By CHUCK POLLOCK, Wellsville Sun and Olean Star Senior Sports Writer
And then there were five.
That’s the number of the NFL’s 32 teams which survived the season’s first three games unbeaten. The last one to join that group was the Bills, in emphatic fashion, Monday night at sold-out Highmark Stadium.
Buffalo’s 47-10 victory over Jacksonville (0-3) was every bit as one-sided as the score. It was over at halftime — the Bills led 34-3 — as they had five possessions before intermission and scored touchdowns on them all.
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After a 6-yard TD sweep by running back James Cook, quarterback Josh Allen ended four straight drives with touchdown passes: 6 yards to tight end Dalton Kincaid, 16 yards to running back Ty Johnson and 24 and 27 yards to wide receivers Keon Coleman and Kahlil Shakir, respectively.
Allen was all but perfect, playing arguably his best half in seven seasons as a Bill.
He finished 23-of-30 passing for 263 yards with the four touchdowns, completions to 10 different receivers, no interceptions or sacks and a passer rating of 142.1 (158.3 is perfect). Allen also led the team in rushing with six carries for 47 yards.
AFTER THE game the effusive Allen said, “We got two rookies (Coleman and running back Ray Davis) their first touchdowns … I love doing that. Guys got open, we ran the ball really, really well, our offense played their tails off and our defense went out there and played a helluva game.
“Best of all, these guys aren’t worried about stats or touchdowns … they love each other and love being part of this.”
LAST NIGHT’S performance demands a check of the standings.
Buffalo joins Kansas City and Pittsburgh as AFC unbeatens with the two NFC survivors Minnesota and Seattle
Clearly, the Steelers are the biggest surprise, given their issues at quarterback with the Seahawks No. 2, but Buffalo is a close third. The Bills have lost linebacker Matt Milano, likely for the year, and linebacker Terrel Bernard and elite nickelback Taron Johnson for an uncertain period.
When the season started there were major questions about the receiving corps as Shakir was the only one who had caught an Allen pass. The defense had lost one of the NFL’s top safety tandems in Jordan Poyer (Dolphins) and Micah Hyde (likely retired) and that was before Bernard and Johnson were hurt.
Instead Buffalo dominated one of the league’s top offenses, beating Miami 31-10 on the road, then following it with the embarrassment of the Jags last night.
After a sloppy win over Arizona in the season opener at Orchard Park when Allen accounted for all four touchdowns (two passing, two rushing) in a 36-28 nail-biter, the Bills have beaten two teams expected to be among the AFC Super Bowl contenders by an average score of 39-10.
Last night’s loss might well have knocked the Jaguars from playoff contention — 0-3 teams have trouble rallying — and ditto for Cincinnati with the same record. Both were seen as Super Bowl possibilities.
Baltimore, another team with such aspirations, is 1-2 as is Miami with the same record and down to its back-up quarterback indefinitely while Tua Tagovailoa recovers from yet another concussion.
The Bills now face a brutal gauntlet of three road games: at Baltimore (next Sunday night), Houston (2-1) next Sunday afternoon and the Jets (2-1) the Monday after next. But even if they lost all three, it would be only a game worse than the most optimistic projection of the first six games. In any case, Buffalo’s bid for a fifth straight AFC East title has already seemingly been reduced to a two-team struggle with the Jets.
NOTES FROM the Bills 47-10 victory before 70,316 witnesses Monday night at Highmark Stadium:
— All four quarterbacks in the game were first-round draft choices; Allen and Mitch Trubisky (Chicago) for Buffalo and Trevor Lawrence and Mac Jones (Patriots) for the Jags.
— Buffalo’s first takeaway came when safety Damar Hamlin intercepted a Lawrence pass, the first of his four-year career. The second was a recovered fumble by defensive end Casey Toohill who covered a bobble by Jones but missed a chance for a scoop and score.
Of his first pro pick, Hamlin said, “(My teammates) were a special part of me making this comeback (from a near-fatal, on-field heart anomaly at Cincinnati in Jan. 2023). They gave me love, they gave me everything I needed on the journey. They were even happier than I was and that just shows the community and the love we have here in Buffalo … it’s truly a special place and I’m happy to be a part of it.
“There is no words (for my emotions) … I’m processing it as I go but am so thankful for the people who supported me.”
— The Bills initial sack of Lawrence was made by cornerback and UB alum, Ja’Marcus Ingram, the first of his career. Edge rusher, A.J. Epenesa logged the second, his first of the campaign while rookie edge Javon Solomon got his first as a pro. Another sack went to veteran edge Von Miller. He’s had one in every game this season and has 126.5 for his career, the most of any active NFL player. Logging No. 5 was Toohill, his first for Buffalo and the eighth as a pro.
— Shakir, besides the TD pass, giving him two for the season and five for his career, was targeted six times with as many receptions seemingly verifying his role as Allen’s go-to receiver.
— Bills’ placekicker Tyler Bass’ struggles continued as his first extra-point attempt was blocked, continuing the issues that started in training camp. However, he made both field goal attemps and the other five extra points.
— Linebacker Dorian Williams, who has replaced Milano likely lost for the season, had game-highs in tackles (11) and solos (8).
— Buffalo punter Sam Martin didn’t kick his lone effort until late in the second half.
— Inactive for the Bills were Taron Johnson (forearm), linebackers Bernard (pectoral) and Edefuan Ulofoshio, safety Mike Edwards and tackle Ryan Van Demark.
(Chuck Pollock, a Wellsville Sun and Olean Star senior sports columnist, can be reached at cpollock@wnynet.net.)
