By Henry 
The clash between the Arizona Cardinals and the Buffalo Bills is always a fascinating study in contrasts. One team, the Bills, built around a superstar, franchise quarterback; the other, the Cardinals, often forging an identity through collective effort and strategic grit. But on this particular Sunday, the raw numbers from the official box score didn’t just tell a story—they shouted it from the rooftops. The Arizona Cardinals vs Buffalo Bills match player stats reveal a contest decisively swung by one unparalleled dual-threat performance, overshadowing even the most valiant efforts from the opposing sideline.
Before we dive into the details, here’s the high-level view from the scoreboard:
| Team | 1Q | 2Q | 3Q | 4Q | Final | Total Yards | Turnovers |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arizona Cardinals | 7 | 3 | 7 | 0 | 17 | 341 | 2 |
| Buffalo Bills | 7 | 10 | 7 | 7 | 31 | 417 | 0 |
The final score tells one story, but the real narrative is hidden within the individual performances. Let’s break down the key battles and the statistics that defined this game.
The box score from this game is a treasure trove of insights, highlighting a clash of philosophies and the sheer impact of a single, transcendent player.
If you were to design the perfect modern NFL quarterback in a lab, you might just create Josh Allen. His performance against the Cardinals was a masterclass in dual-threat dominance, and the stats lay it all out bare.
Passing Attack: Surgical and Explosive
- Josh Allen (QB): 27/38, 271 Passing Yards, 3 Passing TDs, 0 INTs, 121.9 Passer Rating.
- Allen’s efficiency was remarkable. He dissected the Cardinals’ secondary with precision, spreading the ball to multiple targets and, most crucially, avoiding any game-altering mistakes. His passer rating of over 120 is the mark of a quarterback in complete control.
- Key Receivers:
- Stefon Diggs (WR): 9 Receptions, 92 Yards, 1 TD. The alpha receiver was his usual self, a reliable safety blanket who consistently moved the chains.
- Gabe Davis (WR): 3 Receptions, 49 Yards, 1 TD. Davis provided the downfield threat, stretching the Arizona defense and creating space for others.
- Dalton Kincaid (TE): 5 Receptions, 51 Yards. The rookie tight end emerged as a crucial intermediate weapon, particularly on third downs.
Rushing Attack: The Quarterback is the Engine
This is where the Arizona Cardinals vs Buffalo Bills match player stats get truly frightening for opponents. The Bills’ leading rusher wasn’t a running back.
- Josh Allen (QB): 10 Rushes, 50 Yards, 2 Rushing TDs.
- Let that sink in. Allen didn’t just throw for three touchdowns; he also powered in for two more on the ground. This red-zone lethality makes the Bills’ offense nearly impossible to stop. He accounted for all five of Buffalo’s touchdowns.
- James Cook (RB): 7 Rushes, 30 Yards.
- Latavius Murray (RB): 6 Rushes, 21 Yards.
The takeaway is undeniable: the Bills’ offense runs through Josh Allen in every conceivable way. His ability to both carve up a defense through the air and punish them with his legs is the central theme of their success.
The Cardinals’ stats tell a story of a team that fought hard and found some success but ultimately couldn’t match the firepower of their opponent and made critical errors at inopportune times.
Quarterback: A Mixed Bag
- Kyler Murray (QB): 24/44, 242 Passing Yards, 1 TD, 2 INTs, 57.8 Passer Rating.
- Murray’s stat line is the mirror image of Allen’s. While he showed flashes of his own dynamic ability, the two interceptions were massive momentum killers. The completion percentage of just over 54% indicates the Bills’ defense successfully disrupted his rhythm for much of the game.
Rushing Strength: The Bright Spot
Arizona’s most consistent offensive weapon was on the ground, a testament to their offensive line and running back tenacity.
- James Conner (RB): 15 Rushes, 77 Yards, 1 TD. Conner ran with his trademark power and vision, providing a steadying force for the Arizona offense.
- Kyler Murray (QB): 7 Rushes, 61 Yards. Murray’s scrambling ability remained a key part of the Cardinals’ attack, helping to extend drives and create explosive plays.
