After a week three blowout loss to the Seattle Seahawks in the Pacific Northwest, the New Orleans Saints traveled to the opposite side of the country for a week four matchup against the Buffalo Bills. The run game of the Black and Gold did a lot, but not enough, as they dropped to 0-4 on the season with a 31-19 loss.
HOW IT HAPPENED:
Both offenses were on fire to begin the game. Three touchdowns were scored in the first quarter.
Buffalo received the ball first and went 79 yards in seven plays to go ahead by seven. Bills quarterback Josh Allen went three-for-three, finding three different receivers on each throw. Khalil Shakir came down with the final catch on the drive and went 43 yards to the house to take the early lead. Shakir broke multiple tackles down the sideline on his way into the endzone.
The Saints responded with a touchdown drive of their own, going 69 yards in seven plays. On 3rd & 7, Spencer Rattler scrambled for nine yards, then had another 15-yard run two plays later to move the ball into Bills territory. Juwan Johnson’s 17-yard catch set up an 18-yard touchdown run by Kendre Miller.
The Bills reclaimed the lead late in the first quarter with another scoring drive. Allen hit Keon Coleman on back-to-back completions for 17 and 20-yard gains to set up 1st & 10 at the New Orleans 24-yard line. James Cook carried the ball four consecutive plays after those big pass plays and reached pay dirt from one yard out. The Saints were down 14-7 with 2:29 left to go in the opening frame.
Jonas Sanker came down with the Black and Gold’s first interception of the year in the second quarter when Allen went deep to Coleman. That turnover was also Buffalo’s first of 2025. The ball was spotted at the Bill 49-yard line. The Saints’ offense went three-and-out following the interception.
After a Buffalo punt, New Orleans only gained 13 yards in six plays, but it was enough as Blake Grupe knocked through a 54-yard field goal to make it a four-point game with 5:31 left in the second quarter.
The Saints threatened to score late in the first half by getting to the Buffalo six-yard line. Head coach Kellen Moore reached into the playbook to call a trick play. Chris Olave got the football on a double reverse and attempted to get the ball to Rattle. Cole Bishop intercepted Olave’s pass near the goal line, and the Bills ran out the rest of the clock to send it to halftime. New Orleans was behind 14-10.
The Black and Gold started the second half with the ball and couldn’t generate much offense, only going 19 yards in four plays. After a touchback punt, the Bills picked up at least 10 yards on seven of their first eight plays to begin the drive. Those plays set up 1st & GOAL from the 10, and two plays later, Allen scrambled into the endzone for a five-yard touchdown, putting Buffalo ahead by two scores.
New Orleans answered back with a scoring drive late in the third quarter. Rattler juked a defender for an 11-yard gain, then Alvin Kamara avoided a tackle from Joey Bosa for another 12 yards to the Buffalo 20-yard line. Four plays later, Rattler hit Olave in the endzone for a three-yard touchdown. Rattle then was tackled short of the goalline on the two-point conversion attempt. The Saints were down 21-16 with 14 to go before the fourth quarter.
The Bills were put in a tough situation at midfield, needing to pick up two yards on fourth down. Carl Granderson tackled Shakir behind the line of scrimmage for a turnover on downs. New Orleans thought they had another touchdown on the board, but the officials reversed Brandin Cooks’ catch to an incomplete pass in the end zone. Grupe lined up for a 35-yard field goal to make it a two-point game with 8:53 remaining.
Allen went up the middle and carried defenders on the way for a 27-yard gain. Last year’s MVP went Dalton Kincaid’s way for the first time all game, resulting in a 28-yard touchdown catch. The Saints found themselves down 28-19 halfway into the fourth quarter.
New Orleans went for it on fourth down after crossing midfield. Rattler dumped the ball off to Kamara, who was stopped a yard short on 4th & 3.
Bryan Bresee sacked Allen on third down to set up a punt. Linebacker Nephi Sewell was called for roughing the kicker and reset the downs for Buffalo. Allen rushed for 15 yards to the New Orleans 24-yard line. That play set up a 35-yard Matt Prater field goal to put the Bills ahead by 12 with 2:09 to go in the game.
AJ Epenesa sacked Rattler twice on the following drive, leading to a turnover on downs for the Saints. Buffalo would drain the rest of the clock to secure the 31-19 loss for New Orleans, dropping them to 0-4 on the season.
BIG NUMBER: 30
The Buffalo Bills’ offense has been explosive to begin the 2025 season. Through four weeks, the Bills have scored 30 or more points in each game. New Orleans hasn’t scored more than 21 points thus far this season.
PLAYER OF THE GAME: Josh Allen
Allen was efficient through the air, completing 16 out of 22 attempts for 209 yards and a pair of passing touchdowns. He also had 45 rushing yards and a score on the ground as the Saints fell to 0-4 with the 31-19 loss.
UP NEXT: The New Orleans Saints will return home next Sunday to host the New York Giants. Kickoff inside the Caesars Superdome is scheduled for October 5th at noon.