Game story
In Week 3 of the 2023 NFL season on 2023-09-24, the Buffalo Bills took care of business against the Washington Commanders, pulling away with a 37–3 final that controlled the game from start to finish.
The highest-scoring period was Q4 with 24 combined points — the stretch that most shaped the final margin.
S. Howell (Washington Commanders) paced the passing game, with -28.85 total EPA, and +0.0% completion percentage over expected.
On the individual side, J. Allen (Buffalo Bills) delivered the top overall EPA impact at +9.06 — the clearest player-of-the-game signal on the analytics sheet.
The momentum swing (+12.7% win probability) landed in the opening quarter when Buffalo Bills changed the game: (11:41) (Shotgun) 17-J.Allen pass deep right to 14-S.Diggs to WAS 30 for 30 yards (13-E.Forbes) [90-M.Sweat].
Line score
Final score and points by quarter.
| Q1 | Q2 | Q4 | — | — | T | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Buffalo Bills | 10 | 9 | 21 | 0 | 0 | 37 |
| Washington Commanders | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
Stars of the game
Top performers by total expected points added (EPA) across passing, rushing, and receiving.
- 1 J. Allen · Buffalo Bills · Passing · +9.06 total EPA · 38 snaps · +0.24 EPA/play
- 2 S. Diggs · Buffalo Bills · Receiving · +3.00 total EPA · 12 snaps · +0.25 EPA/play
- 3 L. Murray · Buffalo Bills · Rushing · +2.81 total EPA · 5 snaps · +0.56 EPA/play
- 4 T. McLaurin · Washington Commanders · Receiving · +2.24 total EPA · 6 snaps · +0.37 EPA/play
- 5 J. Cook · Buffalo Bills · Rushing · +2.19 total EPA · 15 snaps · +0.15 EPA/play
- 6 G. Davis · Buffalo Bills · Receiving · +1.60 total EPA · 4 snaps · +0.40 EPA/play
- 7 K. Shakir · Buffalo Bills · Receiving · +1.12 total EPA · 1 snaps · +1.12 EPA/play
- 8 L. Murray · Buffalo Bills · Receiving · +0.93 total EPA · 1 snaps · +0.93 EPA/play
Player of the game
FantasyHQ analytics player-of-the-game pick based on total EPA and signature plays.
J. Allen — BUF · Passing
J. Allen posted the highest total EPA (+9.06) in the game, making the biggest overall impact on Buffalo Bills's efficiency. Across 38 counted snaps, they averaged +0.24 EPA per play.
The signature play (-7.42 EPA) came from Washington Commanders: (10:12) (Shotgun) 14-S.Howell pass short left intended for 1-J.Dotson INTERCEPTED by 57-A.Epenesa at WAS 32. 57-A.Epenesa for 32 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
Who scored touchdowns and field goals
Every touchdown and field goal with the player named in official play-by-play.
Touchdowns
- Buffalo Bills — G. Davis (J. Allen pass)
- Buffalo Bills — J. Allen
- Buffalo Bills — A. Epenesa
- Buffalo Bills — L. Murray
Field goals
- Buffalo Bills — T. Bass
- Buffalo Bills — T. Bass
- Buffalo Bills — T. Bass
- Buffalo Bills — T. Bass
- Washington Commanders — J. Slye
How it unfolded, quarter by quarter
A quarter-by-quarter recap built from live scoring plays and play descriptions.
The opening quarter: Buffalo Bills won the period 10–0. Buffalo Bills connected on a field goal from the WAS 18 (Q1 54:32) — (9:32) 2-T.Bass 36 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-69-R.Ferguson, Holder-8-S.Martin.; Buffalo Bills found the end zone from the WAS 35 (Q1 45:47) — (:47) (Shotgun) 17-J.Allen pass deep left to 13-G.Davis for 35 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Buffalo Bills added 1 points from the WAS 15 (Q1 45:41) — 2-T.Bass extra point is GOOD, Center-69-R.Ferguson, Holder-8-S.Martin..
The second quarter: Buffalo Bills won the period 9–0. Buffalo Bills connected on a field goal from the WAS 36 (Q2 32:00) — (2:00) 2-T.Bass 54 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-69-R.Ferguson, Holder-8-S.Martin.; Buffalo Bills connected on a field goal from the WAS 14 (Q2 30:22) — (:22) 2-T.Bass 32 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-69-R.Ferguson, Holder-8-S.Martin.; Buffalo Bills connected on a field goal from the BUF 35 (Q2 30:19) — 2-T.Bass kicks 65 yards from BUF 35 to end zone, Touchback..
