Las Vegas Raiders vs. Buffalo Bills: 2017 Week 8 Recap

Game story

In Week 8 of the 2017 NFL season on 2017-10-29, the Buffalo Bills took care of business against the Las Vegas Raiders, pulling away with a 34–14 final that controlled the game from start to finish.

The highest-scoring period was Q4 with 21 combined points — the stretch that most shaped the final margin.

D. Carr (Las Vegas Raiders) paced the passing game, with -6.96 total EPA, and -3.7% completion percentage over expected.

On the individual side, A. Holmes (Buffalo Bills) delivered the top overall EPA impact at +6.05 — the clearest player-of-the-game signal on the analytics sheet.

The momentum swing (-57.4% win probability) landed in the second quarter when Las Vegas Raiders changed the game: End of half - 2.25 pm

Line score

Final score and points by quarter.

Stars of the game

Top performers by total expected points added (EPA) across passing, rushing, and receiving.

1. 1 A. Holmes · Buffalo Bills · Receiving · +6.05 total EPA · 4 snaps · +1.51 EPA/play
2. 2 T. Taylor · Buffalo Bills · Passing · +4.15 total EPA · 31 snaps · +0.13 EPA/play
3. 3 J. Cook · Las Vegas Raiders · Receiving · +3.76 total EPA · 5 snaps · +0.75 EPA/play
4. 4 J. Olawale · Las Vegas Raiders · Rushing · +2.96 total EPA · 2 snaps · +1.48 EPA/play
5. 5 B. Tate · Buffalo Bills · Receiving · +2.40 total EPA · 1 snaps · +2.40 EPA/play
6. 6 L. Smith · Las Vegas Raiders · Receiving · +0.97 total EPA · 3 snaps · +0.32 EPA/play
7. 7 Z. Jones · Buffalo Bills · Receiving · +0.90 total EPA · 5 snaps · +0.18 EPA/play
8. 8 J. Matthews · Buffalo Bills · Receiving · +0.58 total EPA · 4 snaps · +0.14 EPA/play

Player of the game

FantasyHQ analytics player-of-the-game pick based on total EPA and signature plays.

Who scored touchdowns and field goals

Every touchdown and field goal with the player named in official play-by-play.

Touchdowns

• Las Vegas Raiders — J. Olawale (Q1 54:33)
• Buffalo Bills — A. Holmes (T. Taylor pass) (Q2 38:54)
• Buffalo Bills — D. Washington (D. Carr pass) (Q2 30:41)
• Buffalo Bills — T. Taylor (Q4 15:00)
• Las Vegas Raiders — D. Washington (D. Carr pass) (Q4 10:54)
• Buffalo Bills — L. McCoy (Q4 3:21)

Field goals

• Buffalo Bills — S. Hauschka (Q3 26:48)
• Buffalo Bills — S. Hauschka (Q3 23:23)

How it unfolded, quarter by quarter

A quarter-by-quarter recap built from live scoring plays and play descriptions.

The opening quarter: Las Vegas Raiders won the period 7–0. Las Vegas Raiders found the end zone from the BUF 1 (Q1 54:33) — (9:33) 49-J.Olawale up the middle for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN.; Las Vegas Raiders added 1 points from the BUF 15 (Q1 54:28) — 2-G.Tavecchio extra point is GOOD, Center-59-J.Condo, Holder-7-M.King..

The second quarter: Buffalo Bills won the period 14–0. Buffalo Bills found the end zone from the LV 6 (Q2 38:54) — (8:54) (Shotgun) 5-T.Taylor pass short left to 18-A.Holmes for 6 yards, TOUCHDOWN. Caught in rear corner of end zone.; Buffalo Bills added 1 points from the LV 15 (Q2 38:46) — 4-S.Hauschka extra point is GOOD, Center-69-R.Ferguson, Holder-6-C.Schmidt.; Buffalo Bills found the end zone from the BUF 66 (Q2 30:41); Buffalo Bills added 1 points from the LV 15 (Q2 30:32) — 4-S.Hauschka extra point is GOOD, Center-69-R.Ferguson, Holder-6-C.Schmidt..

The third quarter: Buffalo Bills won the period 6–0. Buffalo Bills connected on a field goal from the LV 17 (Q3 26:48) — (11:48) 4-S.Hauschka 35 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-69-R.Ferguson, Holder-6-C.Schmidt.; Buffalo Bills connected on a field goal from the LV 26 (Q3 23:23) — (8:23) 4-S.Hauschka 44 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-69-R.Ferguson, Holder-6-C.Schmidt..

