The Buffalo Bills came out of their bye with plenty to celebrate. A rookie cornerback collected his first career interception. Josh Allen passed a franchise legend. And a defense that had spent too many afternoons trying to hang on finally gave its head coach a reason to celebrate the finish.
Buffalo’s 36–10 win over the Baltimore Ravens moved the Bills to 6–1, with Joe Brady’s postgame game balls recognizing individual milestones and a collective response.
Baltimore’s quarterback injuries are part
of the story. Lamar Jackson left after the Ravens’ first offensive play, and Tyler Huntley later exited as well. But Buffalo still had to capitalize, and this time the defense did more than make an occasional play.
Official game-ball recipients
Davison Igbinosun
Igbinosun’s first career interception came with a little help and plenty of awareness. Late in the second quarter, a pass bounced off Geno Stone’s hands and helmet, leaving the football hanging in the air. Igbinosun tracked it, secured the interception and returned it 17 yards, giving Buffalo another scoring opportunity before halftime.
The rookie played 41 defensive snaps and made his opportunity count. In the locker room, Igbinosun thanked God and his teammates for pushing him to become “the best version of myself,” closing with a simple, “Go Bills.”
A first interception is a milestone on its own. Bass turning it into 3 points before halftime made it even better.
Josh Allen
Allen’s game ball recognized a milestone that deserves a moment of its own.
His 11-yard touchdown pass to DJ Moore in the fourth quarter was the 259th of his Bills career, including postseason games, moving him past Jim Kelly’s 258 for the franchise record. Allen added another touchdown pass to Dalton Kincaid later in the quarter.
Allen finished 21-of-34 passing for 289 yards, two touchdowns and an interception. He also rushed for 30 yards and the game’s opening touchdown.
Kelly has been the standard against which generations of Buffalo quarterbacks have been measured. But Allen continues to rewrite the record book and has become the new standard.
It wasn’t a flawless afternoon, but it was another reminder of the legacy Allen has built and continues building in Buffalo.
The Defense
Brady’s third game ball went to the defense, with Bradley Chubb called forward to accept it on behalf of the group.
“145 total yards, 3 takeaways, 4 sacks…and we finished,” Brady said. “Defense the way you respond. How we practiced. You earned it. Bradley Chubb. Here we go baby.”
Cole Bishop’s strip-sack led to a fumble recovery by Kaleb Elarms-Orr. Igbinosun added the interception, and Dorian Williams recovered Baltimore’s other lost fumble. Buffalo finished with four sacks, 12 quarterback hits and three takeaways, holding the Ravens to 3-of-13 on third down.
The Bills also limited Derrick Henry to 53 rushing yards and held Zay Flowers without a reception on five targets.
Yes, Baltimore’s injuries changed the matchup. But Buffalo took advantage instead of allowing an undermanned opponent to hang around.
After several games where the defense struggled to close the door, the finish was worth recognizing.
Honorable mentions
Tyler Bass
Bass made all three field goals, connecting from 56, 22 and 51 yards, and converted all three extra-point attempts.
Dalton Kincaid
Kincaid led Buffalo with 86 receiving yards on four catches, averaging 21.5 yards per reception.
His afternoon included a 40-yard gain and the 23-yard fourth-quarter touchdown that pushed Buffalo’s lead to 36–10.
Damar Hamlin
With C.J. Gardner-Johnson suspended, Hamlin played all 51 defensive snaps, finishing with five combined tackles and a pass defensed. He was the only Bills defender who never came off the field.
A full workload alone doesn’t earn an honorable mention. But handling that responsibility in a secondary that held Baltimore to 91 gross passing yards deserves recognition.
DJ Moore
In his return to the lineup, Moore caught four passes for 82 yards and a touchdown, including a 49-yard reception that helped spark Buffalo’s second-half offense.
Khalil Shakir
Shakir hauled in five receptions for 64 yards, providing a reliable target for Josh Allen and helping move the chains.
Te’Cory Couch
With Buffalo’s secondary shorthanded, Couch stepped up for 36 defensive snaps (71%), recording four combined tackles and helping the Bills limit Baltimore’s passing attack.
The game balls celebrated a first, a franchise record and a collective response. Next comes Minnesota, where Buffalo will need to prove that finishing was more than a one-week improvement.
