Buffalo Bills Blow Out Washington 43-21

September 26, 2021

By Noonefromtampa

First Quarter

New week, same defense. The Bills opened on offense after Washington won the coin toss and deferred until the second half. After a stop for no gain on first down, an incomplete pass by Josh Allen on second down and a penalty on Emmanuel Sanders for false start on third down, Allen completed a 23 yard pass to Gabriel Davis that ignited an 8 play, 80 yard touchdown drive. The inability of Washington’s defense to stop opponents in third and long situations is the leading reason for the defensive struggles this season. On the drive the defense gave up 4 completions over 10 yards, including the 28 yard touchdown pass to Sanders to make the score Bills 7, Washington 0.

Washington’s first series on offense ended with a 3 and out due to an offensive pass interference penalty on J.D. McKissic on a third down 16 yard completion to Terry McLaurin. Washington had to punt after a completion to Logan Thomas came up inches short and the challenge by Washington was not upheld. We did not see Antonio Gibson on this series. After a 52 yard punt by Tress Way, the Bills started driving the ball again. Buffalo was able to move the ball 41 yards in 10 plays. This time the Washington defense did not give up any plays over 10 yards. With 4^th down and 2 at the Washington 35 yard line, the Bills elected to go for it. Allen completed a short pass to Devin Singletary but was immediately tackled by Jamin Davis for no gain, forcing a turnover on downs.

Gibson returned in the second series with a 2 yard run on second down after a long incompletion to Dyami Brown on first down. Taylor Heinicke hit Thomas for 17 yard gain but fumbled the ball as he was going down which was recovered by Matt Milano.

Second Quarter

The Bills were able to convert the turnover into a touchdown on the subsequent drive. The drive was enabled by a defensive pass interference call on William Jackson III. The penalty looked like it could have been called on Stephon Diggs, who pushed Jackson down on the play. The big play on the drive was a 17 yard screen pass to Zack Moss who also scored the touchdown on a 7 yard swing pass on third down, increasing Buffalo’s lead to 14 – 0.

On Washington’s next series, after a 10 yard completion from Heinicke to McLaurin and a 4 yard run by Gibson, Heinicke made a horrible late throw back across the field that was intercepted by Jordan Poyer and returned 28 yards. McLaurin chased him down to prevent a pick six touchdown. Three plays later, tight end Dawson Knox scored on a 14 yard reception after pushing off Cole Holcomb which was not called, putting the Bills up by a score of 21 – 0.

Gibson ran for 2 yards up the middle following a touchdown on the kickoff. Heinicke then hit Gibson for a short screen pass which Gibson took 73 yards to house with a dive at the pylon at the end of the run to tighten Buffalo’s lead to 21 – 7.

On the kickoff, Dustin Hopkins kicked a high ball which the wind took and dropped short. Several players collided trying to get the bal,  which popped into the air right to Hopkins who recovered it on the Buffalo 24 yard line. Cam Sims gained 7 yards on a jet sweep and Thomas caught a 14 yard pass down to Bills 4 yard line. Heinicke ran it in two plays later for a touchdown to make the scored 21 – 14. Washington’s defense had its best effort to that point on the next series. After an 18 yard completion to Cole Beasley from Allen, Washington stopped Buffalo on the next three plays to force a punt. The Washington offense did not respond to that effort though, going three and out and gaining only 7 yards.

After the Way punt, Allen hit Sanders for a 40 yard completion down to the Washington 17 yard line. Buffalo was able to move the ball down to the 3 yard line behind some short passes and runs, however the Washington defense held forcing a 21 yard field goal by Tyler Bass to increase Buffalo’s lead to 24 – 14.

McKissic had an 11 yard run after the kickoff. Washington then avoided disaster when three separate Buffalo penalties negated a Taron Johnson interceptionoff the hands of Thomas. Washington gained only 4 more yards on three more plays and was forced to punt. Buffalo had an excellent 2 minute offense drive, moving the ball 51 yards in 4 plays to set up a 48 yard field goal. The half ended with the Bills up 17 – 14.

Third Quarter

The Bills kickoff to start the second half went out of bounds, giving Washington good field position. Washington has a good first play after the half, completing a 15 yard pass to McLaurin. The next three plays netted out to zero yards and Way came on to punt.

The 37 yard punt forced Buffalo to start inside their own 10 yard line. The Bills went on an 8 minute drive that covered 98 yards in 17 plays. It ended with a 5 yard touchdown pass to Sanders caused by confusion among Washington’s defensive backs. Washington’s defensive coaches and players seemed to have no answers on how to stop the Buffalo offense. The Bills attempted a two point conversion which failed, keeping Buffalo up by a score of 33 – 14.

Washington incurred a holding penalty on the ensunig kickoff which backed them up to their own 11 yard line. A holding penalty on a run by Gibson on first down backed them up even further. After another penalty for an illegal forward pass by Heinicke, he then threw an ill-advised throw that was intercepted by Micah Hyde. Washington’s defense held and Bass kicked a 29 yard field goal, making the score 36 – 14. Washington went three and out on their next series.

Fourth Quarter

Buffalo was held to a three and out but punted the ball down to the Washington 1 yard line. Washington was able to move the ball 21 yards out the to 23 yard line. They failed to convert on 4^th down and less than a yard to go on a strangely blocked quarterback sneak which allowed Buffalo to stuff the play. On the next series, Allen walked in a touchdown after a scramble on a pass play to increase Buffalo’s lead to 43 – 14.

With the Bills defense playing a little softer, Washington went on a 10 play, 70 yard drive that consumed 5 minutes on the clock. The big plays were a 15 yard completion to Cam Sims and a 37 yard catch and run to McLaurin. Heinicke threw a 2 yard touchdown pass to Thomas on a jump ball throw utilizing the height of Thomas over the defender to make the score 43 – 21.

Mitchell Trubisky came in to relieve Allen on the final series of the game. After several runs by Moss to pick up a first down, Trubisky was able to run for 22 yards on 3 and 10 to move the ball to the Buffalo 40 yard line. That enabled Buffalo to run out the clock.