stuff going on too. But a win is a win, and that is what matters most at the end of the day.
Bonus notes:
- In addition to the 14-game win streak in regular season home games, the Bills are 25-2 at Highmark Stadium in regular season action since the start of the 2022 season.
- The Bills are the first team in NFL history to score 30-or-more points in each of the first four games of a season in back-to-back years.
- The Bills have scored 30-or-more points in 13 of the last 14 games with Allen.
- Cook set a Bills franchise record with a rushing touchdown in eight-straight games.
- Allen had a passing touchdown and a rushing touchdown in the same game for the 45th time. That ties Cam Newton for the most in NFL history.
- The 4-0 start equals the best under Sean McDermott (2020).
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