The Buffalo Bills are headed back east 2-0 after their West Coast "vacation." After defeating Matthew Stafford and the Los Angeles Rams in overtime on "Monday Night Football," they took down the Las Vegas Raiders in Allegiant Stadium on Sunday, 33-30.
Josh Allen bounced back after his 210-yard performance on Monday, completing 23 of 33 passes for 255 yards and two touchdowns. Despite threats from Joe Brady over his playing time following two fumbles earlier this week, running back James Cook III looked like a pillar for Buffalo's offense in Week 6. He rushed 22 times for 95 yards and a touchdown, while also catching three passes for 58 yards. This marked Cook's fifth straight game with 75 rushing yards and a touchdown.
Kirk Cousins and the Raiders were competitive for the majority of this matchup, which was what fans were hoping for following their 45-17 dismantling in New England last week. Vegas actually tied the game at 23 apiece with eight minutes remaining in the final quarter, but the Bills simply wouldn't be denied — scoring 10 unanswered points to secure the victory. The Raiders have now gone from 3-0, to 3-3.
Let's take a look at what went down in Vegas on Sunday.
Expected shootout
This matchup definitely lived up to expectations. It featured two first-year head coaches in Joe Brady and Klint Kubiak, and their combined 59.2 points per game entering Sunday were the most in a rookie head-coaching matchup in the Super Bowl era (min. five games). Both the Bills and Raiders were scoring and allowing 25+ points per game this season. It resulted in 63 combined points and 723 yards of total offense!
Buffalo's defensive issues
Joe Brady's offense is headlined by superheroes like Allen and Cook, but questions remain about Jim Leonhard's defense. They entered this matchup ranked third-worst in total defense (388.6 yards allowed per game) and fifth-worst in scoring defense (28.2 points allowed per game). They allowed 378 yards and 30 points vs. Vegas.
The Bills are 4-0 this season when allowing 30 points. The rest of the NFL is 8-42. It's the most wins (four) with 30+ points allowed through 6 games in NFL HISTORY, according to CBS Sports Research. Only one team has more such wins in a single season all-time, and that was the Rams in 2018 with five.
How long can the Bills keep getting away with this? We'll see.
What happened with Ashton Jeanty?
Ashton Jeanty's usage will be a talking point moving forward. He rushed 10 times for 22 yards and a touchdown, while rookie Mike Washington Jr. rushed nine times for 43 yards. Jeanty was more productive as a pass-catcher, hauling in four passes for 36 yards, but it looked like Washington was playing more than Jeanty in crunch time.
Washington played 33% of snaps while Jeanty played 57% of snaps, according to NFL Media. As we pointed out, Jeanty had just one more rushing attempt than Washington, and out-touched Jeanty, six to two, in the second half.
"He gave us a spark, he did some good stuff. He's been practicing well. Had some good runs for us," head coach Klint Kubiak told reporters afterwards. Kubiak said Jeanty, Washington and Dylan Laube will all continue to play. Hmm.
Gardner-Johnson ejected
CJGJ is the Bills' emotional leader on defense, but sometimes that emotion spills over in ways you don't want it to. Gardner-Johnson was ejected late in the second quarter after spitting in the direction of Raiders tight end Brock Bowers, and he could face potential discipline from the league.
Remember, Philadelphia Eagles star defensive tackle Jalen Carter was suspended "one game" for spitting on Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott in the 2025 season opener. Carter's one-game "suspension" was the ejection itself, since it happened before the first play from scrimmage. He was allowed to suit up in Week 2.
Plays of the game
If a young, struggling quarterback did this, it would be called an ill-advised play. But when the NFL MVP favorite does it, it looks amazing.
Allen flipped the ball up in the air for Keon Coleman on a third-and-8 while he was being pressured, and it was caught for a touchdown. Remarkable.
We also have to give Raiders wideout Tre Tucker credit for this incredible diving touchdown.
What's next
The Bills will enjoy their bye in Week 7 after this long West Coast trip. As for the Raiders, they will host Matthew Stafford and the Rams next Sunday. L.A. is coming off a shocking, 18-16 upset loss against the Arizona Cardinals.
