Recap – Buffalo Bills at Washington Commanders – Week 3

September 25, 2023

By Noonefromtampa

Washington Blown Out by Buffalo 37-3

First Quarter

Washington won the coin toss and elected to defer until the second half. Josh Allen and the Bills started on offense to begin the game. The Commanders defense was able to stifle the run game but when pressuring Allen they didn’t fare as well. On third and 10, Allen was able to scramble for 13 yards. On third and 8, Allen scrambled to right and threw up a pass that somehow Stefon Diggs hauled in for a 30 yard gain. Dawson Knox caught an 11 yard reception and at that point the Washington defense held the Bills to a one yard rush and two incompletions. Tyler Bass kicked a 36 yard field goal to give Buffalo a three point lead.

Washington’s first series of the game started out well but finished in flames. Brian Robinson started with a 7 yard run. Sam Howell completed his first three pass attempts, including a 21 yard pass to Cole Turner. That was followed up with two straight sacks by the Bills and an interception by Terrel Bernard. However, Buffalo was only able to pick up 14 yards in 6 plays before having to punt the ball away.

After the touchback on the punt, Robinson picked up one yard and Howell had an incompletion on second down. Third down brought another sack of Howell for a 10 yard loss. Deonte Harty returned the Tress Way punt for 23 yards and 10 yards were added on as a result of a holding penalty on David Mayo. The Bills started on the Washington 35 and took one play to score a touchdown with a 35 yard pass from Allen to Gabe Davis, giving Buffalo a 10 point lead.

After the touchback on the kickoff, Howell hit Curtis Samuel for a 37 yard gain.

Second Quarter

Howell completed a 9 yard pass to Terry McLaurin and then ran for 18 yards down to the Buffalo 6 yard line. After an incompletion, Howell hit Turner at the one yard line to set up a third and goal from the one. Washington was unable to convert on third or fourth downs.

Buffalo then went on an 18 play drive that ended with a 54 yard field goal by Bass. Washington’s pass rush was unable to bring Allen down. Allen was able to scramble for a 23 yard gain and complete a 19 yard pass to Diggs. The drive then got bogged down by a 15 yard penalty for tripping Montez Sweat a false start. On second and 21, Allen hit Trent Sherfield for 9 yards but on third down lost 4 yards on a screen to Diggs. Buffalo had a 13-0 lead after the subsequent field goal.

On Washington’s next series, Howell picked up 9 yards with completions to McLaurin for 4 yards and Turner for 5 yards. On third and 1, Howell threw an interception on a checkdown to Antonio Gibson. Buffalo was able to turn that into a 32 yard field goal after picking up 19 yards on four plays. Buffalo now has a 16-0 lead.

After the kickoff, Washington decided to run out the clock and regroup for the second half.

Buffalo 16, Washington 0

Third Quarter

The second half adjustment by Eric Bieniemy was to remember that Washington can run the ball. The drive started with a 4 yard run by Robinson. The Commanders were able leverage an illegal contact penalty for a first down. Then, on third and five, Howell hit Gibson on a blitz checkdown for 10 yards. After a 6 yard completion to Jahan Dotson, Robinson picked up 23 yards in a run over the right guard spot. Gibson followed that up with a 13 yard run down to the Buffalo 17. Following a short run by Robinson, Howell attempted to hit Samuel in the end zone, but Tre’Davious White made a diving interception in front of the receiver.

Starting at their own one yard line, Allen hit Diggs for a 30 yard completion. They picked up 19 more yards on a pass and run, before two incompletions and a 10 yard holding penalty put them in a third and 20 situation. Kendall Fuller was able to intercept Allen’s deep throw to Davis on the Washington 19.

Robinson picked up 19 yards on 2 carries before the Bills sacked Howell twice for a 7 yard loss. After a penalty and a negative yardage completion, Washington was forced to punt.

Fourth Quarter

Buffalo was able to pick up 32 yards on the next series with 20 of that coming on a 20-yard completion to Diggs. Daron Payne batted down a pass on fourth down to force a turnover on downs.

Then the wheels fell on the bandwagon, and it crashed into a burning dumpster fire.

Gibson fumbled on a short pass trying to gain extra yards and Buffalo was able to convert that into a 10-yard touchdown scramble after picking 24 yards in four plays. Then on the next series, Howell attempted to loft a pass to Dotson and it was intercepted by A.J. Epenesa, who returned it for a touchdown to give Buffalo a 30-0 lead.

Washington got the ball back and lost six yards on 3 plays and allowed two more sacks. After the punt, Buffalo ran the ball nine straight times, including a 34 run by James Cook, right at Washington’s defense, with Latavius Murray picking up a two yard touchdown.

On the next drive, Washington was able to move the ball 42 yards, but Howell was sacked multiple times again and Joey Slye kicked a 51 yard field goal to avoid a shut out.

Mercifully, Buffalo then ran out the clock out after the kickoff.

Wrap-up

You are not going to win many games in the NFL when you have five turnovers and give up nine sacks.

Eric Beiniemy did not have a good answer for the relentless Buffalo pass rush. Philadelphia is on the schedule for next week.