November 16, 2025<\/a><\/p>\nBills\u2019 offense shines<\/p>\n
Allen shook off a brutal error on his second snap to produce an effort otherwise good enough to win and potentially wake up Buffalo\u2019s sleepwalking offense. Allen threw a two-handed chest pass from his own end zone to give Tampa Bay a free 3-0 lead. Then the reigning MVP accounted for six touchdowns, three through the air and three on the ground, the first in NFL history to do so twice over a career.<\/p>\n
Bills coach Sean McDermott made two big personnel changes at wideout, and offensive coordinator Joe Brady got several unusual contributors involved in the passing game. Healthy scratches included 2024 second-round pick Keon Coleman for showing up late to a meeting on Friday, and Elijah Moore.<\/p>\n
They were replaced by old friend Gabriel Davis and newcomer Mecole Hardman, but the real impact players were fringe receiver Shavers and tailback James Cook. Shavers caught four passes for 90 yards \u2014 both team-highs \u2014 and scored on a 43-yard strike in the second quarter. Deep-ball TDs have been rare for Buffalo this year. Cook entered Sunday averaging two catches and 18 yards, but he grabbed three passes for 66 yards, including a 25-yard touchdown late in the third quarter. The aerial explosion happened despite top target Dalton Kincaid being sidelined by a hamstring injury and slot receiver Khalil Shakir finishing with one reception for minus-3 yards, one of nine Bills with at least one catch. \u2014 Tim Graham, senior writer<\/p>\n
Buffalo\u2019s defense survives<\/p>\n
The offense found traction and needed every bit of its production to outlast Mayfield\u2019s relentlessness and backup running back Tucker\u2019s career day. The Bills\u2019 run defense remains a serious concern. Tucker gashed them repeatedly, while Mayfield scrambled for first downs all afternoon. Buffalo\u2019s decimated defensive line looked as porous as ever, and not having linebacker Shaq Thompson also hurt the cause. Linebacker and captain Terrel Bernard made 11 tackles, two for losses, and broke up a couple of passes, but he still appears bothered by the ankle injury he suffered in Buffalo\u2019s Week 6 loss to the Falcons.<\/p>\n
The Bills recorded zero sacks and only two QB hits until prior to the two-minute warning. Sophomore safety Cole Bishop continued to shine with an acrobatic interception \u2014 that makes two straight games with a pick for Bishop. Three games ago, Bishop racked up four pass breakups. \u2014 Graham<\/p>\n
Is the NFC South up for grabs?<\/p>\n
The Buccaneers hit their first two-game losing streak of the season, and after the Carolina Panthers eked out a win over the Atlanta Falcons on Sunday, Tampa Bay\u2019s cushion atop the NFC South is down to only half a game. The loss at Buffalo will raise plenty of questions for the Bucs, as the defense allowed Allen to account for six total touchdowns.<\/p>\n
To make matters worse, top cornerback Jamel Dean left the contest with a hip injury, as the injury bug has continued to hamper a Tampa Bay squad that has lost important players all season long. Tampa Bay has a whopper of a matchup in Week 12 on the road against the Los Angeles Rams, and to contend with that dynamic offense, the defense will have to answer a lot of difficult questions this week at practice. \u2014 Joe Buscaglia, Bills beat writer<\/p>\n
Bucs run all over Buffalo<\/p>\n
The Buccaneers had some encouraging news during the week, as top running back Bucky Irving resumed practicing after a multi-week layoff with injuries, but they didn\u2019t need him to have an incredibly efficient offense on Sunday. Tucker, who went to college a few hours down the road from Buffalo at Syracuse, put together a three-touchdown game and gained 140 total yards against the Bills. Buffalo struggled to contain Tucker \u2014 and really, the entire Tampa Bay rushing unit \u2014 throughout the game.<\/p>\n
Tucker, Rachaad White and Mayfield combined for 196 of the Buccaneers\u2019 202 total rushing yards on Sunday. It wound up not mattering, as Tampa Bay\u2019s defense allowed the Bills to get back on track, scoring 44 points. \u2014 Buscaglia<\/p>\n