Through two quarters against the Arizona Cardinals, the Buffalo Bills are holding up a 16-9 lead in Glendale. The Bills’ offense is still looking for a breakout moment, but Tyler Bass is providing the points. The Buffalo defense has bent, but not broken, against the league’s top offense. The Cardinals have controlled the clock and outgained the Bills by more than 70 yards, but all they have to show for it are three field goals. Clutch red zone play, by players like Jordan Poyer and Dane Jackson, has been the difference maker. Poyer nearly intercepted Kyler Murray at the goal line in the closing minutes of the half, while Jackson impressively fended off DeAndre Hopkins to force an incompletion in the end zone on Arizona’s first drive.
Buffalo’s offense, despite playing in pristine weather in the Arizona desert, still isn’t in top form. Luckily, they’ve been bailed out by their rookie kicker. Tyler Bass doinked in a career-long 54-yard field goal in the second quarter, then beat his own record with a no-doubt 55 yarder on Buffalo’s next drive. Not satisfied, Bass turned in another record, a 58-yard field goal at the close of the first half.
Josh Allen had a strong opening drive, even catching his first regular-season touchdown pass on a trick play. But he nearly threw an interception at the close of the second drive. The team’s third drive fizzled when Devin Singletary dropped a screen pass—one which could’ve ended in the end zone. The Bills took a delay-of-game penalty after that, and couldn’t convert the third-and-long play. Buffalo’s fourth drive, on the two-minute drill, featured another near-interception, and ultimately burned out when Josh Allen’s QB run failed to gain any yardage on 3rd-and-1 at the 40-yard line.
At the two-minute warning, rookie defensive end A.J. Epenesa headed into the locker room with a head injury. He’s questionable to return to the game.
The Bills deferred at the start of the game, so they’ll take the opening kickoff of the second half. If they can extend their lead in the second half, this team will be 8-2 heading into their bye week. HUGE.
Here’s your discussion thread for the second half. Go Bills!