Las Vegas Raiders vs. Buffalo Bills: 2023 Week 2 Recap

Game story

In Week 2 of the 2023 NFL season on 2023-09-17, the Buffalo Bills took care of business against the Las Vegas Raiders, pulling away with a 38–10 final that controlled the game from start to finish.

The highest-scoring period was Q2 with 17 combined points — the stretch that most shaped the final margin.

J. Allen (Buffalo Bills) paced the passing game, with +15.76 total EPA, and +15.1% completion percentage over expected.

On the individual side, J. Allen (Buffalo Bills) delivered the top overall EPA impact at +15.76 — the clearest player-of-the-game signal on the analytics sheet.

The momentum swing (-10.2% win probability) landed in the opening quarter when Las Vegas Raiders changed the game: (8:22) 10-J.Garoppolo pass short middle intended for 22-A.Abdullah INTERCEPTED by 43-T.Bernard (50-G.Rousseau) [92-D.Jones] at LV 28. 43-T.Bernard to LV 28 for no gain (22-A.Abdullah).

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 J. Allen · Buffalo Bills · Passing · +15.76 total EPA · 42 snaps · +0.38 EPA/play
2. 2 G. Davis · Buffalo Bills · Receiving · +11.52 total EPA · 7 snaps · +1.65 EPA/play
3. 3 D. Adams · Las Vegas Raiders · Receiving · +6.53 total EPA · 8 snaps · +0.82 EPA/play
4. 4 S. Diggs · Buffalo Bills · Receiving · +4.17 total EPA · 7 snaps · +0.60 EPA/play
5. 5 J. Allen · Buffalo Bills · Rushing · +3.73 total EPA · 3 snaps · +1.24 EPA/play
6. 6 D. Harris · Buffalo Bills · Rushing · +3.50 total EPA · 7 snaps · +0.50 EPA/play
7. 7 K. Shakir · Buffalo Bills · Receiving · +2.85 total EPA · 1 snaps · +2.85 EPA/play
8. 8 T. Tucker · Las Vegas Raiders · Rushing · +2.24 total EPA · 1 snaps · +2.24 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 — D. Adams (J. Garoppolo pass) (Q1 57:22)
• Buffalo Bills — L. Murray (Q1 49:23)
• Buffalo Bills — D. Knox (J. Allen pass) (Q2 42:16)
• Buffalo Bills — K. Shakir (J. Allen pass) (Q2 30:24)
• Buffalo Bills — G. Davis (J. Allen pass) (Q3 21:06)
• Buffalo Bills — D. Harris (Q4 5:11)

Field goals

• Las Vegas Raiders — D. Carlson (Q2 36:53)
• Buffalo Bills — T. Bass (Q4 15:00)

How it unfolded, quarter by quarter

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

The opening quarter: The quarter finished even at 7–7. Las Vegas Raiders found the end zone from the BUF 16 (Q1 57:22) — (12:22) 10-J.Garoppolo pass short left to 17-D.Adams for 16 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Las Vegas Raiders added 1 points from the BUF 15 (Q1 57:16) — 2-D.Carlson extra point is GOOD, Center-50-J.Bobenmoyer, Holder-6-A.Cole.; Buffalo Bills found the end zone from the LV 4 (Q1 49:23) — (4:23) 28-L.Murray up the middle for 4 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Buffalo Bills added 1 points from the LV 15 (Q1 49:19) — 2-T.Bass extra point is GOOD, Center-69-R.Ferguson, Holder-8-S.Martin..

