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The long-awaited return of NFL football is finally over. Football fans everywhere were treated to an action-packed season opener on Thursday night. Led by the polarizing Josh Allen and a rebuilt defensive line, the Buffalo Bills put on a show. They beat up on the Rams 31-10 and showed the whole league what this year’s Bills’ team is capable of. In all honesty, it could have been even worse for the Rams. If the Bills didn’t have a very sloppy second quarter and turned the ball over four times in the game, the score likely would have been a lot worse.
Josh Allen, or as Stefon Diggs references him as, “The General,” picked up right where he left off at the end of last season. From the first snap, Allen was on his game firing laser beams and completely locked in, in all phases. He finished the game with a stat line of 26-for-31 (83.9%), 297 passing yards and 3 touchdown passes. Allen also did his thing on the ground, leading the team in rushing yards with 57 yards, a touchdown, and one filthy stiff arm to Rams’ safety Nick Scott. His 83.9% completion percentage set a new franchise record for a single regular season game. Allen’s connection with number one receiver Stefon Diggs was on full display as well. Diggs caught eight passes for 122 yards, including a 53-yard on the run bomb from Allen for a touchdown against Jalen Ramsey.
Allen did toss two interceptions, however, the first one was not his fault as it was a perfect pass that receiver Isaiah McKenzie bobbled right into the hands of a Rams’ defender. The Bills offense was 9-for-10 converting third downs last night, which was good for 90%. Three of their four touchdowns came on third downs. Josh Allen also became the first quarterback in NFL history to have 250+ passing yards, 50+ rushing yards, 3+ passing touchdowns, a rushing touchdown, 80% completion percentage, and a win all in the same game.
The offense didn’t have all the fun however, as the defense was sizzling all game long. The new look defensive line tallied seven sacks, all while sending only four or less pass rushers. Two of those sacks belonged to Von Miller who made his Bills debut last night. Miller looked as good as ever with excellent burst off the edge and his presence seems to be trickling down the entire line. Jordan Phillips, who returned to Buffalo, also looked amazing last night blowing right through the Rams offensive line and recording one and a half sacks, along with a couple nice tackles. Greg Rousseau, Boogie Basham, and A.J. Epenesa also joined the party, each recording at least one sack.
As a whole, the team recorded 15 quarterback hits. The pressure directly related to a bad night for Rams’ quarterback Matthew Stafford. Stafford went 29-for-41, for 240 yards, one touchdown and three interceptions. He was off his game all night thanks in large part to the defensive line, but also great coverage from the secondary. Cornerback Dane Jackson had a great night and tallied an interception. Both rookies Kaiir Elam and Christian Benford had good debuts as well. The scary part is the team was missing their best defensive tackle Ed Oliver who did not play in the second half, and their best defensive player in star cornerback Tre’ Davious White.
