The Buffalo Bills improved to 2-1 after a commanding victory over Washington in a road game that saw the defense secure five takeaways and the offense total almost 400 total yards. After the game, Head Coach Sean McDermott, quarterback Josh Allen and other members of the Bills spoke about their dominant win.
Offensive line steps up against talented Commanders' front
All week, the Bills offense was reminded of the elite talent of the Washington Commanders defensive front. Featuring four former first-round picks, Washington had already tallied 10 sacks and 16 tackles for loss in just two games.
The Bills offensive line held the Commanders to zero sacks and just one hit on quarterback Josh Allen in the Bills' 37-3 win at FedEx Field. They also provided lanes for the Bills rushers to attack, with the Bills totaling 168 yards and two touchdowns on the ground. Fourteen of the Bills' 33 carries gained five or more yards.
"Great plan, great execution of the plan. Very proud of those guys," Head Coach Sean McDermott said of the offensive line. "I mean they work hard and they don't always get mentioned … at halftime, those guys really took over the game. We have to continue to play good physical football, fundamentally sound football on both sides."
Quarterback Josh Allen and the Bills' offense called a very balanced game, with 32 passing attempts and 33 rushing attempts. Allen gave the offensive line credit for their ability to protect for a wide range of play calls.
"They played fantastic," Allen said. "Obviously that's a fantastic front that we faced, all four of those guys can absolutely go. It was a good test for us and I'm glad things went obviously the way that they went but just utilizing our game plan, getting to move the pocket stuff, switching up where we're throwing the football, trying to stay two dimensional, I thought Coach Dorsey did a good job of that tonight."
Josh Allen taking what the defense gives him
Behind the offensive line's strong performance stood Allen, who completed 20 of his 32 passing attempts for 218 yards and a touchdown, while also throwing an interception on a deep pass intended for Gabe Davis. Allen added 46 yards and a touchdown on the ground.
Allen's performance didn't provide the video game box score that fans know he is capable of producing, but it was a sign of a more conservative approach that has led Buffalo to scoring 75 combined points in their last two games.
Allen took off three times in the Bills' win and did a good job at avoiding contact from opposing defenders. As one of the premier mobile quarterbacks in the league – and one of the most physically imposing athletes – Allen said he has made a concerted effort to protect his body while on the run.
"I was proud of him for doing that," McDermott said. "It showed discipline, and I think there's some plays he wants back today and then he made some incredible plays as well."
Allen went 5-for-12 for a touchdown and an interception when throwing 15 yards or deeper, finding much of his success from allowing his receivers to run after the catch on shorter throws. However, he still benefited from throwing it deep, as his lone touchdown pass came on a 35-yard bomb to Davis.
"Josh understands that I want him to be him," McDermott said. "So we're not asking him to change who he is, it's incorporating the discipline that you need to incorporate into the game. … I've been real proud of some of the things he's done, the majority of what he's done, in the last two games."
Allen said that the defense's elite showing helped him and the offense play more conservatively and focus on winning the game.
"At the end of the day, still having that attack mindset and every time we touch the ball, we want to score," Allen said. "But it makes it that much easier, you're not trying to force things as much when you know you have a defense you can rely on and it's okay to punt the ball away and they put us in some great situations today."
Allen also hinted at additional reasons behind his intentions of sliding instead of battling for extra yards.
"There's a few people on this team that owe me some money for sliding, so there's a little bit of incentive there," Allen said.
Tyler Bass extends perfect streak
Tyler Bass made field goals from 54, 36 and 32 yards Sunday and hit all three of his extra point attempts. Bass has now made two field goals from over 50 yards and is seven-for-seven on the season.
McDermott said that Bass' consistency is the product of a field goal unit that understands the importance of their job.
"He does a great job, it's important to him. And really, Tyler, he's a weapon," McDermott said. "But it doesn't happen by himself, you have Sam in there and Reid and the protection piece. Those guys all take a lot of pride in that unit and executing at a high level because that's what you have to do, especially when it's 54. For him to hit that in these conditions, especially early … that was a big kick for us."
Bass, who is in his fourth year with Buffalo, has a career field goal percentage of 86.1% and is 9-for-14 on field goal attempts from 50 or more yards out.
