Most sports announcers and fans did not give the Buffalo Bills a chance to knock off the Denver Broncos. The Broncos gave the Dallas Cowboys hell last week and stuffed Ezekiel Elliot. Running back C.J. Anderson lit up the field for over 25 fantasy points last week. However, none of that mattered yesterday, as the Buffalo Bills used their defense and Tyrod Taylor’s sharp passing game to beat the Broncos 26-16.
Defenses Buck Each Other
Running the ball was tough for both teams. The 88- degree temperature in September, an unusual weather pattern in Buffalo, did not help the teams’ ground game.
Bills’ rusher LeSean McCoy only had 21 yards of rushing, while Mike Tolbert put up 41 yards on the ground, as stated by ESPN. The Bills' stout front four held Anderson to 36 yards. While Jamaal Charles rushed for slightly more than 50 yards, it was not enough to put the Bills on their back. The Bills did put quarterback Trevor Siemian on his back for some sacks. Tre’Davious White and E.J. Gaines also read Siemian right and picked him off on some key plays.
The game was a prime example of hardnose, grind it out football. The offenses had to work for first downs and points. The match-up brought back images of the Broncos playing the Bills at home for the AFC Championship game in 1992. John Elway versus Jim Kelly.
Both defenses were stone walls, which made scoring a challenge. The Buffalo defense scored their only touchdown of the game on a Carlton Bailey interception. Extreme weather was also a factor with blowing, blustery snow. In the end, Buffalo turned out a 10-7 victory that is former Bills’ coach Marv Levy’s favorite game with the Bills.
Tyrod Taylor Steps up His Game
Last week, the Bills offense looked sluggish and putrid in their road the loss to the Carolina Panthers. The wide receiving core looked weak and out- of- sync. This week, Taylor found his rhythm with the offense, as he spread the ball to different receivers. Jordan Matthews made some big plays and snagged the ball three times for over 60 yards.
The size and quick reflexes of Andre Holmes paid off, as he caught a touchdown that bounced off the hands of Zay Jones in the end zone. Taylor tricked the Broncos into thinking he was running and then flicked a short pass to Charles Clay for a score. Kaelin Clay caught a huge pass, and tight end Nick O’Leary made a diving sideline reception. Stephen Hauschka showed his value, as he nailed 4 field goals, two of them for 50 plus yards.
Tyrod Taylor played like the starter the team needs him to be. His ESPN quarterback passer rating of 126.9 and two touchdowns give Buffalo a solid springboard for the teams they face down the stretch. If the Bills want to beat the undefeated Atlanta Falcons next Sunday, which will be a tall task, their passing game needs to mirror what Taylor did yesterday.
The Falcons have a high octane passing game. The fact that the Bills do not have a distinct number one receiver right now can help them. Opposing teams may not know who should be double covered on the field.
The win places the Buffalo Bills in the top spot of the AFC East.