Receiving Corps: Isolated Highlights
- Marquise “Hollywood” Brown (WR): 6 Receptions, 53 Yards. Brown was targeted frequently but was largely contained by the Bills’ secondary.
- Zach Ertz (TE): 4 Receptions, 42 Yards. Ertz was a reliable short-to-intermediate target.
- Rondale Moore (WR): 3 Receptions, 28 Yards, 1 TD. Moore’s touchdown was a bright spot, showcasing his playmaking ability in space.
Looking at the Arizona Cardinals vs Buffalo Bills match player stats holistically, several defining themes emerge that explain the final outcome.
- The Turnover Battle is Everything: The final score was a 14-point margin. The Cardinals lost the turnover battle 2-0. This is not a coincidence. Against an elite team like the Bills, you simply cannot give the ball away and expect to win.
- Dual-Threat QB is the Ultimate Weapon: Josh Allen’s stat line is the perfect blueprint for a modern NFL win. His combined 321 yards and 5 touchdowns represent an offensive output that is simply unsustainable for most teams to counter. The Cardinals had no answer for his versatility.
- Arizona’s Run Game was Legitimate: Despite the loss, the Cardinals proved they could run the ball effectively against a stout Bills defense, averaging over 4.5 yards per carry as a team. This is a positive building block for future games.
- Red Zone Efficiency Decides Games: The Bills scored touchdowns on their trips inside the 20-yard line. The Cardinals, hampered by penalties and the Bills’ defensive pressure, were forced to settle for a field goal on at least one crucial drive. In a tight game, those lost points are monumental.
*Imagine an infographic here, showing two side-by-side bar charts. One chart is titled “Total Touchdowns Accounted For” and has a massive blue bar for “Josh Allen – 5” next to a much smaller red bar for “Kyler Murray – 1.” The other chart, “Turnovers,” shows a spotless “0” for the Bills and a glaring “2” for the Cardinals. This visual would perfectly encapsulate the story of the game.*
In the end, the Arizona Cardinals vs Buffalo Bills match player stats serve as a powerful reminder of a fundamental truth in today’s NFL: a truly elite, dual-threat quarterback is the most valuable asset a team can possess. The Cardinals showed fight and have pieces to build upon, particularly in their rushing attack. However, they were ultimately undone by a combination of self-inflicted wounds and the inescapable reality of Josh Allen’s greatness. The box score doesn’t lie—it was a game decided by one man’s ability to dominate in every phase of offense.
Key Points to Remember:
- Josh Allen was the undisputed MVP, accounting for all five Bills touchdowns.
- The critical difference was the turnover margin, with Arizona’s two interceptions proving fatal.
- Arizona’s rushing attack, led by James Conner, was a genuine positive.
- Red zone execution separated the two teams significantly.
Which stat from this game surprised you the most? Was it Allen’s five total touchdowns or the effectiveness of the Cardinals’ ground game despite the loss?
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Who was the leading passer in the Cardinals vs Bills game?
Buffalo’s Josh Allen was the leading passer, throwing for 271 yards and 3 touchdowns with no interceptions.
How many total touchdowns did Josh Allen have?
Josh Allen had a phenomenal five total touchdowns—three through the air and two on the ground.
Did any Cardinals player rush for over 70 yards?
Yes, running back James Conner was effective, rushing for 77 yards and a touchdown on 15 carries.
Why did the Cardinals lose despite having a decent offensive yardage total (341)?
The two primary reasons were turnovers (Arizona had two interceptions, Buffalo had zero) and a lack of answers for Josh Allen’s dual-threat ability, especially in the red zone.
Who led the Bills in receiving yards?
Stefon Diggs led all receivers with 92 yards on 9 catches, including a touchdown.
How did Kyler Murray perform compared to Josh Allen?
While Kyler Murray contributed with both his arm (242 yards, 1 TD) and his legs (61 rushing yards), he was outplayed by Allen, who was more efficient, avoided turnovers, and was far more prolific in scoring.
What was the time of possession in the game?
While not included in every summary, in a game like this, the Bills likely controlled the time of possession due to their efficient, scoring drives and the Cardinals’ turnovers, which cut their own possessions short.