In one of the wildest games of the season, the Buffalo Bills beat the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday, prevailing with a 44-32 home victory to bounce back from their disappointing loss to the Miami Dolphins last week. The game was back and forth for the entire afternoon, with the lead changing hands an incredible nine times -- tied for the second-most lead changes in NFL history.
The Bills overcame three turnovers, six penalties and a steep time-of-possession disadvantage to walk away with a win thanks in large part to the superhuman efforts of Josh Allen. Allen completed 19 of 30 passes for 317 yards, three touchdowns and two interceptions, and he ran the ball six times for 40 yards and another three scores.
His six total touchdowns were the most in the NFL this season. It marked the second time in league history that a player has scored thrice on the ground and thrice through the air in the same game: Allen himself did it last season in a similarly wild win over the Los Angeles Rams. Allen's third rushing score also pushed him into a tie with Cam Newton for the most rushing touchdowns by a quarterback in NFL history (75).
After an early interception that put the Bucs in position to take the a 3-0 lead, Allen led scoring drives on seven of the Bills' ensuing 10 possessions, with the last of those being a punt on a drive where the Bills were simply running out the clock. On a day where the Bills' powerful and explosive rushing attack was bottled up (James Cook had 16 carries for just 48 yards), the Bills needed every bit of Allen's brilliance to avoid being upset by a Buccaneers team that racked up turnovers and rushing yards for most of the afternoon.
Tampa piled up 368 yards of offense, 21 first downs and 32 points, but ultimately fell short for several reasons. The Buccaneers turned Allen's two picks into only three points. Baker Mayfield was picked off once himself, and also lost a fumble late in the game. And trailing 37-32 with around seven minutes remaining in the fourth quarter, Todd Bowles chose to punt the ball away rather than go for it on fourth-and-2 from his own 39-yard line, which led to the Bills marching down the field for Allen's third rushing touchdown of the afternoon and putting the game away for good.
The Bills improved to 7-3 with the win, maintaining their standing 1.5 games behind the Patriots in the AFC East race. The Buccaneers dropped to 6-4 with their second consecutive loss to an AFC East opponent after falling to New England last week, and they maintain their hold on the NFC South by a narrow margin over the Carolina Panthers.
As mentioned, Allen threw for three touchdowns and ran for three more. Those scores came on a two-yard quarterback sneak, a 43-yard pass to Tyrell Shavers, and 52-yard pass to Ty Johnson, a 25-yard pass to James Cook, a five-yard run and a nine-yard run.
The 43-yard pass to Shavers came after some classic Allen improvisation. He bought time in the pocket, looked to scramble to his right, avoided a defender waiting for him there and then stepped up and to his left before launching a laser shot up the left sideline for the score.
The touchdowns to the running backs were a little bit easier. The first saw Allen merely flip the ball out to Johnson in the flat, followed by Johnson following a cadre of blockers up the same left sideline to speed into the end zone. The second saw Allen hit Cook on a really well designed wheel route out of the backfield wherein he got matched up with a defensive end in space and there was just no chance that he was going to be covered.
The pair of quarterback runs in the fourth quarter were also really well designed. On the first, the Bills went with three receivers lined up to the left of the formation and motion Cook out to that side of the field as well. They then had Allen run a sweep to the right behind a puller, and it took him straight into the end zone. On the second, the Bills lined up in the same formation and sent Cook on the same motion. But this time, they had Allen fake like he was going to throw it to Cook, only to then take off through the right side on a quarterback power run.
The Buccaneers ran the ball an incredible 39 times for 202 yards and three touchdowns. Take out the scrambles and kneeldowns and jet sweeps, and the combination of Sean Tucker and Rachaad White carried 29 times for 157 yards and two scores. Tucker, in particular, was tough to stop all game, and he broke several long runs for his troubles. That included a 43-yard scamper around the right edge that, at the time, gave the Bucs a lead.
Tucker similarly bounced his second touchdown of the game around the right edge, taking it in for the score from six yards out.
