Plays that defined 2023: Bills vs. Raiders, Week 2

The 2023 season is planned but there is one little thing missing. Illustrations. Let’s pretend that Last Year was a real book, with each game a chapter. It’s up to us to find a play or “illustration” that best shows us the theme of this chapter. It makes sense ? I hope so, because we’re about to take a look at some pieces and vote. Remember that it’s not necessarily the best piece you want, it’s the one that best illustrates…

Chapter 2: Buffalo Bills vs. Las Vegas Raiders

The Raiders opened the scoring with a dominant touchdown drive from the start. Buffalo responded with two touchdowns and Las Vegas closed with a field goal. It looked like the score might stay close early in the half, but Buffalo scored late in the second quarter to tip the scales 21-10 in favor of the Bills. The second half saw a dominant effort from Buffalo in all phases, holding Las Vegas scoreless in the second half and losing 17 more to make it a real blowout.

Tip’s from Greg Rousseau and INT from Terrel Bernard (Q1; 8:22)

After scoring a touchdown on their first drive, the Las Vegas Raiders would struggle for the rest of the day. It was the first of three takeaways and helped set the tone the Bills defense was looking for.

Not only did this shut down Las Vegas, but it gave Buffalo a short field to tie the game at seven. Pressure from the front and a tip from defensive end Greg Rousseau passing through the middle made for an easy catch of the linebacker Terrel Bernard.

Pass defended by AJ Epenesa (Q1; 3:29)

It wasn’t just the three takeaways that shut down Las Vegas. Interestingly, the pressure resulted in no sacks and only two quarterback hits, but Buffalo had over 40 minutes of possession, thanks in large part to a play like this.

Despite some early success, the Raiders only had one drive longer than three minutes all day. Plays like this from defensive end AJ Epenesa were a major factor in quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo and the Raiders’ inability to get anything going.

Khalil Shakir TD (Q2; 0:24)

It’s been a four-point game so far, with the Raiders already holding off the Bills on several occasions to keep the score close. Buffalo played aggressive to end the half and that score broke the game open. The Bills were pass-heavy early and quarterback Josh Allen was mostly on target, especially on this dart to wide receiver Khalil Shakir.

Gabe Davis TD (T3; 6:06)

It was the second time Buffalo went for it on fourth down, trying to bury the Raiders rather than settle for field goals. Wide receiver Gabe Davis led the team in receiving yards and tied wide receiver Stefon Diggs in targets (one fewer catch than Diggs). That extended the lead to 18 points, putting pressure on Las Vegas to keep pace or get demolished.

James Cook’s long run (Q4; 2h00)

With 28 points now, Buffalo had finished with a two-minute warning with possession. The Raiders would have needed several miracles to make it a game at this point, but it’s always better to finish with a little pride. Running back James Cook snatched it.

Buffalo turned more to the run in the second half and was efficient all day, averaging 5.2 yards per carry as a team. Including that run, Cook averaged 7.2 yards. If you don’t include this race, he still had a 5.4 average with his other races.