For most Bills fans, there was legitimate concern once halftime struck. Is the Super Bowl window closed? Is the defense going to be this bad all year? What happens next? All the things Bills fans likely saw while going through their X feed at half. Well, after half the Bills took over and got the job done. Without these three plays, the outcome may have been different.
Play #1 (1:24 2Q): Khalil Shakir’s Momentum Changing 3rd Down Conversion
- In a game already down 14, the Bills were against the ropes. With their final drive of the half, they needed a score badly. After a pre-snap penalty to make it 3rd and 6, the Bills needed a first. If they did not convert, the rolling Cardinals offense would have a crack to score before half, and who knows what could have happened.
Breakdown: Shakir runs a solid return route back to the inside, Allen punches up to cut the angle of Cardinal pursuit, reverse pivots out of pressure, and then finds an open Shakir. Arguably the most important play of the first half for the Bills.
Play #2 (13:23 3Q): Allen Keeps Play and Eventual TD Drive Alive with Dump Off to Cook
- Coming out of half, Buffalo needed to score. The Bills had the momentum after scoring before half, and they could not squander it. A 3rd and 11 was brought up early in the drive, and Allen and company did what they do best.
Breakdown: Joe Brady comes out in an empty set with James Cook in sniffer protection. Pre-snap Arizona shows blitz with six, come with five and run an exit stunt with Zaven Collins (#25). No matter what, it is 6 vs. 5 and the Bills should be picked up. An immediate breakdown up front happens, as O’Cyrus Torrence slides left and lets Owen Pappoe (#44) come in unblocked. Allen does an excellent job of ripping his back shoulder through to eliminate surface area, climbs and delivers a great throw on the run to Cook.
Play #3 (1:10 4Q): Williams Coverage, and Bills Blitz Saves Cardinals Touchdown
- Buffalo’s defense with a chance to win a one score game? We have heard and seen that tale way too many times these past few seasons. Well, the Bills were a Cam Lewis jump and a Dorian Williams body away from having the tale repeat itself.
Breakdown: Kyler Murray pre-snap recognizes Bobby Babich is bringing the heat and compensates for this by full sliding his whole offensive line left, beside his right tackle. Tackle Kelvin Beachum is left with big-on-big protection (1 vs. 1) against Von Miller, while James Conner picks up anyone who would be free. In this case, it is safety Cam Lewis (#39). Murray sees this, tries to throw hot to Greg Dortch (#4), but Cam Lewis perfectly gets in the pass lane by jumping, and it forces Murray to reset. This leads to the look of Marvin Harrison Jr. (#18) being wide open down the right sideline. Murray then tries to buy time scrambling, and by the time he comes back right, he hits Greg Dortch for a minimal gain.
The Bills look to get an impactful early season divisional win this Thursday night versus the Miami Dolphins. Kickoff is set for 8:15 p.m.