The Buffalo Bills escaped Las Vegas with a 33-30 victory over the Raiders on Sunday, improving to 5-1 on the season. While the scoreboard tells one story, the snap counts reveal another, particularly when it comes to offensive personnel, defensive rotations, and the impact of injuries.
Buffalo’s offense logged 68 snaps, while the defense was on the field for 66. The Bills controlled possession for 31:48 compared to Las Vegas’ 28:12, but the Raiders still managed 378 total yards and 30 points.
Let’s
take a closer look at how the Bills distributed their playing time in Week 6.
Offensive snap counts: Consistency up front, changing personnel elsewhere
For another week, Buffalo’s offensive line remained the model of consistency. Dion Dawkins, Alec Anderson, Connor McGovern, O’Cyrus Torrence, and Spencer Brown each played all 68 offensive snaps, joining quarterback Josh Allen at 100%.
With DJ Moore inactive, Keon Coleman led the wide receivers with 58 snaps (85%), followed by Khalil Shakir at 41 (60%). Skyler Bell saw a substantial workload with 30 snaps (44%), while Joshua Palmer played just 17 (25%).
The tight ends continued to play a significant role in Buffalo’s offensive packages. Dalton Kincaid logged 49 snaps (72%), Dawson Knox played 47 (69%), and Jackson Hawes played 25 (37%). Keleki Latu added just five offensive snaps.
Kincaid briefly exited with an injury during the second half before returning in the fourth quarter.
In the backfield, James Cook played 45 snaps (66%), carrying the ball 22 times for 95 yards and a touchdown. He also added three receptions for 58 yards, giving him 153 yards from scrimmage.
Ty Johnson played 12 snaps (18%), while Ray Davis contributed on nine (13%).
Defensive snap counts: Bishop leads while the secondary adjusts
Safety Cole Bishop was the only Bills defender to play every defensive snap, logging all 66 plays.
Christian Benford followed with 64 snaps (97%), while Greg Rousseau and Terrel Bernard each played 53 (80%).
The secondary saw considerable movement throughout the afternoon. Damar Hamlin played 45 snaps (68%), Dee Alford played 43 (65%), and Denzel Igbinosun contributed 42 snaps (64%).
C.J. Gardner-Johnson finished with just 28 snaps (42%) after being ejected late in the second quarter.
Along the defensive front, Deone Walker led the interior linemen with 45 snaps (68%). T.J. Parker played 41 (62%), while T.J Sanders played 30 (45%).
Bradley Chubb played only 21 snaps (32%). The veteran briefly left the game with an injury but returned during the second quarter.
Dorian Williams logged 37 snaps (56%) and recorded Buffalo’s lone interception, setting up a third-quarter touchdown that gave the Bills a 23-13 advantage.
Special teams: The players carrying the workload
Joe Andreessen led Buffalo’s special teams participation with 25 snaps (78%), followed closely by Sam Franklin with 24 (75%).
Special teams also played an important role in the victory. Tyler Bass was perfect on four field-goal attempts and three extra points, accounting for 15 of Buffalo’s 33 points.
Gabe Dortch returned three punts for 37 yards, including a 22-yard return, while Ray Davis averaged 28.3 yards on three kickoff returns.
Final thoughts
The Bills leave Las Vegas with another victory, but Week 6’s snap counts offer several interesting storylines moving forward.
Offensive takeaway: Buffalo continued relying heavily on its starting offensive line and multiple-tight-end packages. Coleman’s 85% participation made him the clear leader among wide receivers, while Cook remained the primary option in the backfield.
Defensive takeaway: The Bills’ defensive rotations deserve attention. Bishop handled the entire workload, while Gardner-Johnson’s disqualification and Chubb’s injury affected personnel usage. Despite limiting Las Vegas to just 65 rushing yards, Buffalo surrendered 313 passing yards and two fourth-quarter touchdowns.
Special teams takeaway: Buffalo received significant contributions from its coverage and return units, while Bass delivered a perfect afternoon in a game decided by just three points.
With Baltimore up next, the Bills will need the bye week to get healthy and build on their offensive consistency while finding answers for a defense that allowed Las Vegas to remain within striking distance until the final whistle.
