The Buffalo Bills won their second game in a row on the road against the Washington Commanders. The defence had four interceptions, while the offence limited the feared Commanders’ pass rush to 0 sacks and one quarterback hit.
Terrel Bernard was all over the field on Sunday, recording two sacks, seven total tackles, one pass defensed, and a fumble recovery in addition to his interception. Bernard, who recorded his first and second career sacks on Sunday, also had an interception in the team’s victory against the Las Vegas Raiders last week.
Safety Micah Hyde and Tre’Davious White both had interceptions towards the end of the game. Hyde’s interception was his first since Jan. 15, 2022, against the New England Patriots, after missing much of last season with a neck ailment. White intercepted Howell in the end zone, preventing another potential scoring drive.
A.J. Epenesa had his first career interception in the fourth quarter as Howell tried to fly a throw over the 6-foot-6 defensive end. Epenesa plucked the ball out of midair and returned it 32 yards for a score.
Quarterback Josh Allen performed well, completing 20 of his 32 passes for a score and an interception. He also rushed for 46 yards, including a 10-yard touchdown scramble. Allen led the Bills to their ninth win against Washington in the past ten meetings, connecting with nine different receivers. The Bills offence converted nine of their fifteen third-down opportunities.
Stefon Diggs, who returned to his home state of Maryland, ended with eight catches for 111 yards, becoming just the sixth current player with more than 9,000 receiving yards.
James Cook rushed for 98 yards, including a 34-yard run that set up the Bills’ game-winning score. He accumulated 14 yards on two catches. Latavius Murray scored a touchdown for the second week in a row.
The Bills’ first touchdown came from wide receiver Gabe Davis, who scored for the second time in as many games. Following a Deonte Harty punt return of 23 yards and an offensive holding penalty against Washington, Josh Allen needed just one play to connect with Davis on a 35-yard throw to the end zone for Buffalo’s longest score of the season.
Washington’s greatest opportunity to score came on the next drive, but Buffalo’s defence forced a turnover on downs at their own 2-yard line. The Bills’ offensive line had nine sacks, 15 quarterback hits, and ten tackles for loss. Howell had a 41.5 passer rating.
Tyler Bass resumed his perfect run, scoring 13 of Buffalo’s 37 points on field goals of 54, 36 and 32 yards and going 3-for-3 on extra points. His 54-yard field goal came after a 15-play, 62-yard drive that chewed 9:47 off the clock, Buffalo’s longest drive of the season.
Next week, the Bills will play the Miami Dolphins at 1 p.m. at Highmark Stadium.
Important Statistics & Facts to Know:
o Stefon Diggs became just the sixth active wide receiver with 9,000 yards or more. Diggs, a Maryland native, had 25 catches for 353 yards and a score in three professional games in his home state.
o Defensive back James Cook, who just delivered his daughter, had his sixth game in a straight with more than 50 yards from scrimmage. Cook ended with 112 all-purpose yards, surpassing 100 total yards for the fourth time in his career.
o Dawson’s On an 11-yard reception, Knox passed Charles Clay for the fifth-most receiving yards in Bills history among tight ends. Knox currently has 1,826 receiving yards in his career.
o Terrel Bernard got his second interception of the game, becoming just the second Bills defence this season to do it. Matt Milano picked off the New York Jets and the Las Vegas Raiders. Bernard also became the first NFL player since Bears linebacker Brian Urlacher in 2007 to have multiple sacks, an interception, and a fumble recovery in the same game.
o On the defensive end Leonard Floyd ended the game with 50th and 51st sacks of his career. Floyd now has 3.5 sacks on the season.
o The Bills’ nine sacks Sunday’s sack total is equal for the team’s second-highest in Super Bowl history, behind only a 10-sack effort against Washington in 2011.
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