A second straight West Coast game for the Buffalo Bills produced the same result as the first one, only this one did not have quite as much drama down the stretch. On Sunday, the Bills edged the Las Vegas Raiders by a 33-30 score at Allegiant Stadium to maintain their lead atop the AFC East.
The first half was evenly matched, with both teams getting a touchdown and two field goals for a 13-13 score at the intermission. In the 3rd quarter, the Bills (5-1) took a 10-point lead; Tyler Bass broke the tie with a 47-yard field goal, then after an interception by linebacker Dorian Williams, quarterback Josh Allen improvised to extend that advantage, flipping a 12-yard touchdown pass to Keon Coleman. Las Vegas (3-3) battled back in the 4th quarter, cutting into the Bills' lead with a field goal. The Raiders then tied the game at 23-23 when Kirk Cousins connected with Tre Turner for an 11-yard touchdown with 8:07 remaining. Buffalo answered with a seven-play scoring drive that ended with a James Cook touchdown run to take a 30-23 lead with 4:43 left. A 38-yard Bass field goal extended the lead with 1:56 left. The Raiders quickly made it a three-point game again when Tucker made a diving 44-yard touchdown catch, but the ensuing onside kick was unsuccessful, allowing the Bills to run out the clock.
James Cook totaled 153 yards from scrimmage (95 rushing, 58 receiving) and scored a touchdown for the fifth consecutive game. Josh Allen threw for 255 yards and a pair of touchdowns in the win, and Tyler Bass went 4-for-4 on field goals. Raiders quarterback Kirk Cousins put up 313 yards, two touchdowns and an interception in a losing cause. Bills cornerback C.J. Gardner-Johnson was ejected from the game late in the 2nd quarter for spitting at a player.
The Bills are off next week and will return to action on Sunday, November 1st against the Baltimore Ravens.
Photos by the Buffalo Bills
