The Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver DeVante Adams scores the only touchdown the Raiders would have for the game in the first half against the Buffalo Bills at Highmark Stadium Orchard Park NY on Sun Sep 17, 2023 (AP News photo)
By Barbara Mason
An outstanding game Sunday from Josh Allen and company blew the Raiders out of the stadium as the Bills beat the Raiders 38-10.
In Week 2 the Raiders (1-1) traveled to Buffalo (1-1) for a game at Highmark Stadium with Josh Allen and the Bills. Buffalo lost their opener at MetLife Stadium to the New York Jets, despite the early exit of Aaron Rodgers in the first quarter , 22-16.
Turnovers really hurt the Bills in Week 1. Allen threw three interceptions in the wild and often ugly game. The loss was a stunner especially in the absence of Rodgers. It’s a good bet that the Raiders will see an entirely different Josh Allen in Week Two.
The temperature at kickoff was 71 degrees, a balmy afternoon for this game. As this season goes deeper we will no doubt see some very nasty weather but Sunday’s game was played in clement conditions.
Game recap: The Raiders were first up on the board in the opening quarter. Las Vegas quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo found Davante Adams for 16 yards and the touchdown giving the Raiders the 7-0 lead. Buffalo tied up the game in the first quarter on a four Yd rush by Latavius Murray 7-7.
Raider’s kicker Daniel Carlson made a 47 Yard Field Goal in the second quarter, but the quarter belonged to Josh Allen who threw two touchdown passes. The first score in the quarter was a pass from Allen to Dawson Knox for two Yds in the opening minutes.
As the quarter began to wear down Allen found Kahlil Shakir for 11 yards and a second touchdown with 18 ticks left in the first half. The score at the half was 21-10. Josh Allen was hot unlike the awful game he had last week pulling it all together in the first two quarters. He was 18 of 21 for 142 yards, a vast improvement this week.
There was good quarterback production on both sides in this first half. Garoppolo did have a pick, a tipped ball, but other than that he was solid.
The Bills had won the coin toss and had elected to defer to the second half. At 5:59 in the third quarter, Allen struck against this time a two yard pass to Gabe Davis and a 28-10 lead. This was Allen’s third touchdown of the game.
Buffalo’s Tyler Bass kicked a 29 yard field goal to start the fourth quarter taking a commanding lead 31-10. Las Vegas was in deep trouble. The Raiders had very little opportunity with so little time on the field in this game.
The Raiders only had the ball for close to 15 minutes through three quarters. The Bills had the ball for almost 13 minutes in the third quarter. It was complete domination by the Bills as Buffalo was stuffing the Raiders rushing game, and shutting down their passing game.
With 5:08 left in the game the Bills had their second rushing touchdown of the day taking a 38-10 lead. Buffalo was on their way to their first win of the season.
With so little time of possession, the Raiders didn’t have much of a chance and the two interceptions didn’t help. Jimmy Garoppolo was 16/24 for 185 yards, one TD and two interceptions.
They only had 55 total rushing yards and one fumble. It was a truly forgettable game. To make things even worse, Davante Adams left the field late in the fourth quarter after a heavy hit. With Jacobi Meyers out due to concussion suffered in the Denver game, the Raiders cannot afford losing another player on their receiving corp.
Josh Allen was 31 of 37 passing for 274 yards, three touchdowns and no interceptions. The Bills had 183 yards rushing and no fumbles playing a tremendous game.
Raiders post game notes: Last Sunday the Raiders squeaked out a nice win over a division rival to start the 2023 season. They beat the Denver Broncos 17-16. As Davante Adams put it, “it ain’t got to be pretty, ” and it certainly was not pretty but Las Vegas got the job done opening the season with a win. The Broncos special teams self-destructed and the Raiders took full advantage.
In Week Three the Raiders will welcome the Pittsburg Steelers to Allegiant Stadium for Sunday Night Football. The Steelers are playing the Cleveland Browns on Monday Night Football and looking for their first win of the season. Kickoff for the Raiders vs Steelers game next week will be Sunday night at 5:20 PM.
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