Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen (17) warms up before a game against the Denver Broncos at Highmark Stadium. Mark Konezny-USA TODAY Sports

Watch: Bills' first two drives end in turnovers

By Eric Smithling | Last updated 11/13/23

Buffalo had a nightmarish start to its game against Denver on Monday night.

BRONCOS RECOVER THE FUMBLE ON THE FIRST PLAY OF MONDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL pic.twitter.com/IxavffBymL
— ESPN (@espn) November 14, 2023

Running back James Cook was stripped of the ball by cornerback Ja'Quan McMillian on the game's first offensive play. After a Broncos field goal, quarterback Josh Allen threw an interception on Buffalo's next drive.

Justin Simmons INT! The @Broncos defense has back-to-back takeaways.

: #DENvsBUF on ESPN/ABC
: Stream on #NFLPlus https://t.co/J3bHxYOoK2 pic.twitter.com/DVJEeLJAYI
— NFL (@NFL) November 14, 2023

Per ESPN Stats & Info, Allen has thrown a pick in six consecutive games, the longest streak by a Bills quarterback since Ryan Fitzpatrick in 2011.

Josh Allen has thrown an interception in 6 straight games.

That's the longest streak by a Bills QB since Ryan Fitzpatrick in 2011. pic.twitter.com/LRGkhHXOlY
— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) November 14, 2023

Entering Monday night, Buffalo was tied for the 11th-most turnovers this season (14). That's been partly why the Bills have underperformed this season. Their 5-4 record is the franchise's worst through nine games since 2018, Allen's rookie season.

Buffalo is ninth in the AFC standings but could move to seventh, a half-game ahead of Houston (5-4) and Cincinnati (5-4), with a win against Denver (3-5). A loss would drop the Bills to 11th, behind Indianapolis (5-5) and Las Vegas (5-5) due to a worse conference record.

If the team's first two offensive series are a sign of things to come, the playoffs could be fumbling out of Buffalo's reach.

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