.png){kind=tracking}
In a Thursday Night Football showdown, the Buffalo Bills once again demonstrated their knack for playing good, not great football, emerging victorious against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers 24-18.
Despite gaining a comfortable 24-10 lead early in the third quarter, the Bills' offense experienced a lull and struggled to add more points. Nevertheless, their defense showcased a stellar performance, culminating in a critical incompletion during the Buccaneers' Hail Mary attempt to seal the game.
Let's delve into the standout performers and noteworthy developments of Week 8. Employing the "Bleu Cheese" and "Ranch" labels for positive and negative trends respectively, we analyze the players' stock.
Quarterback Josh Allen delivered a performance worthy of MVP consideration. Allen exhibited precision, completing 31 of 40 passes for an impressive 324 yards, notching three total touchdowns, albeit with one interception.
Notably, Allen displayed rapid decision-making post-snap, boasting an average time to release of 2.27 seconds according to Next Gen Stats (NGS), the swiftest across the NFL in Week 8. Moreover, he showcased his mobility, tallying seven carries for 41 yards.
As the Bills prepare to face a formidable challenge in the Cincinnati Bengals next weekend, Allen will need to replicate this exceptional form.
Punter Sam Martin made a significant impact in this contest, marking his first notable appearance. Martin expertly pinned the Buccaneers inside their own 20-yard line not once, not twice, but thrice.
This strategic positioning of the defense provided ample opportunities for stops and subsequently granted advantageous field position for the offense. Martin's contributions have become instrumental in elevating the team's overall performance.
After a tentative start to the season, doubts arose regarding safety Jordan Poyer's trajectory in his career. However, Poyer swiftly dispelled these concerns with a stellar showing on Thursday. He earned the highest defensive grade (89.1) according to Pro Football Focus (PFF).
Filling in admirably for the injured linebacker Matt Milano, Poyer transitioned to the linebacker position for 25 snaps. His performance was exceptional, demonstrating expertise in patrolling near the line of scrimmage, plugging run gaps, and providing solid coverage in the middle of the field throughout the game.
Throughout the season, there has been a noticeable dependence on wide receiver Stefon Diggs for offensive success. However, in Thursday's game, while Diggs managed to secure nine receptions for 70 yards, he didn't hold the title of the game's leading receiver. Surprisingly, four different players accumulated 65 or more yards against the Buccaneers.
Report Card:
Offense: B+
Still not firing on all cylinders. A decent first half and 1st drive of the 2nd half, but we refuse to put teams away.
Defense: B+
Held Mike Evans in check for most of the game. Poyer had a good game and we held a decent offense to 18 pts. Couldve gone sideways if the refs called a penalty on the hail mary.
Special Teams: A
Harty is a punt return stud. Sam Martin is a Pro Bowl level punter.
Comments