Game Preview, Week 3: Buffalo at Washington
September 22, 2023
by Steve Thomas
Washington earned a somewhat expected but nevertheless big win last week in Denver against a Broncos team that has underperformed since the arrival of Russell Wilson. Week three will most likely be an entirely different story, as the Super Bowl-contending Buffalo Bills, led by Josh Allen, come to town. Unlike weeks 1 and 2, this is the game in which Washington can start to earn some leaguewide respect by getting a win. Will that happen? Probably not, and no points will be awarded for a close game. Last week’s game against Denver was a tale of two halves, and that isn’t going to work against a team as talented as the Bills. Washington needs to put together a convincing, solid four quarters of football in order to get a win in this game. A week three game against an AFC opponent may not seem like a big deal at first glance, but a win against Buffalo will raise the team’s profile and expectations to new heights. It’s unlikely, but they have a chance. Let’s get on with the preview.
Game time & location: Sunday, September 24, 2023, 1:00 p.m. ET, Fed Ex Field, Raljon, Maryland; Gates open 11:00 a.m. ET; Red Zone parking lots open 8:00 a.m.; all other parking lots 9:00 a.m.
Television: CBS
Television announcers: Andrew Catalon, Tiki Barber, Matt Ryan
TV broadcast map: click here
DC-area radio: BIG-100 (WBIG FM)
Washington radio network: click here
Bills radio network: click here
Satellite radio: SiriusXM: 233 (Wash. broad.); internet: 831
Washington roster: click here
Washington depth chart: click here
Bills roster: click here
Bills depth chart: click here
Records: Washington 2 – 0 (home 1 – 0); Buffalo 1 – 1 (away 0 – 1)
All-time head-to-head record vs Buffalo: 5 – 10 (last 10: 2 – 8; streak: 0 – 2)
Last meeting: L, September 26, 2021, 21 – 43
Early odds: Bills, -6.5
3 KEYS TO THE GAME
Put together a complete game
Washington is 2 – 0, but they did while playing inconsistent football against lesser teams. Buffalo is most definitely not a lesser team. The single most important factor for a Washington win is for the team to play four quarters of consistent, quality football – think the second half against Denver, only for four quarters. If they can’t do that, this game will almost certainly be a loss. It’s as simple as that.
Minimize secondary mistakes
Washington has had a few blown coverages so far this season. That can’t happen against a quarterback like Josh Allen, who has developed from a bad passer as a rookie to one of the better overall talents in the NFL. The Bills have alot of weapons, and Washington needs to avoid giving away free real estate if they want to win this game.
Maintain a run game
Brian Robinson Jr. provided Washington with an inkling of a run game last week, for the first time in what seems like forever. It’s not exactly a revelation to suggest that the best way to help a young quarterback is through an effective run game, but the other thing Washington needs is possession time. They need to make a concerted effort to keep the Bills’ offense off the field, and making an effort at developing and sticking to an effective ground game this week is the best way to do that. No more 30 passes in a single half this week, Mr. Bieniemy.
3 KEY MATCHUPS
Kendall Fuller vs Stefon Diggs
Diggs is one of the best receivers in the NFL and a key reason for the success of Josh Allen. Washington will most likely split up coverage duties, but presumably Fuller will have Diggs quite a bit of the time. Fuller needs to have a good game against Diggs this week and avoid the kind of soul-crushing mistakes that will allow Diggs to make big gains. Keep an eye out on this matchup.
Morse made the Pro Bowl last season and is a highly respected center. Payne has been dominate in the interior this season, and he’ll be critically important to Washington’s effort to pressure Allen. This is the most interesting matchup in the trenches, so keep an eye out on how well Payne is doing against one of the NFL’s better centers.
Jamin Davis and Cody Barton vs Josh Allen
Washington’s two All Pro-quality mediocre at best linebackers will really have their hands full this week against perhaps the second-best running quarterback in the NFL. Keeping Allen in the pocket is a major key to this game, and that job falls in no small part to Barton and Davis. Yikes.
OFFICIAL INJURY REPORT (active roster only)
LP – limited practice FP – full practice DNP – did not practice
NIR – not injury related Q – questionable O – out
D – doubtful NL – not listed
| Washington | Buffalo |
| DT D. Payne, ankle; Wed: DNP; Thurs: LP | DE L. Floyd, ankle; Wed: DNP; Thurs: LP |
| TE L. Thomas, concussion; Wed: DNP; Thurs: DNP | S M. Hyde, hamstring; Wed: DNP; Thurs: LP |
| DB J. Martin, concussion; Wed: LP; Thurs: FP | TE D. Knox, back; Wed: DNP; Thurs: DNP |
| C N. Gates, knee; Wed: FP; Thurs: FP | DT J. Phillips, illness; Wed: DNP; Thurs: FP |
| RB B. Robinson Jr., hip; Wed: FP; Thurs: FP | LB T. Bernard, knee/quad; Wed: LP; Thurs: LP |
| WR C. Samuel, hip; Wed: FP; Thurs: FP | RB J. Cook, NIR (personal); Wed: NL; Thurs: DNP |
| S J. Poyer, NIR (vet rest); Wed: NL; Thurs: DNP | |
| T S. Brown, shoulder; Wed: NL; Thurs: LP |
Steve’s Prediction
Washington will put up a fight, and Buffalo hasn’t started the season at quite the high point that was expected, but in the end, the Bills are way too much. Buffalo wins 30 – 20.