The Bills ended their preseason with a win over the Buccaneers, highlighted by Tyrell Shavers’ touchdown and a surprise punt from tight end Zach Davidson.
ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. — The final game of the season that doesn’t count in the win-loss column for the Buffalo Bills featured big moments for Tyrell Shavers and Zach Davidson.
Shavers caught two passes for 24 yards and a highlight-reel, one-handed touchdown, and Davidson — a tight end — booted a 62-yard punt as the Bills wrapped up the preseason with a 23-19 road victory against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
The Bills finished 1-2 in the preseason.
Shavers’ 11-yard touchdown catch from Shane Buechele helped put the Bills up 14-3 midway through the second quarter. It was the signature moment in a strong preseason from the wideout who has made a significant case for a spot on the Bills’ 53-man roster.
Frank Gore Jr. was responsible for Buffalo’s first points with a 1-yard touchdown run in the first quarter.
Tyler Bass kicked a 37-yard field goal to put Buffalo up 17-10 at halftime. He added kicks of 37 and 39 yards in the third quarter as the Bills carried a 23-13 lead going into the fourth.
Davidson’s punt wasn’t the first time during the preseason that a member of the offense contributed to the kicking game. Running back Ray Davis converted a point-after try during Buffalo’s first preseason game, a 34-25 loss to the New York Giants.
Josh Allen, for the first time in his career, didn’t take a snap during the preseason. His backup, Mitchell Trubisky, also didn’t play. That left Buechele to run the show, and he responded, completing 24 of 29 passes for 254 yards and a touchdown.
Like Buechele, Tampa Bay also turned to a young quarterback to take a majority of the snaps. Kyle Trask completed 13 of 17 passes for 93 yards, which included a 1-yard touchdown pass to Tez Johnson.