Live In-Game Updates: Bills Blemish-Less, Beat Broncos 42-15 in Preseason Week 2
Week 2 of NFL Preseason action continues Saturday, as the Buffalo Bills and Denver Broncos are set for a head-to-head AFC matchup at Highmark Stadium. Both teams are aiming to improve to 2-0 in preseason play after picking up wins in Week 1.
The Bills took down the Indianapolis Colts 27-24 in Week 1 at home despite trailing 24-10 in the opening stages of the fourth quarter. But behind third-string quarterback Matt Barkley, two late touchdowns from running back Raheem Blackshear, and a game-winning field goal at the horn by kicker Tyler Bass, Buffalo sent its fans home happy after a sluggish turnover-filled start.
The Broncos enter this game after a 17-7 win over the Dallas Cowboys on Saturday. Denver's defense held Dallas scoreless until there was under five minutes remaining in the fourth quarter. Journeyman quarterback Josh Johnson went 16 of 23 passing for 172 yards and two touchdowns in the Broncos' win.
Bills quarterback Josh Allen and receiver Stefon Diggs are in line to get their first act of preseason along with most of the other Buffalo first-teamers on both sides of the ball.
Buffalo quarterback Case Keenum, who had two interceptions and a lost fumble in the win, is in line to get significant action again with additional second-half playing time for Barkley also expected.
The Bills' rookies are looking for another big week after a handful of impressive debuts. Buffalo's first-round cornerback Kaiir Elam flashed aggressive coverage skills and quickness before exiting last week with a head injury.
Rookie linebacker Terrel Bernard also had the play of the day with a 69-yard fumble recovery for a touchdown in the first half. Rookie wideout Khalil Shakir dazzled as well, with impressive play that resulted in five grabs for 92 yards.
Follow along with BillsCentral.com as we keep you up-to-date on each drive and scoring play Saturday from Highmark Stadium in Buffalo.
In-game updates will appear below after kickoff...
The Broncos have won the toss and will receive the opening kickoff.
FIRST QUARTER
Montrell Washington returns the opening kickoff as Denver begins at its own 21-yard line.
Washington followed this up with a tough 18-yard catch on 3rd and 8 to give Denver a first down near midfield. But despite some methodical movement down the field by the Broncos and a penalty in the secondary, Buffalo held strong to force the field goal.
Denver's field goal came after a 12-play, 64-yard drive that took up 6:45 of game time.
FIELD GOAL BRONCOS: Brandon McManus connects on a 33-yard field goal as Denver's drive stalls inside the red zone.
Buffalo begins its first drive at its own 30-yard line. Josh Allen takes his first preseason snap and finds receiver Isaiah McKenzie for a quick first down.
After finding receiver Stefon Diggs for his first catch of preseason, Allen pulled out his bag of tricks.
TOUCHDOWN BILLS: Allen finds receiver Gabriel Davis for a 28-yard touchdown
Allen avoided pressure in the pocket before spinning out and finding Davis for the 28-yard touchdown. The Bills took a 7-3 lead after a six-play, 70-yard drive.
After a solid kick return, the Broncos begin their second drive on their own 34-yard line.
The Bills nearly forced a three-and-out, but another penalty in the secondary gave the Broncos a first down.
Denver failed to do anything after that, using only three more plays before being forced to punt.
Rookie Khalil Shakir continues his punt-returning duties from last week, as he called a fair catch at the Buffalo 20-yard line.
After just one scoring drive, Allen takes the bench as Keenum comes in at quarterback. The veteran seems warmed up after last week, finding Davis and Diggs for two long completion to begin the drive.
Buffalo running back Devin Singletary caught a pass before rushing for a 15-yard gain on the next play to end the first quarter.
SECOND QUARTER
TOUCHDOWN BILLS: Running back Zack Moss capped off an eight-play, 80-yard drive with a one-yard plunge into the end zone as the Bills took a 14-3 lead.
Keenum went 4 of 5 passing for 59 yards on his first drive.
The Broncos begin their next drive at their 33-yard line yard.
Denver was almost forced to punt again, but a Kaiir Elam facemark penalty extended the drive.
Johnson launched a long pass down in the end zone on the next play to Albert Okwuegbunam, but the tight end was unable to get both feet down.
The Buffalo defense held strong and brought up another fourth down, as Denver settled for a field goal.
