NFL

Arizona Cardinals at Buffalo Bills

· National Football League
0-1, 0-1 Away
Final
28 - 34
1-0, 1-0 Home

Josh Allen throws 2 TD passes and runs for 2 others as Bills rally for 34-28 win over Cardinals

And when the four-time defending AFC East champions needed their franchise player the most after falling behind by 14 points in their season opener against Arizona on Sunday, Allen delivered by taking matters into his own hands — and leaping legs.

Allen capped his four-touchdown outing in a 34-28 win by going airborne. Scrambling to his right from Arizona’s 6, Allen burst toward the goal line and hurdled Budda Baker before being pushed from behind by another Cardinals defender and landing hard in the end zone.

The touchdown put the Bills up 31-20 with 8 1/2 minutes left and capped a surge during which Buffalo outscored the Cardinals 28-3 spanning halftime.

“I thought it was the flyover,” left tackle Dion Dawkins said, comparing Allen’s leap to the Air Force jet that zipped 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, that big quarterback, it’s hard to stop that, especially when you’re flying.”

Allen said his leap was a split-second decision, especially after he lowered his shoulder while bowling over linebacker Xavier Thomas on a 7-yard touchdown run just before the end of the half.

“Second time, I knew it was Budda, and Budda’s a good player, and he’ll lay the boom on you,” Allen said. “So I decided to go up and over. But probably can’t make a living doing that, but here we are.”

Allen finished the game with his left, non-throwing hand heavily wrapped and initially said he was fine before adding he’s awaiting further tests. He was 18 of 23 for 232 yards and completed 11-yard touchdown passes Mack Hollins and Khalil Shakir.

This was a thrilling back-and-forth affair between non-conference rivals on a blustery day with temperatures in the low 60s and heavy winds gusting up to 30 mph (45kph) from the west off nearby Lake Erie.

The outing featured the first kickoff return for a touchdown under the NFL’s new rules. DeeJay Dallas fielded the ball at his own 4, worked his way up the middle through a barrage of Bills before finding a lane up the left side with 8:31 remaining in cutting Buffalo’s lead to 31-28.

The Cardinals were unable to sustain the momentum from scoring two touchdowns and a field goal on their opening 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 marked the first time since 2006 that Arizona scored points on each of its first three drives.

Buffalo had 352 yards offense and showed it was capable of topping 30 points with a new-look receiver group after trading Stefon Diggs to Houston and losing Gabe Davis to free agency. Allen completed passes to nine players, with rookie Keon Coleman finishing with a game-high four catches and 51 yards.

Buffalo’s young and injury-depleted defense also contributed.

Greg Rousseau had a career-best three sacks, including one that forced a fumble. The defense preserved the Bills’ win when Damar Hamlin and Ja’Marcus Ingram broke up Kyler Murray’s pass attempt to Greg Dortch near the goal line on fourth-and-7 from Buffalo’s 29 with 26 seconds remaining.

“We’ve got to be better. We were up 17-3 and lose the game,” said second-year Cardinals coach Jonathan Gannon. “We have to keep the scoring up a little bit there, especially when we have a lead.”

If there was a bright side, the Cardinals carried over the glimpses of spark they showed while closing last year 3-5 under Murray in the quarterback’s return after missing 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 near-invisible NFL debut while finishing with one catch — on three targets — for 4 yards.

The game turned in the third quarter with the score tied at 17. Rousseau set up Buffalo's go-ahead touchdown with his third sack, when he forced Murray to fumble and Dorian Williams recovered at Arizona’s 21.

Buffalo scored five plays later when Allen hit Shakir to the left Justin Jones before reaching the ball over the goal line.

Bills coach Sean McDermott paid tribute to Buffalo’s newcomers and backups for stepping up. That included Ingram, who wasn’t supposed to be active before defensive lineman defensive end Duwaune Smoot was sidelined after hurting his toe in practice Thursday.

Ingram played an even bigger than expected role by filling in after cornerback Taron Johnson didn't return after hurting his right forearm in the first quarter.

“It’s a great example of being ready when your number’s called,” McDermott said. “We got down early in the game and they were fighting back from there. I think that that in and of itself is a great sign for our football team.”

Up next Cardinals: Host three straight home games beginning with the Los Angeles Rams next Sunday.

Bills: Face a short week and travel to play the Miami Dolphins on Thursday night.

How can I watch Cardinals vs. Bills?

