Buffalo Bills hold off Raiders 33-30 to enter bye week at 5-1
The Buffalo Bills improved to a 5-1 record after edging the Las Vegas Raiders 33-30, showcasing strong performances by Josh Allen, who passed for 255 yards and two touchdowns, and James Cook, with 95 rushing yards and a touchdown. Despite their offensive success, defensive issues persist, needing attention during the bye week.
Photo: Buffalo Bills
The Buffalo Bills head into their bye week with a 5-1 record after surviving another close finish, defeating the Las Vegas Raiders 33-30 on Sunday at Allegiant Stadium.
Josh Allen threw for 255 yards and two touchdowns, James Cook contributed 153 yards from scrimmage, and Tyler Bass made four field goals as Buffalo secured its second consecutive victory.
The Buffalo Bills led by 10 points in the third quarter and appeared to have control late in the fourth, but Las Vegas continued to respond. A 44-yard touchdown pass from Kirk Cousins to Tre Tucker brought the Raiders within three points in the final two minutes before Buffalo recovered the ensuing onside kick.
The victory kept the Bills atop the AFC East, although their defensive performance remains an important concern heading into the break.
Josh Allen delivers another decisive performance
Allen’s biggest play came in the third quarter after linebacker Dorian Williams intercepted Cousins, recording the first interception of his NFL career.
With Buffalo facing third-and-eight from the Raiders’ 12-yard line, Allen stepped away from pressure and drew several defenders toward him before finding Keon Coleman with a shovel pass in the end zone.
The touchdown gave Buffalo a 23-13 advantage and marked Allen’s 258th career touchdown pass across the regular season and playoffs, tying Jim Kelly’s franchise record.
Unlike his performance against the Los Angeles Rams the previous week, when he rushed for 121 yards, Allen finished Sunday’s game with just one rushing yard.
His passing and decision-making nevertheless helped Buffalo maintain its offensive production. Khalil Shakir scored the Bills’ other receiving touchdown, turning a nine-yard screen pass into a first-half score behind a series of blocks.
Buffalo also had a potential 18-yard touchdown reception by Dalton Kincaid overturned because of a holding penalty against offensive lineman O’Cyrus Torrence.
The penalty forced the Bills to settle for another field goal, one of several missed opportunities to build a larger lead.
James Cook helps Buffalo regain the lead
After entering halftime tied 13-13, Buffalo established a 23-13 advantage in the third quarter before Las Vegas began another comeback.
The Raiders reduced the deficit with a 23-yard field goal following a lengthy possession that reached Buffalo’s one-yard line.
The Bills prevented a touchdown on that drive, with Greg Gaines making a tackle for loss and Davison Igbinosun breaking up a pass.
Las Vegas eventually tied the game 23-23 in the fourth quarter when Cousins connected with Tucker for an 11-yard touchdown.
Buffalo responded by turning to Cook.
Starting from their own 34-yard line, the Bills moved 66 yards downfield, with Cook accounting for 46 yards on the possession.
He completed the drive with a three-yard touchdown run, receiving assistance from his offensive line as Buffalo regained a 30-23 lead.
Cook finished with 95 rushing yards on 22 carries and added 58 receiving yards on three catches.
His contributions provided balance to an offence that had relied heavily on Allen during the previous week’s overtime victory against the Rams.
Raiders expose Buffalo’s defensive problems
Despite the win, the Buffalo Bills allowed 378 total yards and 25 first downs against Las Vegas.
The Raiders converted seven of their 12 third-down opportunities, repeatedly extending possessions and preventing Buffalo from putting the game away.
Cousins finished with 313 passing yards and two touchdowns, while Tucker emerged as one of the game’s most productive receivers.
The Buffalo defence did produce important stops, particularly after Cook’s fourth-quarter touchdown.
Greg Rousseau deflected a pass at the line of scrimmage, and the secondary forced two more incompletions to make Las Vegas punt.
Buffalo then used more than two minutes of possession, forcing the Raiders to exhaust their remaining timeouts before Bass converted a 38-yard field goal.
That kick extended the lead to 33-23.
However, the Raiders needed only two plays to score again. Cousins found Tucker deep downfield for a 44-yard touchdown, cutting Buffalo’s advantage to 33-30.
The Bills recovered the onside kick to end the comeback attempt.
It was the seventh consecutive Buffalo victory in which the team allowed at least 30 points, extending an NFL record established the previous week.
Buffalo Bills enter bye week atop AFC East
Buffalo’s offence has continued producing points despite inconsistent defensive performances.
Through six games under head coach Joe Brady, the Bills are averaging 32.8 points per game, the second-highest average for a coach’s first six career games in the Super Bowl era.
Against Las Vegas, that production included two Allen touchdown passes, Cook’s rushing score and four successful field goals from Bass.
Still, the Bills were unable to consistently finish drives with touchdowns, leaving opportunities for the Raiders to remain competitive.
Allen acknowledged afterward that Buffalo had missed chances to score more points, even as the team found another way to win.
The Buffalo Bills now have a bye week before returning home to face the Baltimore Ravens on Sunday, November 1, at 1 p.m. ET.
At 5-1, Buffalo remains in a strong position in the AFC East, but improving its defensive consistency will be an important priority before the next stretch of the season.