The second quarter: Buffalo Bills won the period 14–3. Buffalo Bills found the end zone from the LV 2 (Q2 42:16) — (12:16) 76-D.Edwards reported in as eligible. 17-J.Allen pass short left to 88-D.Knox for 2 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Buffalo Bills added 1 points from the LV 15 (Q2 42:10) — 2-T.Bass extra point is GOOD, Center-69-R.Ferguson, Holder-8-S.Martin.; Las Vegas Raiders connected on a field goal from the BUF 29 (Q2 36:53) — (6:53) 2-D.Carlson 47 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-50-J.Bobenmoyer, Holder-6-A.Cole.; Buffalo Bills found the end zone from the LV 11 (Q2 30:24) — (:24) (Shotgun) 17-J.Allen pass short middle to 10-K.Shakir for 11 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Buffalo Bills added 1 points from the LV 15 (Q2 30:18) — 2-T.Bass extra point is GOOD, Center-69-R.Ferguson, Holder-8-S.Martin..

The third quarter: Buffalo Bills won the period 13–0. Buffalo Bills found the end zone from the LV 2 (Q3 21:06) — (6:06) (Shotgun) 17-J.Allen pass short right to 13-G.Davis for 2 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Buffalo Bills found the end zone from the LV 15 (Q3 20:59) — 2-T.Bass extra point is GOOD, Center-69-R.Ferguson, Holder-8-S.Martin..

The fourth quarter: Buffalo Bills won the period 16–0. Buffalo Bills connected on a field goal from the LV 11 (Q4 15:00) — (15:00) 2-T.Bass 29 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-69-R.Ferguson, Holder-8-S.Martin.; Buffalo Bills found the end zone from the LV 1 (Q4 5:11) — (5:11) (Shotgun) 22-D.Harris up the middle for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN.; Buffalo Bills found the end zone from the LV 15 (Q4 5:08) — 2-T.Bass extra point is GOOD, Center-69-R.Ferguson, Holder-8-S.Martin..

Turning points

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

• Las Vegas Raiders (Q1 53:22) — (8:22) 10-J.Garoppolo pass short middle intended for 22-A.Abdullah INTERCEPTED by 43-T.Bernard (50-G.Rousseau) [92-D.Jones] at LV 28. 43-T.Bernard to LV 28 for no gain (22-A.Abdullah). [WPA -10.2% · EPA -4.98]
• Buffalo Bills (Q2 33:01) — (3:01) (Shotgun) 17-J.Allen pass incomplete short left to 88-D.Knox (39-N.Hobbs). [WPA -8.6% · EPA -4.31]
• Las Vegas Raiders (Q1 58:03) — (13:03) 11-T.Tucker left end to BUF 16 for 34 yards (27-T.White; 23-M.Hyde). [WPA +8.0% · EPA +2.24]
• Buffalo Bills (Q1 50:09) — (5:09) 17-J.Allen up the middle to LV 4 for 2 yards (98-M.Crosby). [WPA +6.8% · EPA +2.08]
• Buffalo Bills (Q2 31:01) — (1:01) (Shotgun) 17-J.Allen pass deep left to 14-S.Diggs to LV 38 for 17 yards (0-J.Bennett). [WPA +6.5% · EPA +1.59]

Impact plays

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

• Las Vegas Raiders (Q3 18:58) — (3:58) 77-T.Munford reported in as eligible. 10-J.Garoppolo pass short right intended for 8-J.Jacobs INTERCEPTED by 58-M.Milano at BUF 49. 58-M.Milano to LV 48 for 3 yards (8-J.Jacobs). [WPA -2.5% · EPA -5.63]
• Las Vegas Raiders (Q1 53:22) — (8:22) 10-J.Garoppolo pass short middle intended for 22-A.Abdullah INTERCEPTED by 43-T.Bernard (50-G.Rousseau) [92-D.Jones] at LV 28. 43-T.Bernard to LV 28 for no gain (22-A.Abdullah). [WPA -10.2% · EPA -4.98]
• Las Vegas Raiders (Q4 2:26) — (2:26) 35-Z.White left tackle to BUF 15 for no gain (30-D.Jackson). FUMBLES (30-D.Jackson), RECOVERED by BUF-20-T.Rapp at BUF 13. 20-T.Rapp to BUF 19 for 6 yards (11-T.Tucker). Penalty on LV-87-M.Maye [WPA -0.0% · EPA -4.48]
• Buffalo Bills (Q2 33:01) — (3:01) (Shotgun) 17-J.Allen pass incomplete short left to 88-D.Knox (39-N.Hobbs). [WPA -8.6% · EPA -4.31]

Quarterback report card

J.Allen led all passers in efficiency for Buffalo Bills, setting the tone in the passing game according to FantasyHQ analytics.