The fourth quarter: Buffalo Bills won the period 14–7. Buffalo Bills found the end zone from the LV 1 (Q4 15:00) — (15:00) 5-T.Taylor up the middle for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN.; Buffalo Bills added 1 points from the LV 15 (Q4 14:57) — 4-S.Hauschka extra point is GOOD, Center-69-R.Ferguson, Holder-6-C.Schmidt.; Las Vegas Raiders found the end zone from the BUF 4 (Q4 10:54) — (10:54) (Shotgun) 4-D.Carr pass short right to 33-D.Washington for 4 yards, TOUCHDOWN. Caught at BUF 1, slanting to middle.; Las Vegas Raiders added 1 points from the BUF 15 (Q4 10:50); Buffalo Bills found the end zone from the LV 48 (Q4 3:21) — (3:21) 25-L.McCoy left guard for 48 yards, TOUCHDOWN. PENALTY on LV-51-B.Irvin, Unsportsmanlike Conduct, 15 yards, enforced between downs.; Buffalo Bills added 1 points from the LV 15 (Q4 3:12) — 4-S.Hauschka extra point is GOOD, Center-69-R.Ferguson, Holder-6-C.Schmidt..

Turning points

Plays that moved win probability the most — the swings that decided the game.

• Las Vegas Raiders (Q2) — End of half - 2.25 pm [WPA -57.4% · EPA -2.91]
• Las Vegas Raiders (Q2 30:01) — (:01) (Shotgun) 4-D.Carr pass short middle to 30-J.Richard to BUF 32 for 15 yards (24-L.Johnson). Caught at BUF 45, slanting from left. [WPA +53.3% · EPA +1.10]
• Las Vegas Raiders (Q2 30:41) — (:41) (No Huddle, Shotgun) 4-D.Carr pass short middle to 33-D.Washington to LV 39 for 5 yards (24-L.Johnson). FUMBLES (24-L.Johnson), RECOVERED by BUF-58-M.Milano at LV 40. 58-M.Milano for 40 yards, T [WPA -23.1% · EPA -7.78]
• Buffalo Bills (Q3 28:20) — (13:20) 6-C.Schmidt punts 55 yards to LV 13, Center-69-R.Ferguson. 30-J.Richard to LV 17 for 4 yards (58-M.Milano). FUMBLES (58-M.Milano), RECOVERED by BUF-35-M.Tolbert at LV 14. Penalty on LV-39-K.Mc [WPA +11.5% · EPA +5.77]
• Buffalo Bills (Q2 38:54) — (8:54) (Shotgun) 5-T.Taylor pass short left to 18-A.Holmes for 6 yards, TOUCHDOWN. Caught in rear corner of end zone. [WPA +9.6% · EPA +1.96]

Impact plays

Highest expected-points added snaps that flipped field position and scoring chances.

• Las Vegas Raiders (Q2 30:41) — (:41) (No Huddle, Shotgun) 4-D.Carr pass short middle to 33-D.Washington to LV 39 for 5 yards (24-L.Johnson). FUMBLES (24-L.Johnson), RECOVERED by BUF-58-M.Milano at LV 40. 58-M.Milano for 40 yards, T [WPA -23.1% · EPA -7.78]
• Buffalo Bills (Q3 28:20) — (13:20) 6-C.Schmidt punts 55 yards to LV 13, Center-69-R.Ferguson. 30-J.Richard to LV 17 for 4 yards (58-M.Milano). FUMBLES (58-M.Milano), RECOVERED by BUF-35-M.Tolbert at LV 14. Penalty on LV-39-K.Mc [WPA +11.5% · EPA +5.77]
• Buffalo Bills (Q4 3:21) — (3:21) 25-L.McCoy left guard for 48 yards, TOUCHDOWN. PENALTY on LV-51-B.Irvin, Unsportsmanlike Conduct, 15 yards, enforced between downs. [WPA +0.3% · EPA +4.47]
• Las Vegas Raiders (Q4 1:43) — (1:43) (Shotgun) 4-D.Carr pass deep left intended for 89-A.Cooper INTERCEPTED by 36-T.Elston at BUF 3. 36-T.Elston to BUF 25 for 22 yards (61-R.Hudson). Receiver overthrown, intercepted in flat. PENAL [WPA -0.0% · EPA -3.91]

Quarterback report card

D.Carr led all passers in efficiency for Las Vegas Raiders, setting the tone in the passing game according to FantasyHQ analytics.