FIELD GOAL BRONCOS: McManus knocked-in a 43-yard field goal to make it a 14-6 Bills' lead. The Broncos had used an eight-play, 42-yard drive that was aided by the facemark penalty.
The Bills begin their next drive at their own 22-yard line.
Rookie running back James Cook had his first big play of preseason with a 19-yard run down the left side of the field.
The rookie production continued, as Shakir secured a 22-yard reception. Moss followed this up with an 11-yard run for a first down.
Moss then rushed for what seemed to be his second touchdown, but a holding penalty brought it back. Cook caught an 11-yard pass to bring Buffalo back to the one-yard line.
TOUCHDOWN BILLS: Moss gets his second touchdown of the game with another goal-line score from one-yard out.
Denver begins its next drive at the 32-yard line.
The Broncos drive resulted in just five yards before being forced to punt for the second time in the first half.
The Bills begin their next drive at their own 20-yard line.
Keenum continued his efficient first half with nice completions to set the Bills right outside the red zone, but two penalties put Buffalo outside that range.
The Broncos then committed two penalties of their own to give Buffalo a second chance at finding the end zone.
TOUCHDOWN BILLS: Keenum finds tight end OJ Howard for a seven-yard touchdown in the closing seconds of the half after a flurry of penalties by both teams.
HALFTIME: Bills 28, Broncos 6
Halftime stats for Buffalo:
QB Josh Allen: 3 of 3 passing for 45 yards and a touchdown
QB Case Keenum: 16 of 18 for 192 yards and a touchdown
RB Zack Moss: four carries for 19 yards and two touchdowns
RB James Cook: four carries for 38 yards, one catch for 12 yards
WR Gabriel Davis: two catches for 47 yards and one touchdown
WR Stefon Diggs: two catches for 33 yards
WR Khali Shakir: two catches for 47 yards
Halftime stats for Denver:
QB Josh Johnson: 8 of 16 passing for 70 yards
RB Mike Boone: five carries for 11 yards, one catch for 13 yards
WR Montrell Washington: two catches for 26 yards
Team stats
Total offensive yards:
Buffalo 333, Denver 90
First downs:
Buffalo 20, Denver 7
Possession time:
Buffalo 15:28, Denver 14:32
THIRD QUARTER
Buffalo receives the second-half kickoff and will begin at its own 20-yard line. Third-string quarterback Matt Barkley now enters the game, as he finds the rookie Shakir for a 12-yard gain.
Behind some running from running back Raheem Blackshear, the Bills made their into the red zone again, before Duke Johnson Jr. finished the drive off.
TOUCHDOWN BILLS: Johnson walked into the end zone from two yards out with little effort as Buffalo built its lead to 35-6. The 10-play, 80-yard drive took 5:58 of game time.
The Broncos begin their next drive at their own 27-yard line.
Denver's third-string quarterback Brett Rypien put together a productive drive to bring the Broncos within field-goal range.
FIELD GOAL BRONCOS: McManus connected on a 55-yard field goal, his third of the day to make it a 35-9 lead for Buffalo.
Buffalo began its next drive at the 27-yard line.
New Bills receiver and longtime NFL veteran Tavon Austin had two catches and Blackshear reeled-off a 25-yard run to get Buffalo back near the goal line.
TOUCHDOWN BILLS: Duke Johnson walked in for his second touchdown of the afternoon with a eight-yard run for the score. The Bills took a 42-9 lead.
The Broncos begin their next drive at their own 15-yard line.
FOURTH QUARTER:
Denver showed some promising down-field movement, but were forced with a 4th and 3. But Rypien connected with receiver Tre Quinn for a 27-yard gain to put the Broncos into the red zone.
TOUCHDOWN BRONCOS: Rypien finds tight end Eric Saubert for a one-yard touchdown, as Denver gets its first touchdown of the day to make it a 42-15 lead for the Bills.
The Bills begin their next drive at their own 25-yard line after a touchback and kneel-down.
Blackshear continued his productive preseason, as he took a screen pass for 16 yards before two more carries.
But the Bills were forced to punt for their first time all game.
The Broncos began their next drive at their own 12-yard line.
Rypien connected with Quinn on three more occasions, setting the Broncos up in the red zone again.
But Rypien was sacked for a 19-yard loss on a 4th and goal in the closing seconds as the Bills finished off a dominate performance at home to move to 2-0 in the 2022 preseason.
FINAL: Bills 42, Broncos 15
