A win and a prayer

Allen’s high-wire act pays off for Bills in opener but about that left hand

- DAMIEN COX

The faces around Josh Allen have changed.

But he’s still Josh Allen. Sometimes that gets a little messy.

But the vast majority of the time, it’s thrilling and exciting for the Buffalo Bills and their legions of fans, a base so loyal that yet another playoff disappointment last winter doesn’t seem to have dampened their enthusiasm one iota.

Just as a missed Tyler Bass field goal ended last season for the Bills, so did a successful Bass boot provide the winning margin as Buffalo opened another hope-filled campaign in Orchard Park, N.Y., on Sunday with a surprisingly taut 34-28 triumph over the Arizona Cardinals.

Under new head coach Jonathan Gannon, the Cardinals are looking to re-establish themselves after last season’s nightmarish 4-13 campaign, and they did indeed give the Bills all they could handle on a day so windy that the goalposts were shaking.

Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen picks up a first down the hard way in the third quarter of Sunday’s season opener against Arizona.

The Cards led 17-3 at one point in the first half and, if not for a play by defensive back Ja’Marcus Ingram on diminutive Arizona receiver Greg Dortch in the dying seconds of the fourth quarter that could easily have been ruled defensive pass interference, the visitors might have pulled off an improbable victory.

But, in between, there was enough brilliance, recklessness, imagination and leadership by the 29-yearold Allen that the Bills carried the day. He still guides a Buffalo offence that, despite a lot of change, appears potent enough for the Bills to once again be a force in the AFC East.