Tucker's third touchdown of the game was similarly pretty, but it came through the air, with the running back getting open on a wheel route up the right sideline after getting a pick from the receivers lined up to that side of the field.
Tampa's run game going berserk like this probably should not have been surprising, even if the Bucs have not been particularly good at running the ball this year; the Bills have one of the worst run defenses in the NFL and have been getting absolutely clocked on the ground, including in recent weeks. That's definitely an issue to watch going forward as the Bills make their way toward the playoffs.
With Keon Coleman out for disciplinary reasons (he reportedly missed a meaning on Friday), the Bills turned to a pair of backups in his place: Shavers caught four passes for 90 yards and the touchdown mentioned above. Old friend Gabe Davis made his season debut for the Bills, having been elevated to the active roster for the first time this season, and he caught three passes for 40 yards -- including a fourth-down conversion early in the game. Mecole Hardman (who did have a fumble on a punt return) made an impact on special teams with a 61-yard kick return early in the game as well.
Baker had solid protection for a while but he had to hang in the pocket for too long and he eventually got himself stripped of the ball, which the Bills recovered. If Buffalo can get a first down here, that'll seal it.
This is the second time in NFL history that a player has recorded three passing touchdowns and three rushing touchdowns in the same game. The other? Josh Allen against the Rams last December.
Josh Allen just tied Cam Newton for the most rushing touchdowns by a quarterback in NFL history. He has 75 of them.
Josh Allen now has three rushing scores and three passing scores after his latest rushing touchdown. Another designed run to the right side of the formation. Incredible game. Bucs really cost themselves with that punt. It's 44-32 Bills after the extra point.
It took Buffalo all of four snaps to get the ball past the point on the field from which the Bucs punted. And the Bills have a chance to extend their lead to 8 points or more, having already taken four minutes off the clock.
I thought the Bucs would've gone for it on fourth-and-2 from their own 39-yard line trailing by five points with just over seven minutes remaining, but instead they kicked it away. Buffalo now has a chance to burn some clock and maybe put the game away.
The nine lead changes so far in this game are tied for the second-most in league history, per CBS Sports research.
Josh Allen just got his fifth touchdown of the game, and second on the ground. This time it's a designed run around the right edge on quarterback sweep. The Samuel catch and a big completion to Dawson Knox were the other key plays on the drive. Bills up 37-32 after missing their two-point try.
Curtis Samuel made it much harder on himself than he needed to by bobbling the ball up in the air, but he eventually snagged it and dragged his feet along the turf to come down with a third-and-11 conversion and get the Bills on the move near midfield. Massive play with Buffalo still trailing by 1 point.
What a day for the third-string running back. With Bucky Irving still out, Tucker now has 18 carries for 104 yards and two touchdowns, and one catch for 28 yards and this latest score to put the Bucs back in the lead. Unbelievable day for Tucker, who has been totally dominant. It's 32-31 after the missed two-point try.
It took all of one play for the Bills to get in the box after the Bishop interception. It's James Cook on a wheel route out of the backfield up the left sideline. Really nice design with Allen rolling out halfway to his right and getting Cook matched up on an edge rusher who had no chance to cover him. Bills lead 31-26.
Cole Bishop made a great play coming off his man to undercut the Mayfield throw and set the Bills up with good field position yet again. It's his third pick of the season.
Allen had an open Josh Palmer on a crossing route on third-and-6 but didn't spot him until too late and ended up throwing the ball out of bounds. Buffalo settled for a Matt Prater field goal to cut the Tampa lead down to 26-24.
Buffalo is averaging 44 yards per kick return so far. Ray Davis and Mecole Hardman (before his recent fumble) have helped the Bills with field position throughout the game.
Baker Mayfield was celebrating Tucker's second touchdown run of the day before Tucker even got to the line of scrimmage. All Tucker had to do was follow Tristan Wirfs around the right edge and into the end zone. Again, the Buffalo run defense is a massive issue. Bucs lead 26-21 after failing on the two-point conversion attempt.
