Bills vs. Commanders Pick & Prediction SEPTEMBER 24th 2023

The Buffalo Bills already have seen a disastrous loss and a runaway victory through two weeks of the new season.

They're hoping the latter is more indicative of their ceiling as they head into Week 3 against the unbeaten Washington Commanders on Sunday in Landover, Md.

Josh Allen threw three interceptions and lost a fumble to let the Aaron Rodgers-less New York Jets rally for a 22-16 overtime win in the season opener. Allen played a much sharper game in Week 2, torching the Las Vegas Raiders for 274 yards and three touchdowns on 31-of-37 passing in Buffalo's 38-10 rout.

The Bills (1-1) do not want Allen to shoulder as much of the load on offense this year, so it helped that second-year running back James Cook broke out for a career-high 123 rushing yards against the Raiders.

"We can be a two-dimensional offense, pound the ball when we need to pound it," Bills coach Sean McDermott said after the game. "... When you can control the line of scrimmage, it makes play-calling a lot easier."

Allen and Buffalo face a tougher challenge this week against Washington's front seven. When the Commanders (2-0) defeated the Denver Broncos 35-33 last Sunday, they sacked Russell Wilson seven times and totaled 14 quarterback hits.

The unit features several former first-round draft picks, including Montez Sweat and Chase Young, each of whom came away with 1.5 sacks against Denver. It was Young's season debut after a neck injury.

"It's one of the best groups, if not the best group in the league up front," Allen said. "They're all big, fast, powerful, explosive. They all can get after the quarterback. Again, making sure that we don't let them take over the game because they have the ability to do that."

The Commanders are now 3-0 when Sam Howell starts at quarterback. Once a projected No. 1 overall draft pick who instead fell to the fifth round, Howell won his only start when Washington gave him the reins at the end of 2022.

Howell completed 27 of 39 passes for 299 yards and two touchdowns against Denver. His cause has been helped by Brian Robinson Jr., Washington's clear No. 1 running back who has gained 146 rushing yards over two games.

Howell also credited Washington's screen pass game.

"I think (offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy) does a good job with just certain formations, certain formations where they might be expecting pass or something like that, or maybe we're running a formation a couple times throughout the game to try to set the screen up," Howell said. "That way, they see some different looks out of that formation and the last thing they're expecting is a screen."

The Commanders can also say they are undefeated in the Josh Harris era after Harris purchased the team from scandal-plagued owner Daniel Snyder.

"It's kind of a delight, to be honest with you, that we have been able to focus on our players on the field," coach Ron Rivera said.

Commanders defensive tackle Daron Payne (ankle) and tight end Logan Thomas (concussion) did not practice Wednesday. Defensive back Jartavius Martin (concussion) was limited.

The Bills were missing defensive end Leonard Floyd (ankle), defensive tackle Jordan Phillips (illness) and safety Micah Hyde (hamstring) from the defense at Wednesday's practice. Tight end Dawson Knox (back) was also out and linebacker Terrel Bernard (knee/quad) was limited.

Buffalo Bills vs. Washington Commanders Recap SEP 24TH 2023

Visiting Buffalo intercepted four Sam Howell passes and sacked him nine times and the Bills routed the Washington Commanders 37-3 on Sunday.

Josh Allen passed for one touchdown and ran for another as the Bills (2-1) won their second straight. He completed 20 of 32 passes for 218 yards.

Stefon Diggs had eight catches for 111 yards.

Bills linebacker Terrel Bernard had an interception, fumble recovery and two sacks.

Howell finished 19 of 29 for 170 yards for the Commanders (2-1), who were unable to duplicate their come-from-behind victories of the first two weeks.

Washington trailed 16-0 at halftime, but back-to-back runs by Brian Robinson (23 yards) and Antonio Gibson (13) gave the Commanders a first down at the Buffalo 30 early in the third quarter. Two plays later Tre'Davious White intercepted Howell's pass at the 1-yard line.

Bernard recovered a Gibson fumble at the Commanders' 30 early in the fourth. Six plays later, Allen scampered up the middle 10 yards for his first rushing touchdown of the season and the Bills led 23-0 with 10:37 remaining.

A.J. Epenesa returned an interception 32 yards for a touchdown on the Commanders' next possession and Latavius Murray ran for a 2-yard score with 2:15 remaining before Joey Sly's 51-yard field goal averted the shutout.

The Bills took a 3-0 lead on their first possession. Allen scrambled for 13 yards on third-and-10 and later hit Diggs for 30 yards to set up a 36-yard field goal.

Late in the first quarter, Deonte Harty returned a punt 23 yards and a holding penalty set the Bills up at the Washington 35. On first down, Allen found Gabe David down the left side for the touchdown.

On Washington's next drive, Howell scrambled 18 yards for a first down at the Buffalo 6. But on fourth-and-two from the Buffalo 2, Howell's pass into the end zone fell incomplete.

The Bills took over and drove into Commanders territory and increased their lead to 13-0 on a 54-yard Bass field goal.

On third-and-1 at his own 34, Howell's pass was intercepted by Micah Hyde and Bass added a 32-yard field goal with 19 seconds left in the half.

Buffalo Bills vs. Washington Commanders Pick & Prediction SEPTEMBER 24th 2023

Buffalo Bills vs. Washington Commanders Recap SEP 24TH 2023