The fourth quarter: Buffalo Bills won the period 21–3. Buffalo Bills found the end zone from the WAS 10 (Q4 10:43) — (10:43) (Shotgun) 17-J.Allen scrambles up the middle for 10 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Buffalo Bills added 1 points from the WAS 15 (Q4 10:37) — 2-T.Bass extra point is GOOD, Center-69-R.Ferguson, Holder-8-S.Martin.; Buffalo Bills found the end zone from the BUF 70 (Q4 10:12); Buffalo Bills added 1 points from the WAS 15 (Q4 10:01) — 2-T.Bass extra point is GOOD, Center-69-R.Ferguson, Holder-8-S.Martin.; Buffalo Bills found the end zone from the WAS 2 (Q4 2:19) — (2:19) (Shotgun) 28-L.Murray right guard for 2 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Buffalo Bills added 1 points from the WAS 15 (Q4 2:15) — 2-T.Bass extra point is GOOD, Center-69-R.Ferguson, Holder-8-S.Martin.; Washington Commanders connected on a field goal from the BUF 33 (Q4 0:50) — (:50) 6-J.Slye 51 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-54-C.Cheeseman, Holder-5-T.Way..
Turning points
Plays that moved win probability the most — the swings that decided the game.
- Buffalo Bills (Q1 56:41) — (11:41) (Shotgun) 17-J.Allen pass deep right to 14-S.Diggs to WAS 30 for 30 yards (13-E.Forbes) [90-M.Sweat].
- Washington Commanders (Q1 49:45) — (4:45) (Shotgun) 14-S.Howell pass deep middle intended for 2-D.Brown INTERCEPTED by 43-T.Bernard at BUF 16. 43-T.Bernard to BUF 16 for no gain (2-D.Brown).
- Buffalo Bills (Q1 45:47) — (:47) (Shotgun) 17-J.Allen pass deep left to 13-G.Davis for 35 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
- Washington Commanders (Q2 31:19) — (1:19) (No Huddle, Shotgun) 14-S.Howell pass short left intended for 24-A.Gibson INTERCEPTED by 23-M.Hyde at WAS 34. 23-M.Hyde to WAS 33 for 1 yard (24-A.Gibson).
- Buffalo Bills (Q2 32:00) — (2:00) 2-T.Bass 54 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-69-R.Ferguson, Holder-8-S.Martin.
Impact plays
Highest expected-points added snaps that flipped field position and scoring chances.
- Washington Commanders (Q4 10:12) — (10:12) (Shotgun) 14-S.Howell pass short left intended for 1-J.Dotson INTERCEPTED by 57-A.Epenesa at WAS 32. 57-A.Epenesa for 32 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
- Washington Commanders (Q4 14:16) — (14:16) (Shotgun) 14-S.Howell pass short middle to 24-A.Gibson to WAS 35 for -2 yards (7-Ta.Johnson) [90-S.Lawson]. FUMBLES (7-Ta.Johnson), touched at WAS 35, RECOVERED by BUF-43-T.Bernard at WAS 30.
- Washington Commanders (Q2 31:19) — (1:19) (No Huddle, Shotgun) 14-S.Howell pass short left intended for 24-A.Gibson INTERCEPTED by 23-M.Hyde at WAS 34. 23-M.Hyde to WAS 33 for 1 yard (24-A.Gibson).
- Washington Commanders (Q3 24:17) — (9:17) (Shotgun) 14-S.Howell pass deep right intended for 4-C.Samuel INTERCEPTED by 27-T.White [90-S.Lawson] at BUF -1. 27-T.White to BUF 1 for 2 yards (4-C.Samuel).
Quarterback report card
S.Howell led all passers in efficiency for Washington Commanders, setting the tone in the passing game according to FantasyHQ analytics.
- S.Howell (Washington Commanders) · 41 dropbacks · 46.3% completion · +0.0% CPOE · -0.70 EPA/play · -28.85 total EPA
- J.Allen (Buffalo Bills) · 38 dropbacks · 52.6% completion · -3.1% CPOE · +0.24 EPA/play · +9.06 total EPA
Team stats comparison
Side-by-side offensive and defensive efficiency from FantasyHQ analytics.
| Stat | Buffalo Bills | Washington Commanders |
|---|---|---|
| Offensive EPA/play | +0.163 | -0.428 |
| Offensive success rate | 45.0% | 38.8% |
| Pass EPA/play | +0.239 | -0.704 |
| Rush EPA/play | +0.049 | -0.006 |
| Defensive EPA/play | +0.428 | -0.163 |
| Defensive success rate | 61.2% | 55.0% |
By the numbers
Despite the final score, Buffalo Bills generated the better offensive EPA per play (+0.16 vs -0.43), suggesting they moved the ball more efficiently.
- Buffalo Bills: 11 drives, +13.04 total EPA, 6 scoring drives
- Washington Commanders: 11 drives, -28.68 total EPA, 2 scoring drives
Key takeaways
What to remember for fantasy research, film review, and follow-up box score digging.
- Buffalo Bills leaves with the win and the better postgame narrative for Week-to-week momentum.
- J. Allen (Buffalo Bills) is the first name to pull up for highlight reels and prop-retrospective research.
- J. Allen (BUF) finished below expected efficiency — volume may have masked accuracy issues.
Every scoring play
Chronological scoring with field position and full play-by-play context.