• D.Carr (Las Vegas Raiders) · 50 dropbacks · 62.0% completion · -3.7% CPOE · -0.14 EPA/play · -6.96 total EPA
• T.Taylor (Buffalo Bills) · 31 dropbacks · 64.5% completion · +12.3% CPOE · +0.13 EPA/play · +4.15 total EPA

Team stats comparison

Side-by-side offensive and defensive efficiency from FantasyHQ analytics.

By the numbers

Buffalo Bills held the efficiency edge in offensive EPA per play (+0.12 vs -0.15), even if the scoreboard told a different story.

• Buffalo Bills: 12 drives, +10.61 total EPA, 5 scoring drives
• Las Vegas Raiders: 11 drives, -12.11 total EPA, 3 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.
• A. Holmes (Buffalo Bills) is the first name to pull up for highlight reels and prop-retrospective research.
• D. Carr (LV) finished below expected efficiency — volume may have masked accuracy issues.
• T. Taylor (BUF) beat expectation through the air — positive CPOE game for stack builds.

Every scoring play

Chronological scoring with field position and full play-by-play context.

1. Las Vegas Raiders TD (+6) — Q1 54:33 · BUF 1 · Score 6-0
   (9:33) 49-J.Olawale up the middle for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN.
2. Las Vegas Raiders XP (+1) — Q1 54:28 · BUF 15 · Score 7-0
   2-G.Tavecchio extra point is GOOD, Center-59-J.Condo, Holder-7-M.King.
3. Buffalo Bills TD (+6) — Q2 38:54 · LV 6 · Score 7-6
   (8:54) (Shotgun) 5-T.Taylor pass short left to 18-A.Holmes for 6 yards, TOUCHDOWN. Caught in rear corner of end zone.
4. Buffalo Bills XP (+1) — Q2 38:46 · LV 15 · Score 7-7
   4-S.Hauschka extra point is GOOD, Center-69-R.Ferguson, Holder-6-C.Schmidt.
5. Buffalo Bills TD (+6) — Q2 30:41 · BUF 66 · Score 7-13
   (:41) (No Huddle, Shotgun) 4-D.Carr pass short middle to 33-D.Washington to LV 39 for 5 yards (24-L.Johnson). FUMBLES (24-L.Johnson), RECOVERED by BUF-58-M.Mila
6. Buffalo Bills XP (+1) — Q2 30:32 · LV 15 · Score 7-14
   4-S.Hauschka extra point is GOOD, Center-69-R.Ferguson, Holder-6-C.Schmidt.
7. Buffalo Bills FG (+3) — Q3 26:48 · LV 17 · Score 7-17
   (11:48) 4-S.Hauschka 35 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-69-R.Ferguson, Holder-6-C.Schmidt.
8. Buffalo Bills FG (+3) — Q3 23:23 · LV 26 · Score 7-20
   (8:23) 4-S.Hauschka 44 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-69-R.Ferguson, Holder-6-C.Schmidt.
9. Buffalo Bills TD (+6) — Q4 15:00 · LV 1 · Score 7-26
   (15:00) 5-T.Taylor up the middle for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN.
10. Buffalo Bills XP (+1) — Q4 14:57 · LV 15 · Score 7-27
    4-S.Hauschka extra point is GOOD, Center-69-R.Ferguson, Holder-6-C.Schmidt.
11. Las Vegas Raiders TD (+6) — Q4 10:54 · BUF 4 · Score 13-27
    (10:54) (Shotgun) 4-D.Carr pass short right to 33-D.Washington for 4 yards, TOUCHDOWN. Caught at BUF 1, slanting to middle.
12. Las Vegas Raiders XP (+1) — Q4 10:50 · BUF 15 · Score 14-27
    2-G.Tavecchio extra point is GOOD, Center-59-J.Condo, Holder-7-M.King. PENALTY on BUF-94-J.Worthy, Leverage, 15 yards, enforced between downs.
13. Buffalo Bills TD (+6) — Q4 3:21 · LV 48 · Score 14-33
    (3:21) 25-L.McCoy left guard for 48 yards, TOUCHDOWN. PENALTY on LV-51-B.Irvin, Unsportsmanlike Conduct, 15 yards, enforced between downs.
14. Buffalo Bills XP (+1) — Q4 3:12 · LV 15 · Score 14-34
    4-S.Hauschka extra point is GOOD, Center-69-R.Ferguson, Holder-6-C.Schmidt.