In a nutshell:
The Buffalo Bills scored with under two minutes left to defeat the Cincinnati Bengals in front of a sold out New Era Field crowd for their first 3-0 start since 2011. The Bills led 14-0 at one point before a Bengals comeback put Buffalo down 17-14 late in the fourth. Josh Allen led the Bills from behind again and Frank Gore punched it in from the one to give Buffalo the 21-17 win.
The Bills offense struggled throughout the second half but their work in the first carried them through. Buffalo put together two scoring drives of 60 yards or longer giving them 14-0 lead at halftime.
While the Bill offense was clicking, so was the defense. Cincinnati didn't get its second first down until a desperation play as the clock expired to end the half. Buffalo tripled the Bengals first half time of possession of 22:57 to 7:01. The Bengals were held to zero third down conversions.
In the late third, things began to work for the Bengals offense. A costly interception from Allen gave the Bengals the ball at the Buffalo 22 and led to Cincinnati's first touchdown. The Bengals rallied off another touchdown on an 82-yard drive and a 60-yard drive for a touchdown and field goal, respectively. The Bengals had the lead with 4:54 left.
Cincinnati had one final chance to get a touchdown with 1:50 remaining. The Bills defense didn't allow the Bengals to cross the goal line. Buffalo tipped a pass and Tre'Davious White dove for his second interception of the game. Buffalo took over with 0:21 remaining and kneeled out the clock.
How it went down:
- Josh Allen was perfect on the Bills third drive of the game connecting on all five passes as Buffalo went 73 yards on seven plays. Allen found Frank Gore for 13, John Brown for 11, Zay Jones for 23 and Cole Beasley for eight and Dawson Knox for one for the score. Beasley one-yard pass from Allen for the two-point conversion. 8-0
- Stephen Hauschka converts a 34-yard field goal, ending the Bills streak of six straight touchdowns in the red zone. The Bills drove 46 yards in 10 plays, highlighted by an Allen completion to Knox for 17 yards on 2nd- and- 13. 11-0
- Hauschka converts a 45-yard field goal. Allen hit Brown for 33 yards and Beasley for six. Brown's six-yard catch on third down and four was overturned after a Bengals challenge, leading to the field goal attempt. 14-0.
- The Bengals intercepted Allen and took over on the Buffalo 22. Three plays and 22 yards later an Andy Dalton keep up the middle puts Cincinnati on the board. Randy Bullock's kick was good. 14-7
- Cincinnati tied the game on a Dalton pass to Joe Mixon from the one-yard line. A would-be turnover on the Buffalo one-yard line was called back after an offsides penalty. Bengals drive: 11 plays, 82 yards. Bullock extra point was good. 14-14
- Bullock hit a 43-yard field goal for Cincinnati to give them its third straight scoring drive and take the lead. 14-17
- Frank Gore scored from the one-yard line to give Buffalo the lead with 1:50 remaining. The Bills went 78 yards in seven plays highlighted by a 49-yard completion to Knox from Allen. Hauschka's extra point was good. 21-17
Subplots:
Bills inactives: CB Taron Johnson, RB Devin Singletary, S Jaquan Johnson, G Ike Boettger, T Conor McDermott, OL Ryan Bates, TE Tyler Kroft
Bengals inactives: CB B.W. Webb, DT Ryan Glasgow, De Kerry Wynn, OT Cordy Glenn, OL Michael Jordan, WR A.J. Green, QB Jake Dolegala
Dawson Knox's first quarter touchdown was the first of his NFL career and the first time he has scored since his junior year of high school. The third-round pick did not score at Ole Miss.
Buffalo held its 903rd regular season game and for the first time in franchise history the Bills led 8-0 and 11-0.
Cincinnati used each of their challenges in the first half. Since both were not successful, they were not granted a third challenge.
Right guard Jon Feliciano left the game questionable to return in the first quarter with a neck injury. He was downgraded to out at halftime. Cody Ford moved from right tackle to right guard in his absence. Ty Nsekhe replaced at right tackle.
