Buffalo Bills Lose A Flag Fest In Denver

With a better offense, specifically a better running game, the Buffalo Bills could have a scored a huge upset against the Denver Broncos.  Combine that with turnovers and penalties at the worst times cost the Bills a damaging 24-17 loss.

Give the Bills defense full credit.  They held Peyton Manning to just 173 yards passing and held him without a touchdown pass for the first time in 52 games while intercepting him twice by Corey Graham and Stephon Gilmore.  The Bills also forced a fumble to end a Broncos drive just before halftime.

Penalties?  The Bills kept shooting themselves in the foot time and again.  Two long interception returns were negated by fouls.  A touchdown was wiped out by a flag.  In all the Bills were hit with 11 penalties for 98 yards.

Again the Bills running game had only marginal success and as the Bills fell behind they were forced to go to the air.  Kyle Orton completed a career high 38 of 57 passes for 355 yards.  He connected with Sammy Watkins for 7 completions and 127 yards including a 37-yard-catch.  Fred Jackson made 10 catches.  Chris Hogan caught a 14-yard-touchdown pass. Orton also scored on a one-yard run.

With as good as this Buffalo defense is it's a shame they'll likely be sitting out the playoffs again this year.  There have been only two games this season where they were dominated by an opposing offense, mainly because they were beaten by outstanding quarterbacks.  They were a puzzle for Peyton Manning that he never quite figured out, but the Broncos did just enough to hold on.

Another challenge is up next for the Bills when they host Aaron Rodgers and the Green Bay Packers next Sunday at Wilson Stadium.