Buffalo sends Green Bay packing as Bills move to 6-1

Josh Allen and the Buffalo Bills came off of their bye in week eight of the NFL season to dominate Aaron Rodgers and the Green Bay Packers at home on Sunday Night Football on Oct. 30. The team came into the game sitting at 5-1, just having come off of a huge win against their newfound rival Kansas City Chiefs before their bye week. Green Bay, however, had lost three games in a row and looked like a shell of the powerhouse they had been over the past few seasons. Starting tackle Spencer Brown was the only notable inactive player for the Bills in this game. 

The Bills came out with the ball first but could not muster any significant plays and turned the ball over after a quick three-and-out. The Packers’ first drive was similarly unsuccessful as it was highlighted by a sack from Buffalo’s defensive tackle Tim Settle. The Bills were able to force the ball over on downs as the pressure weighed on Rodgers and he threw an incompletion on fourth and three. 

Buffalo got the ball back at their own 39-yard line and were helped downfield by four Devin Singletary rushes that totaled 32 yards. Josh Allen came up with a huge 20-yard rush on third and fourteen as he evaded defenders down to the one-yard line. The Bills were able to score first as Allen tricked defenders, rolling out left and dumping the ball to tight end Dawson Knox for the touchdown.

After another quick drive by Green Bay, the Bills were able to start their next drive on their own 49 after a bad punt. Some short yet effective plays by the offense led to wide receiver Stefon Diggs torching Jaire Alexander downfield for a 26-yard score on the first play of the second quarter, as things got chippy between the two players. 

The Packers were finally able to get on the scoreboard after a long 80-yard drive dominated by their run game. A touchdown pass from Rodgers to rookie wide receiver Romeo Doubs put the team back within seven points. 

Buffalo answered with an 80-yard drive of their own as running back James Cook got it started with an electric 17-yard rush. Short passes to Diggs and fellow receiver Isaiah McKenzie worked the ball downfield before McKenzie made the Packers’ defenders look foolish on a six-yard rushing touchdown.

The Packers again underperformed on offense and turned the ball over after a quick four-play drive, highlighted by another Buffalo sack; this time by defensive end Greg Rousseau. The Bills finished off the first half on a good note, starting their drive with a 53-yard connection between Allen and Diggs that elated the raucous Buffalo crowd. They were unable to get the ball into the endzone, however, and had to settle for a Tyler Bass field goal of 42 yards to make the score 24-7.

Green Bay came out of the half with the ball and looked to turn the game around as running back Aaron Jones and A.J. Dillon starred on the drive. The pair had rushes of 32 and 27 yards on the possession and the team was able to score on a 38-yard field goal. 

Josh Allen found receiver Gabe Davis over the middle for a 29-yard pass to bring the team to the Green Bay 36-yard line towards the beginning of their drive. Allen went on to scramble for two rushes of ten yards each to get the team within 30 yards of the endzone, but they again only mustered a field goal, setting the score at 27-10. 

The fourth quarter was quiet as the Bills were able to shut out the Packers on downs to start the frame. Two late Josh Allen interceptions briefly gave Green Bay life as they were able to pass for another touchdown. However, an interception by their own Matt Milano and a missed field goal by Packers’ kicker Mason Crosby sealed the deal for Buffalo. 

The Bills never looked like they were going to lose and took this game 27-17, leaving with a 6-1 record on the year. The team will turn next to an away matchup versus the surprisingly adequate Jets on Sunday, Nov. 6.