The Washington Football Team and the Buffalo Bills each recorded critical victories in Week 2 to kick start their respective 2021 NFL campaigns. They both have a chance to go 2-1 when they face each other in a vital Week 3 clash at Highmark Stadium this coming Sunday. Who will emerge victorious in the Buffalo Bills vs. Washington Football Team game? Here's an in-depth breakdown of this matchup.

Buffalo Bills enter Week 3 as -9.5 favorites

After a disappointing Week 1 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers, the Buffalo Bills bounced back in a big way on Sunday afternoon, crushing the Miami Dolphins 35-0 to improve their record to 1-1. The Bills have now won each of their last six meetings with the Dolphins, doing so by an average margin of 20 points.

The key to Buffalo's victory in Week 2 was its terrific defense, with the Bills handing the Dolphins their second-worst shutout loss at home. It didn't help Miami's cause that starting quarterback Tua Tagovailoa lasted just two series in this contest after he got knocked out on a botched fourth-down play near midfield in the first quarter.

On the other hand, the Bills' offense was firing on all cylinders, as they quickly scored touchdowns in each of their first two possessions. Devin Singletary opened the scoring with a 46-yard run before Josh Allen found Stefon Diggs for a five-yard touchdown to give Buffalo a 14-0 advantage.

Allen finished the game with 179 yards and a couple of touchdowns while Zack Moss provided the scoring punch on the ground with a pair of touchdowns of his own. They will be licking their chops at the prospect of facing a Washington team that surrendered 391 total yards in Week 2.

Washington Football Team installed as +9.5 underdogs

On Thursday, Washington finally chalked up its first win of the season with a gripping 30-29 come-from-behind victory over the New York Giants. It was a morale-boosting win for Washington, who finally snapped their five-game losing streak to the Giants.

In that victory, Taylor Heinicke led the way for Washington, throwing for 336 yards and a couple of touchdowns. However, Heinicke nearly cost Washington the win after throwing an interception late in the game that set up Graham Gano's fifth field goal, which gave the Giants a 29-27 lead.

He bounced back strongly after that mistake, though, leading a critical two-minute drive for Washington that helped set up Dustin Hopkins' game-winning 43-yard field goal in the end. Heinicke will have his work cut out for him in Week 3 against a Buffalo defense that completely shut out the Dolphins on Sunday.

Washington's defense needs to stand tall in Week 3 against Buffalo. Its defensive unit was far from impressive in the second half of their Week 2 win, allowing the Giants to score in each of their first four possessions during the third and fourth quarters. That won't do against a Bills offense that can rack up points in a hurry which they displayed in the win against Miami.

Writer's Prediction

Buffalo wins, but Washington covers the spread.

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