Joe Sargent/Getty Images
Josh Allen gave a game ball to offensive coordinator Joe Brady.
Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen took a few shots but delivered a big win on Sunday against the Cincinnati Bengals.
Now, the loss could become extra bitter for two Bengals defenders who laid those hits.
Allen took a late hit in the first half that allowed the Bills a chance to grab an extra point, while another Bengals defender appeared to kick toward the Bills quarterback in what could be deemed an illegal trip. The NFL will review the plays this week to determine whether the Bengals defenders face more punishment on top of their 39-34 loss.
Josh Allen Delivered Touchdown Pass After Taking Illegal Hit
The Bills fell behind early in Sunday’s contest, facing a 14-3 deficit when they took the ball late in the second quarter. Allen drove the team down the field and delivered an 11-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Khalil Shakir on a 4th-and-4 play.
Though Allen was able to thread the needle on a difficult pass that went through three Bengals defenders, the Bills would have converted a first down even with an incompletion after a roughing the passer penalty on defensive end Joseph Ossai.
The penalty was still costly, allowing the Bills to move up to the one-yard line and go for a two-point conversion, which was successful when Allen found tight end Dawson Knox in the back of the endzone.
Another image from the game, shared on X by Bills fan and “Bills Mafia” founder Del Reid, showed a Bengals defender thrusting his leg toward Allen while being blocked by running back James Cook. While it was not clear whether the defender made contact, the league regularly fines players for illegal tripping, and he could face punishment as well.
Josh Allen Rallied Bills After Falling Behind
Sunday’s win was the second time this season that the Bills erased a deficit of 10 points or more in the fourth quarter. The team also ralled from a 15-point deficit in their season-opening win over the Baltimore Ravens.
While Allen accounted for four touchdowns in Sunday’s win — three passing and one rushing — it was the defense that made two game-turning plays. Cornerback Christian Benford took a pass out of Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow’s hands and returned it for a touchdown in the fourth quarter, and edge rusher A.J. Epenesa caught an interception off a batted pass on the next play from scrimmage.
After the game, veteran Bills linebacker Shaq Thompson said Allen encouraged the defense to force a turnover late in the game.
“That’s why it’s two halves of football, right? Sixty minutes,” Thompson said.
“Josh said we needed one. And when 17 says you need one, we got to lock in and buckle up,” Thompson added. “Guys stepped up. It doesn’t matter who makes the play, it’s just as long as the play gets made.”
The win moved the Bills to 9-4, making up ground on the idle New England Patriots and rising to the top of the wild-card race. They now have a 98% chance to earn a playoff berth according to The Athletic’s playoff calculator, and have an opportunity to stay in the division race with a win against the Patriots next week.
Nathan Dougherty is a sports reporter covering the NFL for Heavy.com, with a focus on the Buffalo Bills, Detroit Lions and Miami Dolphins. Previously he wrote for the Rochester Business Journal and served as the assistant editor of athletic trade magazines Coaching Management, Athletic Management and Training & Conditioning. He is based out of Rochester, New York, and loves everything football. More about Nathan Dougherty
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