• J.Allen (Buffalo Bills) · 42 dropbacks · 73.8% completion · +15.1% CPOE · +0.38 EPA/play · +15.76 total EPA
• J.Garoppolo (Las Vegas Raiders) · 26 dropbacks · 61.5% completion · +3.1% CPOE · -0.05 EPA/play · -1.31 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 (+0.26 vs -0.12), even if the scoreboard told a different story.

• Buffalo Bills: 9 drives, +23.95 total EPA, 6 scoring drives
• Las Vegas Raiders: 9 drives, -6.42 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) beat expectation through the air — positive CPOE game for stack builds.
• J. Garoppolo (LV) 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 57:22 · BUF 16 · Score 6-0
   (12:22) 10-J.Garoppolo pass short left to 17-D.Adams for 16 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
2. Las Vegas Raiders XP (+1) — Q1 57:16 · BUF 15 · Score 7-0
   2-D.Carlson extra point is GOOD, Center-50-J.Bobenmoyer, Holder-6-A.Cole.
3. Buffalo Bills TD (+6) — Q1 49:23 · LV 4 · Score 7-6
   (4:23) 28-L.Murray up the middle for 4 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
4. Buffalo Bills XP (+1) — Q1 49:19 · LV 15 · Score 7-7
   2-T.Bass extra point is GOOD, Center-69-R.Ferguson, Holder-8-S.Martin.
5. Buffalo Bills TD (+6) — Q2 42:16 · LV 2 · Score 7-13
   (12:16) 76-D.Edwards reported in as eligible. 17-J.Allen pass short left to 88-D.Knox for 2 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
6. Buffalo Bills XP (+1) — Q2 42:10 · LV 15 · Score 7-14
   2-T.Bass extra point is GOOD, Center-69-R.Ferguson, Holder-8-S.Martin.
7. Las Vegas Raiders FG (+3) — Q2 36:53 · BUF 29 · Score 10-14
   (6:53) 2-D.Carlson 47 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-50-J.Bobenmoyer, Holder-6-A.Cole.
8. Buffalo Bills TD (+6) — Q2 30:24 · LV 11 · Score 10-20
   (:24) (Shotgun) 17-J.Allen pass short middle to 10-K.Shakir for 11 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
9. Buffalo Bills XP (+1) — Q2 30:18 · LV 15 · Score 10-21
   2-T.Bass extra point is GOOD, Center-69-R.Ferguson, Holder-8-S.Martin.
10. Buffalo Bills TD (+6) — Q3 21:06 · LV 2 · Score 10-27
    (6:06) (Shotgun) 17-J.Allen pass short right to 13-G.Davis for 2 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
11. Buffalo Bills TD (+7) — Q3 20:59 · LV 15 · Score 10-28
    2-T.Bass extra point is GOOD, Center-69-R.Ferguson, Holder-8-S.Martin.
12. Buffalo Bills FG (+3) — Q4 15:00 · LV 11 · Score 10-31
    (15:00) 2-T.Bass 29 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-69-R.Ferguson, Holder-8-S.Martin.
13. Buffalo Bills TD (+6) — Q4 5:11 · LV 1 · Score 10-37
    (5:11) (Shotgun) 22-D.Harris up the middle for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN.
14. Buffalo Bills TD (+7) — Q4 5:08 · LV 15 · Score 10-38
    2-T.Bass extra point is GOOD, Center-69-R.Ferguson, Holder-8-S.Martin.