  • TV Channel: Cardinals at Bills 2021-22 NFL, week 1 is broadcasted nationally on CBS and NFL Sunday Ticket - Paramount+ NFL on CBS 2021 - Try it FREE!.
  • Online streaming: Sign up for Fubo.
    In Canada, viewers can watch Cardinals vs. Bills on DAZN.

Matchup Prediction

Bills: 65.9%
Cardinals: 33.9%
*According to ESPN's Football Power Index

Scoring Summary

ARI TD 1st Period 7:47 Michael Wilson 5 Yd pass from Kyler Murray (Matt Prater Kick)
ARI FG 2nd Period 14:57 Matt Prater 29 Yd Field Goal
BUF FG 2nd Period 9:47 Tyler Bass 37 Yd Field Goal
ARI TD 2nd Period 2:40 James Conner 3 Yd Run (Matt Prater Kick)
BUF TD 2nd Period 0:19 Josh Allen 7 Yd Run (Tyler Bass Kick)
BUF TD 3rd Period 9:51 Mack Hollins 11 Yd pass from Josh Allen (Tyler Bass Kick)
BUF TD 3rd Period 2:37 Khalil Shakir 11 Yd pass from Josh Allen (Tyler Bass Kick)
ARI FG 4th Period 13:32 Matt Prater 31 Yd Field Goal
BUF TD 4th Period 8:44 Josh Allen 6 Yd Run (Tyler Bass Kick)
ARI TD 4th Period 8:31 DeeJay Dallas 96 Yd Kickoff Return (James Conner Run for Two-Point Conversion)
BUF FG 4th Period 1:56 Tyler Bass 39 Yd Field Goal

Statistics

https://a.espncdn.com/combiner/i?img=/i/teamlogos/nfl/500/ari.png&h=100&scale=crop&w=100&location=originARI https://a.espncdn.com/combiner/i?img=/i/teamlogos/nfl/500/buf.png&h=100&scale=crop&w=100&location=originBUF
18 1st Downs 23
10 Passing 1st downs 11
7 Rushing 1st downs 8
1 1st downs from penalties 4
7-13 3rd down efficiency 3-9
0-1 4th down efficiency 2-2
60 Total Plays 58
270 Total Yards 352
4.5 Yards per Play 6.1
10 Total Drives 10
146 Passing 222
21/31 Comp/Att 18/23
4.2 Yards per pass 8.9
0 Interceptions thrown 0
4-16 Sacks-Yards Lost 2-10
124 Rushing 130
25 Rushing Attempts 33
5.0 Yards per rush 3.9
2-4 Red Zone (Made-Att) 4-6
5-31 Penalties 9-65
1 Turnovers 1
1 Fumbles lost 1
0 Interceptions thrown 0
1 Defensive / Special Teams TDs 0
29:30 Possession 30:30

Game Information

Highmark Stadium

Location: Orchard Park, NY
Attendance: 70,542 · Capacity:

2024 NFC West Standings

TEAM W L PCT T PF PA
Los Angeles 9 6 .600 0 329 347
Seattle 8 7 .533 0 339 340
Arizona 7 8 .467 0 344 342
San Francisco 6 9 .400 0 331 349

2024 AFC East Standings

TEAM W L PCT T PF PA
Buffalo 12 3 .800 0 469 331
Miami 7 8 .467 0 305 329
New York 4 11 .267 0 292 344
New England 3 12 .200 0 259 361
Full Standings

NFL News

Chiefs' Patrick Mahomes throws 2 TD passes early

Chiefs' Patrick Mahomes throws 2 TD passes early

Worthy's unsportsmanlike conduct penalty on the first TD resulted in a longer PAT try, which Harrison Butker missed.

Seahawks look to boost fading playoff hopes against struggling Bears

Seahawks look to boost fading playoff hopes against struggling Bears

Seattle (8-7) at Chicago (4-11)

2024 NFL Christmas games: Picks, schedule, predictions, odds

2024 NFL Christmas games: Picks, schedule, predictions, odds

We have top storylines, bold predictions, game-plan keys and fantasy X factors for the Christmas games and Week 17's Thursday night matchup.

NFL Week 17 uniforms: Texans rock H-Town blue for Christmas

NFL Week 17 uniforms: Texans rock H-Town blue for Christmas

The Christmas week is bringing out notable uniforms on the field during NFL's Week 17.

Chiefs and Steelers make festive Week 17 arrivals

Chiefs and Steelers make festive Week 17 arrivals

NFL players around the league showed out in their Week 17 arrivals.