Plays that defined 2019: Denver Broncos at Buffalo Bills, Week 12

The 2019 season is behind us, but the stories live on. Every week brought a different narrative and we look back on the season to tell those stories through the plays that defined the game. Sit back and get ready for the tale of Week 12:

Denver Broncos at Buffalo Bills

Coming back home after squishing the fish, the Buffalo Bills were hosting the Denver Broncos. “Hosting” is apt by the way, as usually the guest gets served like the Broncos did. A slow start by Buffalo kept the score close through the first half, but a smothering defense gave the “other” Allen zero room to breathe. A relentless run game powered the Bills to a clock-control kind of win.

Devin Singletary run (Q1, 3:45)

This first-drive run helped set a tone for the entire day. Buffalo would skew the time of possession drastically in their favor with this game plan. While it only led to a field goal, this drive took nearly nine minutes and lasted 17 plays. Devin Singletary was the feature back, going over 100 yards for the first (and only) time last season. The team averaged 5.2 yards per carry and racked up 244 yards.

Shaq Lawson sack (Q2, 5:56)

This sack was the first of two for Shaq Lawson and one of four for the team. Lawson would also add three quarterback hits, half of the team’s total again. With roughly ten minutes less time of possession, Brandon Allen only threw 25 passes. The constant harassment is a big reason why only ten were completed.

Tre’Davious White interception (Q2, 1:07)

This play started at the Buffalo 25. It was the furthest the Broncos got all day. It was only one of two drives that made it past midfield. And a big reason it got this far is because it started at the Denver 47 due to a Josh Allen interception. In one of only two possible scoring attempts the entire day, Tre’Davious White did his usual thing and saved the day. White also defended four passes during the game. Brandon Allen had 82 passing yards and 49 net. The Broncos ended the game with 134 total yards. Read that sentence again.

Ed Oliver penalty (Q3, 10:11)

On 2nd-and-15, the Broncos gained seven yards, setting up a 3rd-and-8 that strongly favored a Bills stop. Instead, Ed Oliver was flagged for unnecessary roughness giving Denver a first down and helping them to their only points of the game. Sure it was only a field goal when the drive stalled at the Buffalo 27, but shutouts don’t come around everyday. Penalties were a theme of the day with 12 being called on Buffalo for 90 yards. That’s more than either the Denver ground or passing game achieved. The Bills were a bigger threat to a Buffalo victory than the Broncos were.

John Brown TD (Q4, 11:14)

The Bills gained a ton of yards on the ground but no points. The game was technically within grasp most of the day as well until this fourth-quarter score put Buffalo up by 17. While a three-score comeback with eleven minutes to go is certainly possible, see the above points regarding the defense. Once John Brown found the end zone the game was over.