- Buffalo Bills FG (+3) — Q1 54:32 · WAS 18 · Score 3-0
(9:32) 2-T.Bass 36 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-69-R.Ferguson, Holder-8-S.Martin. - Buffalo Bills TD (+6) — Q1 45:47 · WAS 35 · Score 9-0
(:47) (Shotgun) 17-J.Allen pass deep left to 13-G.Davis for 35 yards, TOUCHDOWN. - Buffalo Bills XP (+1) — Q1 45:41 · WAS 15 · Score 10-0
2-T.Bass extra point is GOOD, Center-69-R.Ferguson, Holder-8-S.Martin. - Buffalo Bills FG (+3) — Q2 32:00 · WAS 36 · Score 13-0
(2:00) 2-T.Bass 54 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-69-R.Ferguson, Holder-8-S.Martin. - Buffalo Bills FG (+3) — Q2 30:22 · WAS 14 · Score 16-0
(:22) 2-T.Bass 32 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-69-R.Ferguson, Holder-8-S.Martin. - Buffalo Bills FG (+3) — Q2 30:19 · BUF 35 · Score 16-0
2-T.Bass kicks 65 yards from BUF 35 to end zone, Touchback. - Buffalo Bills TD (+6) — Q4 10:43 · WAS 10 · Score 22-0
(10:43) (Shotgun) 17-J.Allen scrambles up the middle for 10 yards, TOUCHDOWN. - Buffalo Bills XP (+1) — Q4 10:37 · WAS 15 · Score 23-0
2-T.Bass extra point is GOOD, Center-69-R.Ferguson, Holder-8-S.Martin. - Buffalo Bills TD (+6) — Q4 10:12 · BUF 70 · Score 29-0
(10:12) (Shotgun) 14-S.Howell pass short left intended for 1-J.Dotson INTERCEPTED by 57-A.Epenesa at WAS 32. 57-A.Epenesa for 32 yards, TOUCHDOWN. - Buffalo Bills XP (+1) — Q4 10:01 · WAS 15 · Score 30-0
2-T.Bass extra point is GOOD, Center-69-R.Ferguson, Holder-8-S.Martin. - Buffalo Bills TD (+6) — Q4 2:19 · WAS 2 · Score 36-0
(2:19) (Shotgun) 28-L.Murray right guard for 2 yards, TOUCHDOWN. - Buffalo Bills XP (+1) — Q4 2:15 · WAS 15 · Score 37-0
2-T.Bass extra point is GOOD, Center-69-R.Ferguson, Holder-8-S.Martin. - Washington Commanders FG (+3) — Q4 0:50 · BUF 33 · Score 37-3
(:50) 6-J.Slye 51 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-54-C.Cheeseman, Holder-5-T.Way.
Frequently asked questions
Who won Buffalo Bills vs Washington Commanders?
The Buffalo Bills beat the Washington Commanders 37-3 in Week 3, 2023 on 2023-09-24.
What was the final score of Buffalo Bills vs Washington Commanders?
The final score was Buffalo Bills 37, Washington Commanders 3 (BUF 37-3 WAS) in Week 3, 2023 on 2023-09-24.
What was the score by quarter in Buffalo Bills vs Washington Commanders?
Q1: Buffalo Bills 10, Washington Commanders 0; Q2: Buffalo Bills 9, Washington Commanders 0; Q4: Buffalo Bills 21, Washington Commanders 3; Final: Buffalo Bills 37, Washington Commanders 3.
Who scored touchdowns and field goals in Buffalo Bills vs Washington Commanders?
Buffalo Bills touchdown — G. Davis (J. Allen pass) (Q1 45:47) Buffalo Bills touchdown — J. Allen (Q4 10:43) Buffalo Bills touchdown — A. Epenesa (Q4 10:12) Buffalo Bills touchdown — L. Murray (Q4 2:19) Buffalo Bills field goal — T. Bass (Q1 54:32, 3 pts) Buffalo Bills field goal — T. Bass (Q2 32:00, 3 pts) Buffalo Bills field goal — T. Bass (Q2 30:22, 3 pts) Buffalo Bills field goal — T. Bass (Q2 30:19, 3 pts) Washington Commanders field goal — J. Slye (Q4 0:50, 3 pts) Extra points followed each touchdown unless noted in the play-by-play.
How did the quarterbacks play in Buffalo Bills vs Washington Commanders?
S. Howell (Washington Commanders), 46.3% completion, +0.0% CPOE, -0.70 EPA per dropback, -28.85 total passing EPA. J. Allen (Buffalo Bills), 52.6% completion, -3.1% CPOE, +0.24 EPA per dropback, +9.06 total passing EPA.
Who was the most impactful player in Buffalo Bills vs Washington Commanders?
J. Allen (Buffalo Bills) led the game in total EPA with +9.06 on passing plays. across 38 snaps. The top single-play swing was (-7.42 EPA): (10:12) (Shotgun) 14-S.Howell pass short left intended for 1-J.Dotson INTERCEPTED by 57-A.Epenesa at WAS 32. 57-A.Epenesa for 32 yards, TOUCHDOWN.. The biggest win-probability swing was +12.7%.
Season records after this game
Buffalo Bills
Entered 1-1 Now 2-1 W
Washington Commanders
Entered 2-0 Now 2-1 L
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