Bills at Broncos second quarter recap

The Buffalo Bills opened up the second quarter successfully getting out of the shadow of their own end zone and out to the 40 yard line on several catch and throws from Josh Allen to Stefon Diggs.

A slant to Cole Beasley for 17 yards got the Bills across midfield. Will Parks was beaten badly on that throw.

From the Broncos 44 yard line, Allen went to an out route to Diggs down to the Broncos 29 yard line and another first down. Three plays later, Allen took off for a 24 yard touchdown run to put the Bills up big in the first half.

Bills 14, Broncos 0.

The Broncos went a quick three and out making it appear as though the team was on the verge of collapse, but the Bills muffed the punt on the ensuing kick and Denver recovered for a game breaking play.

From the Bills 35 yard line, rolled out and dumped it off toe Phillip Lindsay for eight yards on first down. Two plays later on third and one, Lock faked an inside handoff to Melvin Gordon and the entire defense bit on it as Lock rolled out for a 14 yard gain to to the 12 yard line.

Three plays later, Gordon exploded up the middle for a 10 yard touchdown run to keep get the Broncos back into the game.

Bills 14, Broncos 7.

With the spark provided by the turnover, the Broncos defense came out and dominated the Bills into a three and out to give Lock and the offense another possession with just over five minutes to go in the half.

Diontae Spencer muffed the punt too, but was able to recover. Pinned at their own five yard line, the Broncos were quickly faced with a third and eight. Lock, leaning on his back foot tried to lob a pass up down the sideline to Noah Fant and had the pass tipped away to force a punt.

Denver would run less than a minute off the clock to give the Bills a chance to close the first half with a score.

Allen off his back foot lobbed a pass up to his tight end for a huge gain and got an added roughing the passer call to set the Bills up at the five yard line where they would score on the next play with two and a half minutes to go in half.

A holding call on the Bills negated the play. A first and goal on the 15 was in play instead.

Allen, from the shotgun, went off his back foot again to Isiah McKenzie who got the ball down to the two yard line. Another penalty on the Bills, however, negated that play too. Stefon Diggs was called for an offensive pass interference.

A first and goal from the 25, Allen again went empty set and the offensive line committed yet another penalty to make it first and goal from the 30.

The Bills finally got a play off without a penalty after the two minute warning on a screen pass to McKenzie. Justin Simmons sniffed it out and held it for about a nine yard gain. Then Allen went deep over the middle to a wide open tight end for the touchdown.

Bills 21, Broncos 7.

In the two minute offense, Drew Lock went underneath to Noah Fant on back to back throws for a total of 11 yards and a first down. Two pass plays underneath, this time to Melvin Gordon, got the Broncos out to midfield with 50 seconds left in the first half.

A short handoff up the middle to Royce Freeman netted just four yards. Then the Bills brought the heat on Lock who hurried his throw and missed the pass. However, the Bills were flagged with a low hit on Drew Lock which put Denver into field goal range.

After a short completion outside to Tim Patrick with 22 seconds left, Lock tried to check it down underneath but had the ball batted away. On third and four, Lock stepped up and went to Jerry Jeudy at the six yard line who came down with it for a first and goal with 11 seconds to go in the half.

Lock found Noah Fant on the next play in the back corner of the end zone for the touchdown to get Denver back into the game heading into the second half.

Bills 21, Broncos 13.