ORCHARD PARK, NY – Despite all the changes at the Buffalo Bills wide receiver and defense this season, the big constant has been quarterback Josh Allen.
And when the four-time defending AFC East champions needed their franchise player most after falling behind by 14 points in the season opener against Arizona on Sunday, Allen delivered by taking matters into his own hands – and jumping with his legs.
Allen capped off his four-touchdown performance in the 34-28 victory with a leap into the air. He ran right from Arizona’s 6-yard line, charged to the goal line and leapt over Budda Baker before being shoved from behind by another Cardinals defender and landing hard in the end zone.
The touchdown gave the Bills a 31-20 lead with 8 1/2 minutes left and capped a surge that saw Buffalo outscore the Cardinals 28-3 by halftime.
“I thought it was the flyover,” said left tackle Dion Dawkins, comparing Allen’s jump to the Air Force jet that swept over the stadium during the national anthem. “I just said, shoot, what goes up must come down. And I hope you come down in the end zone.”
“And he did. You know, it’s hard to stop a quarterback that big, especially when he’s flying.”
Allen said his jump was a split-second decision, especially after he dropped his shoulder on a 7-yard touchdown run over linebacker Xavier Thomas just before the end of the half.
“The second time, I knew it was Budda, and Budda is a good player and he’ll give you the blast,” Allen said. “So I decided to go up and over. But I probably can’t make a living doing this, but that’s the way it is.”
Allen finished the game with a heavy bandage on his left non-throwing hand and initially said he was fine before adding he was awaiting further tests. He completed 18 of 23 passes for 232 yards and completed 11-yard touchdown passes to Mack Hollins and Khalil Shakir.
This was a thrilling back-and-forth between the non-conference rivals on a blustery day with temperatures in the 15s and strong winds gusting up to 45 km/h from the west off nearby Lake Erie.
This game featured the first kickoff return under the new NFL rules for a touchdown. DeeJay Dallas caught the ball at his own 4, worked his way up the middle through a Bills barrage before finding a gap on the left side with 8:31 left to cut Buffalo’s lead to 31-28.
The Cardinals couldn’t sustain the momentum of two touchdowns and a field goal on their first three possessions while building a 17-3 lead on James Conner’s 3-yard touchdown run with 2:40 left in the second quarter. It was the first time since 2006 that Arizona scored on each of its first three drives.
Buffalo had 352 yards of offense and showed it was capable of scoring 30-plus points with a new receiver group after trading Stefon Diggs to Houston and losing Gabe Davis to free agent. Allen threw passes to nine players, with rookie Keon Coleman tying a game-high four catches for 51 yards.
Buffalo’s young and injury-weakened defense also contributed to this.
Greg Rousseau recorded a personal-best three sacks, including one that forced a fumble. The defense secured the Bills’ win when Damar Hamlin and Ja’Marcus Ingram intercepted Kyler Murray’s pass attempt to Greg Dortch near the goal line on fourth-and-7 attempts from Buffalo’s 29 yards with 26 seconds left.
“We have to get better. We were up 17-3 and lost the game,” said Jonathan Gannon, who is in his second year as Cardinals coach. “We have to score a little more points there, especially when we’re ahead.”
The good news is that the Cardinals maintained the momentum they showed in finishing 3-5 under Murray last year in the quarterback’s return after he missed 11 months with a torn ACL.
Murray finished 21 of 31 for 162 yards and a touchdown and also led the Cardinals in rushing with 57 yards on five carries.
Arizona rookie receiver Marvin Harrison Jr., the fourth player selected in the draft, had a nearly invisible NFL debut, finishing with one catch on three attempts for 4 yards.
The game turned in the third quarter with the score tied at 17-17. Rousseau set up Buffalo’s leading touchdown with his third sack when he forced Murray to fumble and Dorian Williams recovered the ball at Arizona’s 21-yard line.
Buffalo scored five plays later when Allen Shakir hit the ball to the left and the receiver ran over defensive lineman Justin Jones before taking the ball across the goal line.
Bills coach Sean McDermott gave credit to Buffalo’s rookies and reserve players for their efforts, including Ingram, who was not scheduled to play before defensive lineman defensive end Duwaune Smoot was sidelined after injuring his toe in practice on Thursday.
Ingram played an even bigger role than expected by stepping in after cornerback Taron Johnson did not return from injuring his right forearm in the first quarter.
“That’s a great example of being ready when you’re called upon,” McDermott said. “We were behind early in the game and they fought back from there. I think that in and of itself is a great sign for our football team.”
Cardinals: Host three straight home games, starting with the Los Angeles Rams next Sunday.
Bills: They have a short week ahead of them and travel to the Miami Dolphins on Thursday night.
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