Buffalo Bills vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers Preview: Josh Allen vs. Baker Mayfield on Thursday Night Football

Bills vs. Buccaneers Thursday Night Week 8 Preview: Buffalo Keys To Victory

The Buffalo Bills host the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Thursday night in a prime-time matchup between two teams currently ranked second in their respective divisions. 

Tampa Bay hopes to snap a two-game losing streak while the Bills are fresh off a disastrous 29-25 loss to the New England Patriots. 

Buffalo allowed New England to gain a season-high in points and yards in a Week 7 29-25 loss. Patriots quarterback Mac Jones was able to complete 25 of 30 passes for 272 yards, two touchdowns and no interceptions against the Buffalo defense. Meanwhile, the Buccaneers suffered a 16-13 defeat at the hand of division-rival Atlanta.

Can Buffalo right the ship on a short week? This is the first of three straight prime-time games for the Bills.

The Bills hope to get after quarterback Baker Mayfield. The 2018 No. 1 overall pick and the Bucs offense have struggled as of late, scoring only 19 points and one touchdown in their two consecutive losses. 

However, the Bills' defense has also look lost at times recently without cornerback Tre'Davious White, linebacker Matt Milano and defensive tackle Da'Quan Jones, who were all placed on injured reserve in the last few weeks.

Keys to to victory for Bills quarterback Josh Allen and the offense will be striking early and finishing in the red zone. Buffalo has been outscored 24-0 in the first quarter of the last three games and the Buccaneers have the top red zone defense in the NFL.

Josh Allen / © Brian Fluharty, USA TODAY

SILVER LINING: Rookie tight end Dalton Kincaid had his first true breakout game in Sunday's loss. After a relatively pedestrian first few games, the first-round pick out of Utah had eight receptions on as many targets for 75 yards, all career-bests.

RECORDS: Buffalo Bills (4-3) vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (3-3)

ODDS: Buffalo is a 7.5-point favorite vs. the Buccaneers.

GAME TIME: Thursday, Oct. 26, 2023 at 7:15 p.m. CT

LOCATION: Highmark Stadium - Orchard Park, NY

TV/RADIO: Prime Video, WGR 550

THE FINAL WORD:  Said Allen after the 29-25 upset loss: "It feels pretty bleak right now.''

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