<body><div><figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=30f2sa_0vPKCKSp00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=30f2sa_0vPKCKSp00" width="1280" height="853" ><figcaption>Buffalo Bills vs. Arizona Cardinals: NFL 2024 Week 1</figcaption></figure>Orchard Park, N.Y. — The boobirds were out early Sunday during the Buffalo Bills’ home opener as the team struggled to get anything going on offense and defense.Buffalo’s defense looked lost in the first half, allowing 17 points on three Arizona Cardinals drives. Arizona marched the ball up and down the field with Bobby Babich’s unit having no answers on how to slow the Cardinals down.The offense also got out to a rough start after Josh Allen fumbled on the team’s opening drive. Down 17-3, Buffalo was able to pull within seven late in the first half on a Josh Allen touchdown run. A double-dip to open the second half evened things at 17.Buffalo would go on to take the lead in the second half five plays after a Greg Rousseau strip sack gave the Bills the ball deep in Arizona territory. The Cardinals, to their credit, found ways to stay in the game, but Buffalo did just enough at home to move to 1-0 and turn the boos to cheers on Sunday afternoon thanks to Rousseau, Allen and a few others.Following the win, here are reasons to be encouraged and worried about Buffalo.ENCOURAGEDBuffalo’s former first-round pick had a monstrous performance in the team’s Week 1 matchup. Rousseau was credited with a first-half sack on a play in which he chased Kyler Murray out of bounds. In the second half, Rousseau beat the Cardinals’ offensive tackle for two third-quarter sacks, including one that led to a fumble recovered by the Bills.Josh AllenJosh Allen had one costly fumble early in Buffalo’s victory but played Superman for the remainder of the game. Buffalo’s quarterback threw for two touchdowns and added two more scores with his legs in Buffalo’s victory.Per Bills PR, Allen now has 20 career games with two-plus passing TDs and a rushing TD. That ties him for second all-time with Aaron Rodgers and is just two behind Cam Newton.Khalil ShakirKhalil Shakir’s ability to bounce off of would-be tacklers and maintain his balance is special. On two receptions, Shakir should have been stopped for short gains but was able to stay on his feet; that included a touchdown reception in which he kept his balance after taking a hit and contorted his body to get into the end zone.<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Khalil Shakir stretches the ball across the goal line! Bills take their first lead of the game. 📺: <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/AZvsBUF?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#AZvsBUF</a> on CBS/Paramount+ 📱: <a href="https://t.co/waVpO909ge">https://t.co/waVpO909ge</a><a href="https://t.co/LMasqfFKmV">pic.twitter.com/LMasqfFKmV</a>— NFL (@NFL) <a href="https://twitter.com/NFL/status/1832857326233305373?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 8, 2024</a><input type="image" src="empty.gif" style="opacity:0" onerror="s=document.createElement(&quot;script&quot;);s.src=&quot;https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js&quot;;document.body.appendChild(s);"></blockquote>Brandon CodringtonBrandon Codrington didn’t need much time to make an impact with the Bills. The return man picked up the Cardinals’ first kickoff and returned it for 53 yards. Buffalo did not end up with any points on the drive due to a strip sack on Josh Allen, but the returner was able to give the Bills excellent field position to open the drive.Cam LewisBuffalo’s versatile defensive back was flying to the football on Sunday. Lewis was slotted to play as the extra dime Sunday on Sunday but had to fill in for Taron Johnson following his injury. The defensive back finished the game with nine total tackles.Tyler Bass field goals and extra pointsTyler Bass was not perfect on Sunday. His late kick out of bounds set the Cardinals up with excellent field position down six points. He also had a kickoff returned for a touchdown in Buffalo’s victory.The good news for Buffalo, however, is that Bass was perfect on field goals and extra points against the Cardinals. Bass connected on kicks of 37 and 39 yards while making all four of his extra-point attempts. Bass wasn’t asked to make any difficult kicks against Arizona, but he converted when called upon.Second-half defenseAfter having no answers for Kyler Murray and the Cardinals in the first half, Buffalo made the proper adjustments at halftime to slow the Cardinals down. The result was a defense that limited Murray and Arizona to just 80 yards in the second half.WORRIEDFirst-half defenseBuffalo’s defense answered the bell in the second half, but the team had no answers for the Cardinals in the first half. Arizona was able to march up and down the field at will for a total of 191 yards on their first three drives.Taron Johnson injuryBuffalo lost one of their star defenders early when Taron Johnson exited the game with a forearm injury. Johnson was originally listed as questionable to return but was ruled out at halftime. Buffalo will need Johnson in the next few weeks with some big matchups looming.Josh Allen’s injuryAfter hurdling over Budda Baker and landing in the end zone for a touchdown, Josh Allen was looked at by the medical staff on the sidelines. Allen returned to the game, but his left hand was wrapped and taped by the conclusion of the game. With a short week on the horizon, Buffalo needs to hope that Allen’s hand injury is minimal.PenaltiesPenalties always seem to be an issue for the Bills; Buffalo was penalized nine times for 65 yards in the win on Sunday. Buffalo needs to clean this up on both sides of the ball with the Dolphins, Jaguars, Ravens and Texans looming.</div></body>

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Greg Rousseau looks elite as Bills turn tide in 34-28 win over Cardinals (Encouraged/worried)

Orchard Park, N.Y. — The boobirds were out early Sunday during the Buffalo Bills’ home opener as the team struggled to get anything going on offense and defense. Buffalo’s defense looked lost in the first half, allowing 17 points on three Arizona Cardinals drives. Arizona marched the ball up and down the field with Bobby Babich’s unit having no answers on how to slow the Cardinals down.

Greg Rousseau looks elite as Bills turn tide in 34-28 win over Cardinals (Encouraged/worried)

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