Here's a quarter by quarter look at the Buffalo Bills' 32-30 loss to the Arizona Cardinals at State Farm Stadium, in Glendale, Ariz., on Sunday.
First quarter
Theme: Trick-play success.
Multiple threat: Josh Allen scored his first receiving TD of the season on a throwback from Isaiah McKenzie to cap the Bills’ 57-yard opening drive. It was a 12-yard scoring play. It was similar to the 16-yard throwback touchdown pass from John Brown to Allen in the wild-card playoff game at Houston.
Matchup watch: Tre’Davious White stayed on the right side of the defensive formation, rather than following around Cardinals star DeAndre Hopkins. White faced Hopkins a lot, but rookie Dane Jackson broke up a third-down pass in the end zone for Hopkins.
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Settling: Arizona’s offense is tough in the red zone. The Cardinals entered the game ranked fifth in the NFL, scoring TDs on 75% of trips inside the 20. The Bills stopped them at the 5 to force a field goal on the first drive.
Missing in action: The Cards were without starting defensive tackle Jordan Phillips, the ex-Bill. He was the only starter out for Arizona.
Tone setter: Once again, Andre Roberts got the Bills off to a good start with a 40-yard kickoff return to the Buffalo 37.
Out of the gate: The Bills have outscored foes 73-30 in the first quarter.
Second quarter
Theme: The kicker is a weapon.
Long range: Tyler Bass made field goals of 54, 55 and 58 yards. The last one tied for second longest in team history with Dan Carpenter, who made a 58-yarder in 2014. Bass become the first Bill with three 50-plus-yarders in one game and the third to do it in the NFL this season. Steve Christie holds the record at 59 yards. The 54-yarder kissed the inside of the right upright and went through.
Consistent: Larry Fitzgerald caught a pass for the 252nd straight game, the second longest streak in history behind Jerry Rice (274). It was Fitzgerald’s 93rd straight start, sixth most among active players.
Miscues: Devin Singletary dropped a screen pass that was set up for a big gainer, then Josh Allen took a delay of game penalty to stall the Bills’ third drive.
Big breakup: Jordan Poyer did a great job reading the eyes of Kyler Murray and broke up a pass to the outside on a third-and-goal play from the 3 late in the half. It forced a field goal.
Key loss: The Cardinals lost starting defensive tackle Corey Peters to a leg injury late in the quarter.
Third quarter
Theme: Arizona takes command.
Key mistake: The advantage in the game shifted when Bills tight end Dawson Knox was called for an illegal block in the back penalty 21 yards downfield, at the end of a 21-yard pass to Devin Singletary. It wiped out the play, and Josh Allen threw an interception on the next play.
Record breaker: Kyler Murray scored on runs of 1 and 15 yards. He became the first quarterback with a rushing TD in five straight games since Tobin Rote in 1956.
Matchup watch: Arizona did not match up top cornerback Patrick Peterson on Stefon Diggs all over the field. But Peterson was in man coverage on Cole Beasley when the Bills’ slot receiver caught a 22-yard TD pass.
Shank you: Corey Bojorquez has been enjoying a strong season, but shanked a 12-yard punt late in the quarter to set up a Cards field goal.
Depleted: The Bills were forced to go to newly acquired Daryl Worley at cornerback when Dane Jackson suffered a knee injury
Trend: The Bills have been outscored 76-30 on the season in the third quarter.
Fourth quarter
Theme: Miracle in the desert.
Outplayed: It would have been a great win for the Bills, and Josh Allen produced a clutch final drive. But the Bills were thoroughly outplayed for most of the second half, scoring on one of their first seven drives.
Almost: It was almost Josh Allen’s 12th game-winning drive after his 21-yard TD pass to Stefon Diggs. Instead DeAndre Hopkins caught a 43-yard Hail Mary TD pass to win for Arizona.
KYLER MURRAY HAIL MARY TO DEANDRE HOPKINS🚀 pic.twitter.com/z4aThLrN3p
— PFF (@PFF) November 16, 2020
Wasted: Jordan Poyer made a heads-up interception on an inaccurate Murray pass that bounced off the hands of Larry Fitzgerald. But the Bills did nothing with the turnover.
Bad drive: Down by 26-23 with 9:17 left, the Bills next drive included four penalties, including a 15-yard personal foul for an illegal block on Devin Singletary and a 10-yard hold on Brian Winters.
Key miscue: The Bills were at their own 48 when Allen’s pass for Gabriel Davis was underthrown and intercepted by Dre Kirkpatrick with 4:31 left.
Flying attack: The Cardinals gained 453 yards and lead the NFL with seven 400-yard offensive games this season. They now have 400 yards and 30 points in five straight games.
