The Buffalo Bills held off the Las Vegas Raiders 33-30 on Sunday, October 18, surviving a late Kirk Cousins touchdown and an onside kick to move to 5-1. The Raiders fell to 3-3.
Key Highlights
- Final score: Bills 33, Raiders 30, at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas.
- Josh Allen completed 23 of 33 passes for 255 yards and two touchdowns, tying Jim Kelly’s franchise record for Bills touchdown passes, according to ESPN.
- Cousins threw for 313 yards and two touchdowns to Tre Tucker, plus one interception.
- Buffalo had no turnovers, after nine in its previous three games, ESPN said.
How the Game Unfolded
Buffalo scored on its first three drives, with Tyler Bass kicking field goals of 44 and 28 yards before Allen found Khalil Shakir for a 9-yard touchdown, Bleacher Report reported. The Raiders led briefly early, and the teams were tied 13-13 at halftime.
The game turned in the third quarter. Dorian Williams intercepted Cousins for his first career interception, per the Bills’ website. Allen then escaped pressure and threw a 12-yard touchdown to Keon Coleman, giving Buffalo a 23-13 lead.
Las Vegas rallied with a 10-0 run to open the fourth quarter and tied it at 23 on Cousins’ 11-yard pass to Tucker with 8:07 left.
The Final Minutes
Allen answered with a seven-play, 66-yard drive that ended with James Cook’s 3-yard touchdown run and a 30-23 lead with 4:43 left, according to Field Level Media. Bass added a 38-yard field goal with 1:56 remaining.
Cousins then hit Tucker for a 44-yard touchdown with 1:32 left, a diving catch that made it 33-30. Buffalo recovered the onside kick that followed. ProFootball Talk noted the Raiders have not recovered an onside kick since 2017.
Players to Know
- Josh Allen, Bills QB: The 12-yard touchdown to Coleman was his 258th career touchdown pass, tying Kelly, the Bills’ website said.
- James Cook, Bills RB: He ran for 95 yards and the go-ahead score, Field Level Media reported.
- Tyler Bass, Bills K: He made all four of his field goals, from 44, 28, 47 and 38 yards.
- Kirk Cousins, Raiders QB: He completed 23 of 41 passes for 313 yards.
- Tre Tucker, Raiders WR: He caught five passes for 97 yards and both Raiders touchdown passes, Field Level Media said.
By the Numbers
The Bills gained 345 yards, with 169 coming in the second half when they scored 20 points, according to ProFootball Talk. Las Vegas totaled 378 yards, based on the game data reviewed, and scored 17 points in the fourth quarter.
Buffalo defensive back Davison Igbinosun broke up a third-down pass in the end zone to force a Raiders field goal, ESPN reported. The Raiders struggled in the red zone, which ESPN also highlighted.
What It Means
The Bills improve to 5-1 and now have a turnover-free game after a shaky stretch. Las Vegas drops to 3-3. The records come from the Bills’ website and ProFootball Talk.
Buffalo next hosts the Baltimore Ravens on November 1, according to the NFL schedule data reviewed. For more sports coverage, see how the Milwaukee Brewers swept the Dodgers to reach the World Series.
What to Watch Next
- Whether Buffalo can keep protecting the ball against Baltimore.
- How the Raiders fix their red-zone trouble.
- Whether Allen breaks Kelly’s Bills touchdown-pass record in his next game.
Sources: ESPN, Buffalo Bills, ProFootball Talk on Yahoo Sports, Field Level Media, Bleacher Report. This article will be updated as more information is confirmed.