The Buffalo Bills lost against the Denver Broncos, 24-22, on Monday Night Football’s Week 10 matchup.
The Bills (5-5) have lost three of their last four games and now sit a game and a half behind the Miami Dolphins in the AFC East standings.
The night started inauspiciously for the Bills, as the offense committed a turnover in their opening play. Quarterback Josh Allen hit running back James Cook on a quick pass. As Cook fought along the sideline, Denver defender Ja’Quan McMillan stripped the ball and recovered along the boundary.
The Broncos (4-5) would respond with a 40-yard field goal by Will Lutz to take an early 3-0 lead.
The Bills would drive into Broncos territory on their next drive, only to turn the ball over once again. This time, Allen fired a pass to receiver Gabe Davis. It went through Davis’s hands and found its way into the hands of Broncos safety Justin Simmons.
Denver would extend its lead midway through the second quarter. Faced with a fourth-and-2, the Broncos elected to keep Russell Wilson and the offense on the field from the Bills two-yard line.
Wilson spun away from multiple defenders to keep the play alive when it looked dead in the water. He fired a hopeful pass into the end zone. Wideout Courtland Sutton made a spectacular, toe-dragging catch for the score.
The Bills answered with an eight-play, 81-yard drive. Allen found tight end Dalton Kincaid open outside the numbers for a 22-yard touchdown reception. Allen completed the two-point conversion with a pass to Davis.
The theme of turnovers then continued for the Bills.
Denver answered with a field goal to give the Broncos a 12-8 lead. Allen’s next pass would be picked off by defensive back Fabien Moreau. The Broncos would add another Lutz field goal and enter halftime up, 15-8.
Desperately needing it, Buffalo’s defense made the first big play in the second half. Cornerback Taron Johnson forced a Sutton fumble. The Bills drove right through the Broncos defense to tie the game. Rusher Latavius Murray scored on a two-yard rush to tie the game, 15-15.
As almost expected at this point, Bills added another turnover to their tally, as an Allen handoff to Cook did not connect. This stopped the Bills progress late in the third quarter.
On back-to-back drives, both team’s defenses held.
With 12 minutes remaining in the fourth quarter, the Broncos would go on to complete their longest drive of the evening. Denver would rattle off a 12-play drive to retake the lead. Wilson connected with running back Javonte Williams on a three-yard pass.
In a twist, the Broncos were unsuccessful on the extra point conversion. The snap was bobbled.
Trailing 21-15, the Bills would take possession with the door open.
Buffalo was aided by a crazy Cook run, fumble, and recovery for 35 yards. Cook would be the focal point, rushing four more times. Allen would complete the drive with a six-yard scramble for a score.
Buffalo would give the ball back with a one-point lead.
On the ensuing drive, a true Buffalo nightmare.
Johnson, after forcing a huge fumble, cost the Bills the game. He took a pass interference penalty.
Then he was bailed out…
Will Lutz would miss the initial 41-yard field goal attempt to win it…
But the Bills would be called for too many men on the field. Lutz would make the 36-yard field goal to win. A disaster of a a defeat.
The rest of Bills Wire’s recap can be found below: