Bills vs. Commanders Preview: Buffalo on Upset Alert?

The Buffalo Bills look to snag their first road win of the season against the Washington Commanders.

The Buffalo Bills travel to face the undefeated Washington Commanders with a chance to give quarterback Sam Howell his first loss as an NFL quarterback on Sunday afternoon. 

One of the top defenses in the league last season, Buffalo looks to get after Howell, who is fresh off a career performance in Washington's comeback victory over the Denver Broncos. Howell hit career highs in yards (299), completion percentage (69 percent), and touchdown passes (two). He is 3-0 as an NFL starter. 

The Bills handled the Las Vegas Raiders, 38-10, in Week 2. Quarterback Josh Allen bounced back from his Week 1 flub, committing zero turnovers while going 31 of 37 passing (83.8 percent) for 274 yards and three touchdowns.

James Cook paced the running game with 17 carries for 123 yards, the first 100-yard game of his two-year career. 

Allen and the Bills will face a Washington defense led by defensive end Montez Sweat, who has nine tackles, three sacks and two forced fumbles in the first two games of the season.

Can the three-time defending AFC East champions Bills keep up the positive momentum and effectiveness to snag their first road win of the season?

"It's humility," Coach Sean McDermott said. "When you approach every week with humility, you start in the right spot mentally and that's important. Not that he (Allen) normally doesn't do that, but when you have games like last week, it forces you to be rather humble."

Washington is tied atop the NFC East division with the Dallas Cowboys and Philadelphia Eagles.

USA TODAY

RECORDS: Buffalo Bills (1-1) at Washington Commanders (2-0)

ODDS: Buffalo is a 6.5-point favorite vs. the Commanders.

GAME TIME: Sunday, Sept. 24th, 2023 at 1 p.m. ET

LOCATION: FedEx Field - North Englewood, MD

TV/RADIO: CBS, WGR 550

THE FINAL WORD: Gabe Davis, who had six catches for 92 yards and a touchdown in Week 2, on Allen:

"We're behind him 100 percent," Davis said. "He's the best quarterback in the NFL, in my eyes." 

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