Bills trample Jaguars to maintain perfect start, Commanders hold off Bengals
Josh Allen (28) delivered an outstanding performance as the Buffalo Bills decisively defeated the Jacksonville Jaguars 47-10, preserving their flawless record in the NFL season on Monday.
The Bills' quarterback showcased exceptional skill, leading Buffalo to a dominant first half that concluded with a commanding 34-3 advantage at halftime.
Allen recorded four touchdown passes and accumulated 263 passing yards, while the Bills' defense relentlessly pressured Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence at Highmark Stadium.
Lawrence faced significant challenges, being sacked four times as the winless Jaguars suffered their third consecutive loss of the season.
Bills running back James Cook opened the scoring with a six-yard touchdown run, capping a 10-play, 70-yard drive.
Following a punt on their initial possession, Buffalo quickly returned to the end zone on their next drive, with Dalton Kincaid catching a short pass from Allen to extend the lead to 13-0 after Tyler Bass's successful extra point.
Jacksonville managed to score with a 41-yard field goal by Cam Little early in the second quarter, but Allen responded with touchdown passes to Keon Coleman, Khalil Shakir, and Ty Johnson, increasing Buffalo's lead to 31 points by halftime.
The loudest cheer of the one-sided first half erupted when safety Damar Hamlin, who had a near-fatal cardiac arrest during a game against Cincinnati last year, recorded the first interception of his career, setting up the drive that culminated in Shakir's touchdown.
Hamlin was surrounded by his Bills teammates following his first interception, expressing gratitude for their significant role in his recovery over the past year.
"They played a crucial part in my ability to achieve this comeback," Hamlin remarked.
"They were even more excited than I was about my first interception. This truly reflects the strong community we have here in Buffalo. It is a remarkable place."
In the early moments of the second half, Jacksonville displayed a brief offensive spark, with Lawrence orchestrating an eight-play, 70-yard drive culminating in Brenton Strange catching a six-yard touchdown pass.
However, two additional field goals from Bass extended Buffalo's lead to 40-10, before Ray Davis capped the scoring with a late three-yard rushing touchdown.
In another matchup on Monday, the Cincinnati Bengals continued their search for their first victory of the season, suffering a 38-33 defeat at home against the Washington Commanders.
Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow began the game strongly, connecting with Ja'Marr Chase for a 41-yard touchdown in the first quarter.
However, Washington soon took control, with rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels demonstrating remarkable poise for his age, leading the Commanders to an impressive victory.
Daniels concluded the game with two touchdowns and 254 yards, completing 21 of 23 passes, achieving a record 91.3 percent completion rate for a rookie quarterback.
The Bengals, who were down by 15 points early in the third quarter, narrowed the deficit to five after Burrow connected with Chase for a touchdown in the fourth quarter.
However, Daniels calmly executed a fourth down conversion to sustain the drive and subsequently found Terry McLaurin in the end zone for a 27-yard touchdown, extending the score to 38-26.
With just 40 seconds left in the fourth quarter, Bengals running back Zack Moss reduced Washington's lead by scoring from one yard out, bringing the score to 38-33, but it ultimately proved insufficient for the home team.
SportsLigue