ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. — Buffalo Payments proper sort out Spencer Brown put it merely when requested about quarterback Josh Allen’s efficiency Sunday.
“He had two turnovers, I feel, tonight, after which he went and had six touchdowns,” Brown stated. “So, I feel that is positive with me.”
After some early struggles, which included two interceptions, in opposition to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Allen completed with three passing touchdowns and three dashing TDs to guide the Payments to a 44-32 win.
Solely 3 times in NFL historical past, together with the postseason, has a quarterback had three passing and three dashing touchdowns. Allen has carried out it twice, and Otto Graham did it in 1954.
“Dude’s a canine. He is only a canine. That is what it’s,” Payments large receiver Khalil Shakir stated of Allen. “… There isn’t any must overthink it. I imply, he is unreal at the whole lot he does. The perfect participant within the league by far, and he will present that each recreation day.”
Allen accounted for 3 touchdowns in every half. He accomplished 19 of 30 passes for 317 yards and rushed for 40 yards on six carries. And he tied Cam Newton’s document for essentially the most regular-season dashing touchdowns by a quarterback in NFL historical past (75).
“You guys know Josh. He is exhausting to cease,” coach Sean McDermott stated. “Everyone knows how final week went. The Josh that I do know, he is not going to be denied. That is the kind of competitor, sort of individual, sort of teammate that he’s.”
The downfield passing recreation was key for the Payments (7-3) on Sunday.
Allen’s 43-yard go within the first half to large receiver Tyrell Shavers, who had a team-high 90 receiving yards, was Allen’s first TD go of 40-plus air yards because the 2022 regular-season finale vs. the New England Patriots. Since 2023, Allen had zero touchdowns and 5 interceptions on throws of 40-plus air yards.
The Payments had a number of passing touchdowns of 40 or extra yards in a recreation for the primary time this season. They’d two such touchdowns this season earlier than Sunday. Operating again Ty Johnson turned Allen’s brief go right into a 52-yard rating. Allen additionally threw a 25-yard landing go to operating again James Cook dinner.
“I feel on the finish of the primary quarter, simply the way in which how issues had been going,” Allen stated after being requested when he realized the sport can be excessive scoring. “Simply realizing that we’ll need to put our exhausting hats on and go to work. I believed we made some performs in the present day.”
On a day the operating recreation was held beneath 100 yards — 23 carries for 97 yards — the Payments had 13 first downs on passes from Allen, who went 5-for-8 for 134 yards and a pair of touchdowns on throws of 15-plus air yards.
“I really feel like usually, Tampa performs with fairly low safeties,” large receiver Gabe Davis stated. “So, there’s some extra deep alternatives than regular. However clearly, we had some in the present day with Shavers down the sector on the 43-yarder, Josh’s scramble potential to make some throws down the sector. However I feel it is a week-by-week factor.”
A wide range of gamers made contributions, together with Davis and returner Mecole Hardman, who made their season debuts with the crew. Davis caught three passes for 40 yards, together with a key fourth-down conversion within the ultimate quarter. Hardman had a 61-yard kick return, however he left the sport due to a calf harm after fumbling a punt return within the third quarter.
The Payments’ kick return recreation, led by operating again Ray Davis, arrange the offense fairly effectively, as 5 of their drives began at their 40-yard line or higher.
The Payments will not have numerous time to have a good time this win as a result of they journey to Houston for “Thursday Night time Soccer” this week. However Buffalo’s offense can nonetheless take one thing from the sport.
“Sure, for those who use it the precise means,” Allen stated. “We obtained a recreation Thursday evening, so it is a utterly totally different crew that we’re going through, utterly totally different protection. Unsure what the sport plan goes to appear to be, however we obtained to start out quick, actually wipe this one and begin tomorrow on attending to Houston.”
