Josh Allen got picked off *four times* by the Buffalo defense in the team’s first public event inside their new, state-of-the-art Highmark Stadium on Saturday night. More than 51,000 Bills fans packed the stands for their first look at the new digs during the annual Return of the Blue & Red practice, and they saw a wild scrimmage that included plenty of fireworks, both on and off the field. While Allen had a tough start making his stadium debut, the early defensive domination definitely caught everyone’s attention.
Bills Defense Steals The Show Early
It was Jim Leonhard’s defense that made the biggest splash plays right out of the gate. Quarterback Josh Allen, the former NFL MVP, was absolutely badgered, throwing four interceptions to the Buffalo defensive unit. Cole Bishop, Christian Benford, Damar Hamlin, and Dee Alford each came away with a pick, showing some serious defensive power. Bishop, defensive back Jordan Hancock, and nickel corner Dee Alford specifically made several big plays throughout the night. It’s an early statement from that side of the ball, and if the defense can force turnovers like that against their own star QB, opponents better be ready.
Allen Rebounds, Bass Stays Perfect
Even after the rough start, Allen showed why he’s an MVP candidate, bouncing back nicely and closing off the night with some phenomenal throws. He delivered a picture-perfect dart to DJ Moore that went for 35 yards, and then a laser beam on a deep throw to Khalil Shakir for a touchdown. He even connected with Dawson Knox for a nifty touchdown toss later in the practice. On the special teams front, Tyler Bass was absolutely money, going a perfect 8-for-8 on all his field goal tries. Running back James Cook also rattled off a few big runs against Buffalo’s starting defense, while defensive tackle Deone Walker disrupted plays along the line of scrimmage, showing some serious push.
But it wasn’t all good news. Running back Ty Johnson and center Connor McGovern both suffered apparent leg injuries and had to leave the practice early. Injuries like that, especially to key offensive players, are a major gut punch, even in a scrimmage.
What’s next for the Bills? After a public debut that had both electrifying plays and some serious injury scares in their shiny new stadium, the team will be looking to dial things in. Keeping an eye on the health of Johnson and McGovern will be crucial, and you know Allen will be working to eliminate those turnovers. The regular season is just around the corner, and this early showing already has the league talking.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Buffalo Rumblings.
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