Top 3 Things We Learned

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Top 3 things we learned from Bills vs. Saints

Sep 28, 2025 at 08:24 PM

Alec White

Content Manager

The Buffalo Bills improved to 4-0 for the first time since 2020 with a 31-19 win over the Saints at Highmark Stadium. Here are the top three things we learned from the victory.

1 — Josh Allen's scrambling opens up the offense

Following scoring drives of 79 and 66 yards on the first two drives of the game, the Bills offense was stuck in the mud on their four series. Buffalo turned it over then went punt, punt, end of half with four possessions totalling 13 yards.

"We weren't doing ourselves any favors," QB Josh Allen said. "Couple boneheaded penalties, bonehead mistakes — throwing a pick doesn't help. Defense had our back though."

On the third series of the game with a 14-7 lead, Allen tried to squeeze a deep shot down the sideline to WR Keon Coleman, but with the Saints playing a two-high safety shell, safety Jonas Sanker came across to pick off Allen.

In the first half, Allen was 1 of 3 passing for 4 yards and an INT against two-high safety looks according to TruMedia. The interception snapped the Bills' run of 391 straight offensive plays without a turnover, ending what was the longest active streak in the NFL.

"Early on, they're playing a lot of man coverage, we had a little bit of success on some crossing patterns," Allen said. "And then they really started to drop back and play some of their zone two-high coverage and really force some things underneath."

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In the second half, the Bills scored on three of their four possessions and were aided by explosive plays via under center plays as well as multiple scrambles by Allen.

Allen tied the franchise record with his 70th career rushing TD on the first drive of the second half following a defensive stop. The QB play-action booted to his right from the 5-yard line and barreled through defenders on his way to the end zone.

On the next series, Allen got loose in the middle of the field on a 27-yard scramble, including a nifty juke move and stiff arm in the second level of the defense to gain more yards. The Saints eventually brought him down with the help of three defenders.

"Got to the back of my drop, was feeling a little bit at my feet, and just decided to tuck it," Allen said. "Just trying to do what I can do to help this team win football games."

On the following play, Allen connected with TE Dalton Kincaid on a 28-yard TD to put the Bills up 28-19 in the fourth quarter. HC Sean McDermott praised Allen's intensity throughout the game and how he raises the play of everyone around him.

"At halftime, I could tell he just had that look in his eye," McDermott said. "He's just got an incredible will to win and a spirit about him. And I love it. I absolutely love it."

The Bills eclipsed the 30-point marker for the fourth consecutive game to begin the season, the first time they've done so since 1992. One thing that has been impressive during that stretch is how much the offense has leaned on under center formations.

Buffalo has averaged 182 yards on under center plays over the last three games, third-most in the NFL during that span. In 2024, the Bills ranked 10th yards gained from under center plays.

2 — Cole Bishop's one-handed INT erases a potential score

If there's ever a time to deliver your first career NFL interception, safety Cole Bishop sure picked a good one.

Driving inside of two minutes remaining in the first half, the Saints had the ball at the Buffalo five-yard line and threatening to score. New Orleans caught 70,000 fans by surprise when they opted to run the 'Philly Special' and QB Spencer Rattler went out to catch a pass in the end zone.

Bills safety Cole Bishop wasn't fooled at all and made a leaping one-handed interception in front of the goal line. Bishop picked off WR Chris Olave who came over from the left side of the formation to try to attempt the pass on the reverse.

Had Bishop not been there, Rattler likely would've caught the touchdown.

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"The first thing I told him was he saved points," LB Terrel Bernard said.

Added McDermott, "Big time play. They ran a gadget there, and Cole did a great job sniffing it out."

Not only did Bishop's INT save points at the end of the half, it also prevented the Saints from having an opportunity to double-dip in the second half when receiving the ball to start the third quarter.

In his second year, Bishop has shown vast improvement in the early part of the season and his teammates are confident that will only progress.

"He's fought his way to get to this point, to get his feet settled in and get comfortable and we know he's going to continue to get better," Bernard said.

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3 — Why Dalton Kincaid's only catch of the game was a big one

Bills TE Dalton Kincaid had just one catch on two targets Sunday, but his lone reception was important in multiple regards.

In just the fourth game of the season, Kincaid established a new career-high with his third TD reception of the season. He had just two in each of his first two seasons.

Kincaid's fourth quarter 28-yard score also put Buffalo up 28-19 after the Saints had rallied to score nine unanswered points. His TD occurred on a somewhat similar play that took place last week against Miami where the TE initially looked like he was setting up for a block only to turn up the sideline for an open throw.

"A lot of the time today we were asking him to block for some of our whether it be jet sweeps or outside throws to Khalil. And when defenders know that they kind of have to pick their poison. They either run up and try to cover under what's behind Dalton, allowing him to stop, block and go," Allen said.

As the Bills move forward and get deeper into the season, Kincaid's ability to make impact plays as a blocker and a receiver will pay dividends.

"It's his willingness to block," Allen said of the TE's growth this year. "It's giving defenses trouble because they don't really know what to do in those situations."