A recap of Buffalo’s 34-14 win over the AFC Oakland Raiders.
Buffalo Bills Insider Chris Brown provides the details. Here is his report:
Regular season records: Buffalo (5-2), Oakland (3-5)
In a nutshell:
The Bills came into Sunday’s game with Oakland leading the league in turnover differential. Buffalo’s ability to force turnovers continued, helping them erase an early 7-0 deficit and score 27 straight points. By the time the Raiders woke up the game was already over as Buffalo improved to 5-2 on the season with a 34-14 victory.
Buffalo’s defense and special teams posted four takeaways on the day. Matt Milanoreturned a fumble 40 yards for a touchdown at the end of the first half. Come the second half Buffalo got a fumble recovery from Mike Tolbert on a Raiders punt return and an interception by Micah Hyde on the next Raiders possession helped the Bills post a pair of field goals to boost their lead to 20-7.
Tyrod Taylor and the offense would then stage their longest drive of the game going 80 yards on 12 plays with Taylor scoring on a fourth-and-goal from the one-yard line to make it 27-7 at the start of the fourth quarter.
The Raiders responded with a touchdown drive to make it a two-score game (27-14), but it was too little too late.
LeSean McCoy put a bow on the victory with a 48-yard touchdown run with three minutes left on a one-play scoring drive.
Safety Trae Elston, filling in for the injured Jordan Poyer, posted the last takeaway, an interception in the game’s waning moments.
The win kept Buffalo unbeaten at home. It’s the first time the Bills have begun the season 4-0 at home since 1995.
How it went down:
-Oakland found the end zone first on their opening possession. The Raiders methodically drove the field covering 81 yards on 13 plays before Jamize Olawale plunged in from a yard out for a touchdown with 9:33 left in the first quarter (7-0).
-Buffalo tied the score midway through the second quarter when Tyrod Taylor found Andre Holmes in the back right corner of the end for a six-yard scoring play. Taylor was 5-5 passing for 45 yards on the nine-play scoring drive (7-7).
-The Bills defense did it again when Leonard Johnson dropped his shoulder into DeAndre Washington forcing a fumble. The ball was then snared out of mid-air by Matt Milano, who went 40 yards for a touchdown to take the lead with 41 seconds left in the first half (14-7).
-Special teams got in on the takeaway trend when Matt Milano forced a fumble on a Raiders punt return. The loose ball was recovered by Mike Tolbert at the Raiders 14-yard line. A penalty backed the Bills up and they ultimately settled for a 35-yard Stephen Hauschka field goal for a 17-7 lead three minutes into the second half.
-The defense got their second takeaway of the game when a tipped pass by Preston Brown was picked off by Micah Hyde at the Oakland 41-yard line. Stephen Hauschka put a 44-yard attempt up and through for a 20-7 lead for Buffalo with eight minutes left in the third quarter.
-Buffalo’s offense staged its longest drive of the game near the end of the third quarter marching 80 yards on 12 plays before Tyrod Taylor reached over the goal line on 4th-and-goal from the one for a touchdown (27-7) just seconds into the fourth quarter.
-Oakland responded with a touchdown drive of their own. The Raiders went 75 yards on nine plays taking just four minutes off the clock to make it a two-score game (27-14) with 10:50 remaining.
-Buffalo sealed the game on a 48-yard touchdown run by LeSean McCoy with three minutes left in the game (34-14).
Subplots:
-The Bills have now scored 20 points in 13 consecutive home games extending their team record. The streak is also the longest active in the NFL and the longest since New Orleans’ 13-game streak from October 4, 2015 – November 27, 2016.
-Tyrod Taylor finished the game with a passing and rushing touchdown. He went 20 for 27 passing for 165 yards and a passer rating of 101.6.
-LeSean McCoy had his second 100-yard rushing day of the season posting 151 yards on 27 carries and a touchdown. He also pulled in six receptions for 22 yards.
-The Bills three takeaways gave them three or more takeaways in four consecutive games for the first time since a similar stretch that bridged the 2004 and 2005 seasons.
-Stephen Hauschka passed the 900-point mark for his career with his 35-yard field goal in the third quarter.
-Matt Milano scored his first career touchdown in a 40-yard fumble return for a score at the end of the first half. He was the first Bills linebacker to record a fumble return touchdown since London Fletcher on September 10, 2006 at New England.
-Vladimir Ducasse made his third straight start at right guard.
-Deonte Thompson was one of the top three receivers in the offensive rotation joining Jordan Matthews and Zay Jones. Thompson replaced Andre Holmes.
-Trae Elston made his first career start at safety in place of the injured Jordan Poyer.
-Inactive for Buffalo on Sunday were Charles Clay, Ramon Humber, Seantrel Henderson, Conor McDermott, John Miller, Jordan Poyer and E.J. Gaines.
Up next:
The Bills travel to New York on a short week to play the Jets on Thursday Night Football. Kickoff is set for 8:25 pm.