ORCHARD PARK, NY (AP) — Bills wide receiver Stefon Diggs says he wasn’t the one who started the verbal exchange he and Packers cornerback Jaire Alexander had in the tunnel before and after warmups pre-game.
Either way, Diggs and the AFC-leading Bills certainly had the last laugh on Sunday night.
Diggs had a game-high six catches for 108 yards and had a perfect run with a 26-yard touchdown in a 27-17 win over the Packers, who are off to their worst start eight games in a season under Aaron Rodgers .
“I don’t give a damn about (hoot) who started it. I’ll finish it, you know what I’m saying. I won,” Diggs said, without going into detail about what sparked the verbal exchange.
“It’s the most talk that’s ever been with another team because I don’t know why. We don’t really talk too much,” he added. “I’m going to continue to be a leader and I I’m going to lead by example, and I’m not going to be pushed around by anyone.
Alexander disputed Diggs’ claim saying he didn’t know who started things, which started when Diggs was spotted running to the side and yelling at the cornerback as he exited the tunnel. Their feud continued as the teams returned to their locker rooms.
“I always thought he was a decent receiver, but I can’t say much about him,” Alexander said.
In an outing that was both chippy — Packers linebacker Quay Walker was sent off for pushing Bills practice squad tight end Zach Davidson on the sidelines — and sloppy, the Bills (6-1) n have never trailed to win their fourth straight and tied their best start to a season since 1993.
Meanwhile, the showdown between two of the NFL’s best quarterbacks, Rodgers and Buffalo’s Josh Allen, never really materialized.
Allen went 13 of 25 for 218 yards and two touchdowns with two interceptions. He added 49 yards rushing, including a powerful 20-yard gain on third-and-14 to set up his 1-yard TD pass to Dawson Knox that opened the scoring.
Allen was unhappy with the two interceptions he threw in the fourth quarter, which briefly brought the Packers to life.
Rodgers, meanwhile, was unable to lead the Packers to victory a week after calling teammates, citing too many mental errors and sharing blame after a 23-21 loss at Washington.
Rodgers’ message after the latest loss was more muted this time around.
“I think the most important thing is to get into a rhythm. After a frustration like this, the last thing you want is to respond emotionally,” the four-time MVP said. “So pick up a rhythm, let it rest. There’s not much to say after the game that’s going to really get the team excited, I don’t think.
The Packers, three-time defending NFC North champions, fell to 3-5. The four-game slippage is the second-longest under Rodgers and the team’s worst since 2016. Green Bay hasn’t been 3-5 since 2006, Brett Favre’s penultimate season.
Rodgers went 19 of 30 for 203 yards with two touchdowns and an interception. He was limited by an injury-depleted group of receivers. Green Bay was already missing veterans Allen Lazard (shoulder) and Randall Cobb (ankle), then lost Christian Watson to a concussion in the first quarter.
Rookie Romeo Doubs had a 19-yard touchdown catch in the second quarter, and fellow rookie Samori Toure caught a 37-yard TD pass — the second catch of his career — with 6:32 remaining.
The lack of on-court threat — especially after the Packers traded Davante Adams to Las Vegas this offseason — remains a concern for Rodgers.
“We’re going to have to push the ball down the field to win in this league,” said Rodgers, who completed just three passes from beyond 20 yards.
The only thing Rodgers beat was the point spread. Green Bay came in as a 10 1/2 point underdog, according to FanDuel Sportsbook, the most in the quarterback’s 15 years as a starter.
The Bills, meanwhile, are continuing a season-opening streak in which they beat three NFL MVP quarterbacks, following a 23-20 victory over Lamar Jackson and the Ravens on Oct. 2, and a 24- 20 against Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs two weeks ago.
“It shows the type of character we have in the locker room,” passing thrower Von Miller said of the Bills poised amid chatter and the defense allowing a season-worst 398-yard offense. , and 208 rushing yards.
GROOVES
The loss ended Rodgers’ 13-game prime-time winning streak, which had been the longest in the NFL since 1970. … The Packers fell to 0-7 in road games against the Bills . … Diggs, who spent his first five NFL seasons with the Packers NFC rival North Minnesota Vikings, became the first player to score a touchdown in eight consecutive games against Green Bay. Randy Moss has scored for the Vikings in seven consecutive meetings with the Packers.
INJURIES
Packers: Watson, who returned after missing two games with a knee injury, was ruled out after suffering a concussion midway through the first quarter. … Linebacker De’Vondre Campbell did not return after injuring his knee in the first half.
Bills: S Jordan Poyer was ruled out in the fourth quarter with an elbow injury.
NEXT
Packers: Close out the three-game stretch of road in Detroit next Sunday.
Bills: At the New York Jets next Sunday.
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