Bills Cruise Past Browns 31-7 as Kyle Allen, Ja’Mori Maclin and Defense Shine in Preseason

Buffalo moves to 2-0 with another convincing performance

The Buffalo Bills continued their perfect start to the 2026 preseason with a dominant 31-7 victory over the Cleveland Browns at Huntington Bank Field on Saturday night. Buffalo improved to 2-0 in exhibition play, with several players strengthening their cases for roster spots and playing roles ahead of the regular season.

While preseason results ultimately carry limited weight, the performance provided plenty of encouraging signs for Buffalo. The Bills were efficient on offense, controlled the line of scrimmage and produced several standout defensive plays, including interceptions by Damar Hamlin and Te’Corey Couch.

Quarterback Kyle Allen was one of the biggest winners of the night. Allen completed 10 of 12 passes for 128 yards and a touchdown, continuing what has been an extremely efficient preseason. Through two games, he is now 24-of-28 passing, an impressive 85.7 percent completion rate, for 236 yards and a touchdown.

Allen's performance gives Buffalo plenty to like from its backup quarterback group. He was accurate and composed against Cleveland, consistently putting the offense in manageable situations and avoiding costly mistakes.

Buechele and Maclin produce the play of the night

One of the most spectacular moments of the game came when Shane Buechele connected with wide receiver Ja’Mori Maclin for a 71-yard touchdown.

Buechele delivered a beautifully placed deep pass that Maclin caught before accelerating away from the Cleveland defense for a long scoring play. The touchdown provided one of the clearest highlights of the evening and demonstrated the potential explosiveness available further down Buffalo's depth chart.

For Maclin, plays like this could prove valuable as he competes for opportunities within a crowded Bills receiving group. Big-play ability is particularly important for players battling for roster consideration, and his 71-yard touchdown certainly put his name on the preseason highlight reel.

Bass remains reliable

Kicker Tyler Bass also enjoyed a perfect evening.

Bass converted a 52-yard field goal and made all four of his extra-point attempts, finishing 5-for-5 on kicks. His ability to remain reliable from distance is an important component of Buffalo's special teams, particularly in games where field position and scoring opportunities can become decisive.

The performance was another positive step for Bass as he prepares for the regular season.

Wheeler continues to impress

Running back Ian Wheeler was another player who made a strong impression.

Wheeler led all players in rushing with 56 yards on 14 carries, repeatedly showing the ability to gain additional yardage after initial contact and turn seemingly limited opportunities into productive runs.

He also contributed in the passing game, catching two passes for another 21 yards. That gave him 77 total yards for the afternoon.

His performance highlighted the value of his versatility. Wheeler's ability to contribute both as a runner and receiver could be particularly useful as Buffalo evaluates its depth at running back.

Sherfield makes the most of his opportunities

Wide receiver Trent Sherfield was equally efficient with his limited opportunities, catching all four passes thrown in his direction for 54 yards.

A perfect catch rate stood out in a game where Buffalo's passing attack was generally efficient. Sherfield's experience and reliability could make him an important option as the Bills continue evaluating their receiving corps.

Meanwhile, Mecole Hardman endured a more mixed evening. He dropped two third-down passes during the first half, with both plays potentially resulting in first downs. The second drop in particular came on an uncontested opportunity.

Hardman did, however, respond positively later in the game with a good catch-and-run touchdown, showing the playmaking ability that has made him an intriguing offensive option.

Buffalo defense continues to make plays

The Bills' defense delivered another encouraging performance, particularly in the second half.

Damar Hamlin was one of the defensive standouts. He intercepted a pass in the Bills' red zone to end a Cleveland scoring opportunity, added a pass breakup and finished as Buffalo's leading tackler with five total tackles.

The interception was particularly valuable because it came deep in Bills territory and prevented the Browns from extending a drive.

Te’Corey Couch also produced an interception while playing safety. Primarily a cornerback, Couch demonstrated his versatility by operating at safety and making an impact with two tackles, a pick and a pass breakup.

His ability to contribute at multiple positions could strengthen his case as Buffalo continues making personnel decisions.

Jordan Hancock also impressed despite recording only one official tackle. He was consistently around the football and made an important pass breakup on third down.

Joe Andreessen was another active defender. He deflected the pass that ultimately became Hamlin's interception and finished with three tackles.

Bills dominate on third down and against the run

The statistics showed how thoroughly Buffalo controlled several key areas.

The Browns converted only 3 of 11 third-down attempts, a success rate of 27.3 percent. Buffalo's ability to get off the field prevented Cleveland from sustaining drives and helped keep the game under control.

The Bills were similarly effective against the run. Cleveland managed only 84 rushing yards, averaging just 3.1 yards per carry.

That defensive efficiency helped Buffalo maintain control as the game progressed.

The offense was also highly effective in the red zone. The Bills entered the Browns' 20-yard line three times and scored touchdowns on all three possessions, a perfect 3-for-3 conversion rate.

The combination of defensive stops and red-zone efficiency helped turn a competitive opening into a comfortable victory.

Offensive line provides solid protection

Buffalo's offensive line also deserves credit for its performance.

The Bills rushed for 138 yards and surrendered only one sack on 23 dropbacks. The combination of run blocking and pass protection allowed Buffalo's quarterbacks to operate comfortably for much of the game.

For a team with ambitions of competing deep into the season, consistent offensive-line play will remain one of the most important factors to monitor during the preseason.

Lightning delay provides one of few negatives

The biggest disruption came almost immediately after kickoff.

Just 1:49 into the game, heavy rain moved into the area and referee Bill Vinovich suspended play because of lightning. The delay lasted one hour and four minutes, interrupting the rhythm of both teams.

Once play resumed, however, Buffalo eventually took control.

There were also individual concerns. Jude Bowry was beaten cleanly for a sack on Buffalo's second drive, turning a second-and-8 situation into third-and-17.

The first defensive series was another concern. Buffalo entered the game with a 7-0 lead, but Cleveland responded by driving 65 yards over 11 plays to tie the contest.

Those moments will give the coaching staff areas to address despite the comfortable final score.

A positive night for Buffalo

Ultimately, the 31-7 victory gave the Bills another strong preseason outing and allowed a number of players competing for opportunities to make their cases.

Allen's accuracy, Maclin's explosive touchdown, Wheeler's all-around production and the defense's ability to force turnovers were among the biggest positives. The offensive line also performed well, while Buffalo's third-down and red-zone numbers were particularly encouraging.

There is still plenty of work to do before the regular season, and preseason performances must be viewed with appropriate caution. But after two exhibition games, Buffalo has now won both and appears to be developing encouraging depth across several positions.

For players fighting for roster spots, the remaining preseason opportunities will be increasingly important. Performances like those from Allen, Maclin, Wheeler, Couch and Andreessen could ultimately have a significant influence on the Bills' final decisions.

For now, though, Buffalo can take plenty of positives from another convincing preseason victory.

Bills 31, Browns 7. Buffalo moves to 2-0.