When the Buffalo Bills have performed well this season, they’ve looked really impressive. It’s frustrating to see the same team that struggled against the New York Giants and lost to the New England Patriots play so dominantly against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Thursday night. The Buccaneers, with a 3-3 record, never posed a real threat to the Bills. It’s clear that when Josh Allen is in top form and the Bills defense plays as they did against Tampa Bay, few teams can compete.
The Bills defeated the Buccaneers 24-18, although the game wasn’t as competitive as the score suggests. This win brings their record to 5-3, which is not exactly where they want to be. However, performances like Thursday night serve as a reminder that it’s a long season, and Buffalo has the potential to be one of the best teams in the NFL.
That’s what makes it so confusing. Why can’t the Bills play like this in most games?
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Strong Start from the Bills
This season, the Bills have had four poor performances, three of which resulted in losses. However, early on in Thursday’s game, it was evident that it would be one of their better nights.
One key aspect of the Bills’ offense on Thursday was Allen’s ability to run the ball, which had been lacking in the previous seven games. There was a lot of talk about Allen running more to help the offense, and he delivered on Thursday night. It’s a delicate balance since Allen appeared to injure his shoulder during one run and had to be checked out in the medical tent. This serves as a reminder of why the Bills were cautious about his running. Nevertheless, it’s hard to ignore the spark his running brought to the offense. Allen threw for 324 yards and rushed for an additional 41.
The Bills weren’t flawless. They failed to convert in a goal-to-go situation, with Allen’s pass being batted down on fourth down. He also had a pass deflected at the line, resulting in an interception and a touchdown for the Buccaneers.
Despite these mistakes, the Bills maintained control for the majority of the game.
In the first half, Allen ran for a touchdown and threw one to rookie tight end Dalton Kincaid. In the second half, he threw another touchdown pass to Gabriel Davis. This gave the Bills a 24-10 lead, which they held onto for most of the second half. Aside from the touchdown the Buccaneers scored off Allen’s interception, they struggled to generate much offense. The deficit seemed insurmountable, although Tampa Bay made it interesting with a late touchdown drive.
Bills Excel in All Areas
The Buccaneers had a strong start to the season, going 2-0. However, since then, they have only won one out of their last five games. Thursday night’s game was a tough challenge for them, facing a frustrated Bills team after their loss to the Patriots last week.
Baker Mayfield played with a knee injury, and up until one drive in the fourth quarter against a backed-up Bills defense, he struggled to find his rhythm. The Bills defense, despite missing key players like cornerback Tre’Davious White, linebacker Matt Milano, and defensive tackle DaQuan Jones, rose to the occasion and prevented Mayfield’s effectiveness.
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Overall, it was a positive game for the Bills. Allen’s running game was back, and the offense operated smoothly without heavily relying on Stefon Diggs. Other players, such as Kincaid, Davis, and Shakir, all had strong performances. The defense didn’t allow any significant drives until late in the game, where they were content to keep the Buccaneers in front of them and consume the clock. Although the Buccaneers managed to score a touchdown and a two-point conversion, cutting the Bills’ lead to six points, their 17-play drive took 7:21 off the clock. The game was practically over when Diggs made an important third-down catch just before the two-minute warning. The Bills punted after that, but with only a few seconds left, the Buccaneers’ Hail Mary attempt on the final play was unsuccessful.
The final score was closer than the actual game itself. For the most part, the Bills showed signs of their top form. Now, the challenge is to maintain that level of performance for the upcoming weeks.
