The Buffalo Bills earned their first win of the 2025 NFL preseason Saturday night, holding off the Tampa Bay Buccaneers by a score of 23-19 to conclude the preseason with a 1-2 record.
The Bills rested nearly all of their presumptive starters, with the exception of safety Cole Bishop, who bounced back from a lackluster effort in Week 2 of the preseason with a confidence-inducing performance in Tampa.
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With roster cuts coming by Tuesday’s 4 p.m. EDT deadline, today’s edition of Buffalo Rumblinks leads off with observations and analysis from Buffalo’s first win of the preseason, which was fueled by a career outing from fourth-string quarterback Shane Buechele.
WR Tyrell Shavers among standouts from win over Tampa Bay
Among the standouts and observations from the win over Tampa Bay: WR Tyrell Shavers continued his outstanding preseason, making a terrific, one-handed touchdown grab on a fade pattern pass from Shane Buechele in the second quarter. The play demonstrated Shavers’ outstanding body control and hand-eye coordination, and was his second highlight reel play of the preseason. Shavers sure is putting the pressure on general manager Brandon Beane and head coach Sean McDermott to earn a spot on the 53-man roster.
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Who else stood out?
Rookie defensive tackle Deone Walker was absolutely unstoppable, recording three pass pressures on 21 pass rush snaps to go with four total tackles (one for a loss), half a sack, and a QB pressure to continue his strong summer;
Second-year safety Cole Bishop rebounded from a poor performance vs. the Chicago Bears and finished with two tackles, a pass breakup and demonstrated his physicality at the line of scrimmage;
Buechele, Buffalo’s fourth-string quarterback, put on a show in his first full NFL game, completing 25 of 30 passes for 278 yards and a touchdown and adding 20 rushing yards on five carries;
Backup tight end candidate Zach Davidson caught two passes for 27 yards, but his real value came filling in for Brad Robbins (illness) at punter, as Davidson boomed a 62-yard punt and another punt that pinned Tampa Bay inside the 20-yard line;
Kicker Tyler Bass Bass converted three field goals and two extra points in his first action of the preseason; and
Unheralded linebacker Jimmy Ciarlo was in on five tackles while recovering a fumble.
Who had less than encouraging games? Buffalo’s kick coverage unit allowed Tampa Bay to average 38 yards per kickoff return; backup cornerback candidate Daequan Hardy was repeatedly burned in slot coverage; and the Bills once again were less-than-stellar on both third-down offense (3-for-9) and defense (8-for-13).
Even more Bills news
Hear what impressed head coach Sean McDermott from the win and why coaching these Bills is a “real joy;” an update on the injury suffered by cornerback Tre’Davious White; exploring whether the Bills should consider bringing back cornerback Rasul Douglas and wide receiver Amari Cooper as reinforcements; and learn why both McDermott and Pro Bowl left tackle Dion Dawkins have high praise for second-year wide receiver Keon Coleman.
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