Cade Otton came damn close to converting for the Bucs on third-and-8 but was ruled about a foot short of the line to gain. The Bucs came right back and punted the ball, but Mecole Hardman had it knocked out by Josh Hayes and the Bucs recovered to give themselves great field position to try to retake the lead.
Josh Allen almost made an incredible play to convert a third-and-16. He took off down the field after escaping from pressure and tried to lateral the ball to Ty Johnson, but his "backwards" pass actually traveled forward so the Bills were penalized five yards from the spot of the foul and had to punt. They downed the ball at the 3-yard line.
Really nice job by Baker Mayfield and Co. engineering their way down the field for a field goal to end the half. They narrowly avoided disaster after their first try at the kick was blocked by Greg Rousseau. There was a defensive holding penalty on the play so the Bucs were afforded a re-kick and Chase McLaughlin drilled it through. It's 21-20 Buffalo at the break.
Well, that was a quick change of circumstances. After a roughing the passer penalty moved the Bills toward midfield, Allen found Ty Johnson on a swing route on third-and-5, and Johnson scooted up the field for a 52-yard score thanks to some terrific downfield blocking by Buffalo's receivers and tight ends. Four-play, 92-yard touchdown drive in just 32 seconds of game time to retake the lead at 21-17.
Via CBS Sports research:
The Bills have allowed six 30-yard rushing touchdowns this season, tied for the most through 10 games in NFL history and most through 10 games in 72 years (1953 Baltimore Colts). The three other teams on this list were all either in their only season of existence or went defunct the following year.
Josh Allen just straight up missed wide-open receivers on first and second down to set the Bills back with third-and-long. After he scrambled for 8 yards on third down, the Bills went for it on fourth and Allen forced a throw over the middle, which got tipped up into the air and picked. Second turnover of the day for Allen.
Buffalo's run defense continue to spring leaks. Tucker took the ball up the middle, bounced it to the outside and took off around the right edge for a 43-yard touchdown run. Tampa has 111 yards and two touchdowns on 18 carries already. It's 17-14 Bucs.
We just got a classic Josh Allen magician play. He bought time by rolling to his right, avoiding pressure, then stepping up and launching an absolute laser all the way across the field to Tyrell Shavers for a 43-yard touchdown. What a throw.
Stopped in the red zone on their first opportunity, the Bucs convert this time around. Zone read from Baker Mayfield around the right edge after a fake hand-off to Sean Tucker. Both quarterbacks now have rushing TDs as the Bucs retake the lead at 10-7.
The Bucs just pulled off a great move, hustling to the line of scrimmage when they did not have to snap the ball before the end of the first quarter, then using a hard count to gain five free yards. Great job by Baker Mayfield getting Matt Milano to jump.
Buffalo did indeed take advantage of the great field position. Josh Allen scores from 2 yards out on the modified quarterback sneak/tush push. Allen had previously gotten a first down on a rush attempt earlier in the drive as well. All set up by the return from Hardman. Bills lead 7-3 late in the first quarter.
After Allen was nearly picked again on third-and-4, the Bills went for it on fourth down rather than kicking a field goal into the wind. Gabe Davis -- active for the first time this season -- made a nice catch on a slant route to give the Bills a first down.
Mecole Hardman made his presence known quickly, ripping off a 60-yard kick return after the field goal to set the Bills up with great field position for their second drive of the afternoon. Let's see if they can take advantage and atone for the Allen interception.
Buffalo gets a stop on the quick change and walks away having only allowed a field goal. Back-to-back runs got stuffed and then Baker Mayfield overshot Emeka Egbuka in the back of the end zone. It's 3-0 Bucs after a chip shot from Chase McLaughlin.
Disaster start to the game for the Bills. After a punt pinned them deep in their own territory, Allen was under heavy pressure on each of his first two pass attempts. The second one saw Allen try to push a shovel pass to Khalil Shakir over the middle and it was rather easily picked off, setting the Bucs up inside the 10-yard line.
