Bills at Colts: A drive-by-drive breakdown

The Buffalo Bills have won their fifth-straight game with a 30-20 win that showcased a dominant defensive showing in the second half over the Colts.

Buffalo’s (8-2) defense shut out Indianapolis (4-6) for much of the second half, forcing two turnovers after halftime and four on the day en route to a road win, their fourth of the season. The Bills defensive line sacked Colts quarterback Joe Flacco four times as well.

Offensively, the Bills threw for 280 yards and ran for 138 yards, the seventh time the team has gone over 100 yards on the year.

Drive-by-Drive Breakdown

The Buffalo Bills received the opening kickoff and picked up a first down on their first play from scrimmage. Josh Allen targeted wide receiver Curtis Samuel on the outside and Samuel evaded a would-be tackler to get across the sticks. The drive stalled shortly after a pair of zero-yard runs from Allen that sandwiched a screen pass to Khalil Shakir for seven yards before punting.

The Colts offense took the field and on their first play, Joe Flacco surveyed left and didn’t see Taron Johnson staring right back at him. The Bills nickelback picked off Flacco’s pass, reversed fields, and scored his second-career pick-six as the Bills took a 7-0 lead. This marked Johnson’s second career pick-six.

Indianapolis got the ball back, and marched 30 yards on five plays before converting a 4th & 1 inside Buffalo territory. The Bills halted that momentum and made it back-to-back possessions with an interception as defensive tackle Austin Johnson came up with a screen pass intended for Jonathan Taylor. 

Buffalo’s offense then went 42 yards on nine plays, the longest play coming from a James Cook run that went for 20 yards on 3rd & short. Buffalo settled for a field goal from the Colts 11-yard line.

Indy responded with a Jonathan Taylor run that went for 59 yards, but the Colts couldn’t get anything else done, only accruing another two yards on the drive as a field goal made it 10-3 Bills.

The Bills offense once again showed promise, driving 42 yards on seven plays before Allen missed a wide-open Dalton Kincaid deep on a 3rd & 3. Buffalo then opted to go for it on fourth down, failing to convert and turning the ball over on downs. The Bills lead 10-3 heading into the second quarter.

The Colts took over at their 28-yard line, converted on a 3rd & 7 to put them at midfield then picked up another 16 yards with a pass to Alec Pierce. Indy’s offense continued to gash the Bills defense, picking up eight yards on a pass to Josh Downs then a 13-yard run by Taylor. Buffalo contained Taylor on the following play for just three yards, then held him for no gain on second down to force a 3rd & 7. Flacco’s pass fell incomplete by Bills cornerback Rasul Douglas was called for Illegal Contact, giving the Colts a first down. Tyler Goodson scored a touchdown from two yards out as Indy tied the game 10-10.

The Bills offense took a page out of the Colts’ first-quarter offense as Josh Allen threw an interception on the first play of their ensuing drive.

Buffalo’s defense gave up a big run from Taylor before settling down and holding the Colts to a field goal, giving Indianapolis their first lead of the game.

On the following kickoff, Bills returner Brandon Codrington fumbled the ball but offensive lineman Alec Anderson fell on top of the ball underneath a pile. The Bills then drove 70 yards on eight plays, highlighted by a Mack Hollins 16-yard catch on 2nd & long followed by a 34-yard pass to Dawson Knox. Josh Allen put the exclamation point on the drive with a 13-yard scamper to put the Bills on top 17-13.

The Colts’ offense neared a first down on their next drive but were forced to punt coming up a yard short in their territory.

With 1:18 to go in the half, the Bills took over. Buffalo picked up six yards, was pushed back five thanks to a Dion Dawkins false start, and picked up another seven yards to face a third down before the Colts took a timeout. The Bills went back to Ty Johnson on third down for an eight-yard completion. Buffalo threw back-to-back incompletions before Allen roamed out to his right on 3rd & 10, unloading a ball deep to Mack Hollins who slid, catching the ball at the Colts 29-yard line. 

Tyler Bass came in to kick his second field goal of the game, nailing a 47-yarder to give the Bills a 20-13 lead at the break.

The high-scoring first half ended and the second half did not pick up where it left off. The Colts produced their second-consecutive three-and-out to start the third quarter then Buffalo picked up just one first down on their next drive and punted back.

Indy had a promising drive that started at their three-yard line. The Colts marched into Bills territory as Flacco found Pierce for a 32-yard pickup. Buffalo’s defense bent but did not break, as Greg Rousseau forced a Flacco fumble and the Bills took over at midfield.

One play later, Josh Allen threw his second interception and the Colts took right back over in Bills territory.

The Colts squandered another opportunity, converting a 3rd & 8 with an Adonai Mitchell catch and run then picking up eight yards on the next three plays to face a 4th & 2. Flacco looked and waited, but all he found was Bills defensive tackle Quinton Jefferson rushing right at him, taking him down for a sack, and giving the Bills the ball back.

James Cook got the drive started, rushing for 16 yards then nine yards and tacked on another two to pick up a first. Mack Hollins hauled in a 19-yard catch to put the Bills inside the Colts 25.

After Hollins’ snag that put the Bills in field goal range, Buffalo was stuffed on a 3rd & 1 that they then re-racked on fourth down as Allen was pushed forward for five yards and a first down. Buffalo failed to gain a single yard on the next three plays and kicked their third field goal of the game to go up 23-13.

On the ensuing drive, the Colts picked up back-to-back first downs with passes to Downs and Mitchell before Flacco sailed a pass a bit too far and Pierce tipped it in the air and into Bills safety Taylor Rapp’s hands for an interception, Flacco’s third of the game.

Buffalo took over at their own 16 and was pushed back because of back-to-back holding calls before Allen ran for 21 yards on a 2nd & 19. The Bills followed that up with another 3rd & long that was converted by a 30-yard screen pass to Khalil Shakir. Two plays later, Buffalo faced yet another third down, this time Allen dumped it off to Ty Johnson who broke one tackle and ran for 17 yards to put the Bills in the red zone. 

Allen converted a 3rd & 3 to put Buffalo inside the five and James Cook punched it in from two yards out to give the Bills a 30-13 lead.

The Colts put together a last-ditch effort drive to close the game, scoring from 11 yards out to pull them within 10 points with two seconds left on the clock.

The Bills win their fifth-straight game and sit at 8-2 heading into a week 11 tilt with the Kansas City Chiefs, who are 9-0.

Allen ended his day with 22/37 passing for 280 yards and two interceptions. In Amari Cooper and Keon Coleman’s absence, Mack Hollins stepped up four catches and 86 yards, hauling in all of his targets. Khalil Shakir led the team with six catches, stacking 58 yards in the win. James Cook led the running back room with 20 touches for 85 yards and a score. 

The Bills have now scored 290 points in 10 games and allowed 186.