Arizona cardinals vs buffalo bills match player stats, Analysis & Key Moments
Match: Arizona Cardinals @ Buffalo Bills
Final score: Bills 34, Cardinals 28 (Orchard Park, NY — September 8, 2024)
Quick game summary
The Arizona cardinals vs buffalo bills match player stats Buffalo Bills rallied through a balanced attack and special-teams spark to beat the Arizona Cardinals 34–28. Josh Allen paced the Bills with both passing and rushing scores, while Kyler Murray and Arizona’s offense consistently moved the ball — the contest stayed tight through the fourth quarter and was decided in the final two minutes. Key momentum swings included Buffalo touchdown drives in the 3rd quarter and a decisive Tyler Bass field goal with under two minutes to play.
Final box (team) — quick glance
| Team | Total Yds | Passing Yds | Rushing Yds | Turnovers | Time of Possession |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arizona Cardinals | 270 | 146 | 124 | 1 | 29:30 |
| Buffalo Bills | 352 | 222 | 130 | 1 | 30:30 |
| (Team totals and basic box summary from ESPN game box score.) |
Key player stat table (game leaders) of Arizona cardinals vs buffalo bills match player stats
| Player (Team) | Stat line (selected) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Josh Allen (BUF) — QB | 18/23, 232 pass yards, 2 pass TDs; 41 rush yards, 2 rush TDs | Dual-threat day: efficient passing + two rushing TDs; engine of Bills’ comeback. |
| Kyler Murray (ARI) — QB | 21/31, 162 pass yards, 1 pass TD; 5 CAR, 57 rush yards | Provided Cardinals’ early punch and mobility; accounted for ARI’s first TD. |
| James Conner (ARI) — RB | (TD on 3-yd run; key short-yardage work) | Reliable between-the-tackles; scored and helped convert short-yardage drives. |
| James Cook (BUF) — RB | 19 CAR, 71 rush yards | Workhorse-style contributions in the run game and check-down receiving. |
| Khalil Shakir (BUF) — WR | Receiving TD (11 yd) | Key third-quarter score to flip momentum. |
| Mack Hollins (BUF) — WR | Receiving TD (11 yd) | Helped sustain Bills’ third-quarter scoring surge. |
| DeeJay Dallas (ARI) — KR | 96-yd kickoff return TD | Huge special-teams splash that brought ARI back into contention late in the 4th. |
| Greg Rousseau (BUF) — DE | 3 sacks (team leader) | Pressured Cardinals, produced key negative plays. |
| Terrel Bernard (BUF) — LB | 11 tackles | Led team in tackles; active in run support. |
(All player leader Arizona cardinals vs buffalo bills match player stats and game highlights from the game box score and team report of Arizona cardinals vs buffalo bills match player stats.)
Play-by-play highlights & turning point (Arizona cardinals vs buffalo bills match player stats)
- First quarter — Cardinals open fast: Kyler Murray engineered a 13-play, 70-yard opening drive capped by a 5-yard TD pass to Michael Wilson. That early possession set Arizona’s tone on offense.
- End of 1st / 2nd quarter — Bills respond: Josh Allen tied things up near halftime with a 7-yard rushing TD and the Bills trimmed the gap to 17–10 at the half after key drives. Allen’s mobility created sustained drives.
- Third quarter — Buffalo takes control: Two Bills passing TDs (Mack Hollins, Khalil Shakir) opened the third and produced a 24–17 lead; Buffalo’s offense showed balance — play-action and quick reads. The Bills outscored Arizona 14–0 in Q3.
- Fourth quarter — Special teams and late heroics: Matt Prater’s field goals and a 96-yard kickoff return (DeeJay Dallas) narrowed the gap and changed momentum — Arizona converted the return to a two-point try to stay alive. A final Tyler Bass 39-yard FG sealed Buffalo’s win at 34–28.
Tactical analysis: what worked and what didn’t
- Bills offensive balance (worked): Josh Allen’s efficiency (18/23) forced Arizona to respect both pass and run, creating space for James Cook and play-action success. Buffalo’s scoring drive timing — late 3rd/early 4th — was decisive.
- Cardinals’ multi-dimensional attack (partly effective): Kyler Murray’s mobility and James Conner’s short-yard strength kept drives alive, but Arizona couldn’t convert enough in the second half while turnover/special-teams swings hurt momentum.
- Defense & pressure: Greg Rousseau’s pressure and 3 sacks created disruptive moments for the Cardinals — these plays helped stall drives and swing field position. Arizona’s defense made plays but could not stop Buffalo’s timely third-quarter scoring.
- Special teams: The 96-yard kickoff TD by DeeJay Dallas (Arizona) was a game-shifting play — without it the final sequence likely looks different. Special teams kept the game within reach.
Advanced numbers & context (what the box suggests)
- Yards per play: Bills 6.1 vs. Cardinals 4.5 — Buffalo produced bigger plays on offense.
- Third-down efficiency: Cardinals 7-13 vs. Bills 3-9 — Arizona converted more third downs overall but Bills maximized scoring opportunities in critical windows.
- Possession: Nearly even (29:30 ARI / 30:30 BUF) — game came down to execution on key drives rather than time control.
(Arizona cardinals vs buffalo bills match player stats summaries from the full ESPN box score and team report.)
What this result means (implications)
- For Buffalo: Momentum and depth — Josh Allen following an efficient, high-impact performance helps Buffalo sustain AFC contention; defense and special-teams support were important. Team report and recap highlight Allen’s leadership and rushing scores.
- For Arizona: Encouraging offensive display but late-game execution (and special-teams giving up the winning FG) will be focal points for adjustments going forward.
Full game resources and box score
For play-by-play, complete box score, advanced stats and drive charts consult the official game pages and box scores (ESPN match page, Bills match report and deeper stat services): ESPN gamecast/Arizona cardinals vs buffalo bills match player stats game recap are the primary sources used above.
FAQs (Arizona cardinals vs buffalo bills match player stats)
Q: Who led Arizona cardinals vs buffalo bills match player stats in passing yards?
A: Josh Allen led with 232 passing yards (18/23).
Q: Did either QB score rushing touchdowns?
A: Yes — Josh Allen ran for two rushing TDs; Kyler Murray added rushing yardage (57 yards) but one rushing TD was not listed for Murray in the leaders — Allen’s rushing TDs were pivotal.
Q: Which defensive player stood out?
A: Greg Rousseau (BUF) had 3 sacks, and Terrel Bernard (BUF) led the Arizona cardinals vs buffalo bills match player stats with 11 tackles — both influential in stopping Arizona drives.
Q: Any special-teams highlights?
A: DeeJay Dallas returned a kickoff 96 yards for a TD for Arizona — a major late-game momentum play.
Q: Where can I find the full box score and play-by-play?
A: The ESPN Arizona cardinals vs buffalo bills match player stats page (box score & play-by-play) and the Buffalo Bills’ official post-game recap contain full numbers and quotes used for this article.
