Bills' Josh Allen Reacts to Lateral TD in Mic'd Up Sideline Video: 'I Love Football'
Dec 2, 2024
ORCHARD PARK, NEW YORK - DECEMBER 01: Josh Allen #17 of the Buffalo Bills dives for a touchdown in the third quarter of a game against the San Francisco 49ers at Highmark Stadium on December 01, 2024 in Orchard Park, New York. (Photo by Bryan M. Bennett/Getty Images)
Buffalo Bills star quarterback Josh Allen pulled off one of the most spectacular plays of the 2024 season with his touchdown off a lateral from Amari Cooper in Sunday night's 35-10 win over the San Francisco 49ers.
The NFL released the sideline video of Allen's reaction to the play and his debate with his teammates over how the touchdown would be recorded. When he found out he was credited with a receiving touchdown, Allen said, "I'm not gonna ask any questions. I love football."
Allen is now the first quarterback and seventh player in the Super Bowl era to record a passing touchdown, a rushing touchdown and a receiving touchdown in the same game. The 28-year-old appears to be separating himself from the pack in the race for NFL MVP, and his performance against the 49ers will only add to his resume.
Allen will try to help the Bills (10-2) earn an eighth straight win when they return to action next Sunday against the Los Angeles Rams (6-6).
Josh Allen, Bills Hyped as Super Bowl Favorites After Rout vs. 49ers Amid CMC Injury
Dec 2, 2024
ORCHARD PARK, NEW YORK - DECEMBER 01: Josh Allen #17 of the Buffalo Bills looks on as he walks the field before a game against the San Francisco 49ers at Highmark Stadium on December 01, 2024 in Orchard Park, New York. (Photo by Bryan M. Bennett/Getty Images)
Josh Allen and Buffalo are quickly emerging as Super Bowl favorites after delivering another stellar performance on Sunday night and clinching the AFC East for the fifth year in a row.
The Bills and Allen dominated the San Francisco 49ers, securing a 35-10 victory in a snowy showdown at Highmark Stadium in Orchard Park, New York. Allen completed 13-of 17 passes for 148 yards, three touchdowns, boosting his team's record to 10-2 this season.
The 49ers faced another rough performance from their offense, dropping to 5-7 and suffering their third straight loss, all while losing Christian McCaffrey. Quarterback Brock Purdy struggled in the cold, finishing 11-of-18 for 94 yards and a fumble.
San Francisco suffered a major blow with just under 11 minutes left in the second quarter when star running back McCaffrey went down. After catching a shovel pass from Purdy, McCaffrey voluntarily slid to the ground, visibly in pain, before walking towards the sideline.
He was downgraded to out for the remainder of the game but had rushed for 53 yards on seven carries before his exit.
Sunday night's victory was the perfect finishing touch for the Bills, who are fighting with Kansas City to secure the No. 1 seed in the AFC playoffs.
Allen and the Bills clearly enjoyed their snowy victory, generating a lot of celebration on social media:
Bills AFC East champs once again. They’re going to the SB this year. They have to. Calling it rn https://t.co/VSNLwai3XK
They said we had no receivers. They said the offense wouldn't work. They said we had no defense. They said Josh Allen would regress. They said the Bills would be bad.
They said a lot of shit.
Division title with 5 games remaining. Let's go win THE WHOLE DAMN THING.
The Bills wasted no time responding, as running back Ray Davis finished their drive with a five-yard touchdown run, closing out the first quarter with Buffalo leading 7-3.
James Cook and Mack Hollins each added a touchdown before halftime. The 49ers were unable to find the end zone in the first half and allowed the Bills to score 21 unanswered points heading into the break.
Out of halftime, fullback Kyle Juszczyke committed a rare fumble in the red-zone that was recovered by Bills cornerback Christian Bedford who ran it back for 43 yards.
Turnovers defined the day for the 49ers, as they committed three in total, struggling to gain any momentum despite a touchdown from running back Isaac Guerendo.
Meanwhile, Josh Allen and Amari Cooper had their way with the 49ers defense, playing hot potato with the ball before Allen took it himself and ran into the end zone for a seven-yard touchdown.
THIS IS THE MOST RIDICULOUS THING WE HAVE EVER SEEN.
Allen and other foundational players were pulled from the game at the 12-minute mark in the fourth quarter as they extended their blowout by scoring 14 points in the second half.
With another win in the books, the Bills will now look to keep their momentum alive as they face the 6-6 Los Angeles Rams on Monday on the road.
Star quarterback Josh Allen and the Buffalo Bills are back in the playoffs for the sixth straight year and clinched their fifth straight AFC East title after defeating the San Francisco 49ers 35-10 on Sunday Night Football.
A loss by the Miami Dolphins (5-7) on Thanksgiving Day against the Green Bay Packers opened the door for the Bills to clinch the division. Buffalo improved to 10-2 with Sunday night's victory, and it's the first time in 15 years that a team has won a division title this early.
The Bills are still in the running for the No. 1 seed in the AFC thanks to their head-to-head win over the Kansas City Chiefs (11-1). A loss by Kansas City in the final five weeks of the season would open the door for Buffalo to earn home-field advantage.
Here's a look at the updated standings now that the Bills are back in the playoffs:
AFC Standings
Division Leaders
1. Kansas City Chiefs (11-1) - clinched playoff berth
2. Buffalo Bills (10-2) - clinched AFC East
3. Pittsburgh Steelers (9-3)
4. Houston Texans (8-5)
Wild-Card Race
5. Los Angeles Chargers (8-4)
6. Baltimore Ravens (8-5)
7. Denver Broncos (7-5)
8. Indianapolis Colts (6-7)
9. Miami Dolphins (5-7)
10. Cincinnati Bengals (4-8)
11. Cleveland Browns (3-8)
12. New York Jets (3-9)
13. Tennessee Titans (3-9)
14. New England Patriots (3-10) - eliminated
15. Jacksonville Jaguars (2-10)
16. Las Vegas Raiders (2-10) - eliminated
NFC Standings
Division Leaders
1. Detroit Lions (11-1)
2. Philadelphia Eagles (10-2)
3. Seattle Seahawks (7-5)
4. Atlanta Falcons (6-6)
Wild-Card Race
5. Minnesota Vikings (10-2)
6. Green Bay Packers (9-3)
7. Washington Commanders (8-5)
8. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (6-6)
9. Arizona Cardinals (6-6)
10 Los Angeles Rams (6-6)
11. San Francisco 49ers (5-6)
12. Dallas Cowboys (5-7)
13. New Orleans Saints (4-8)
14. Chicago Bears (4-8)
15. Carolina Panthers (3-9)
16. New York Giants (2-10) - eliminated
After suffering back-to-back losses in Weeks 4 and 5, the Bills found a new gear and went on to win six straight games. Buffalo has perennially been one of the top contenders in the AFC, but the team finally appears poised to achieve the postseason success that has eluded the franchise for decades.
Allen has performed at an MVP level throughout the 2024 campaign. Against the 49ers, he threw two touchdowns, ran for another, and even recorded a receiving touchdown on one of the most impressive plays of the year.
Still, to finally break through and reach the Super Bowl, the Bills will likely have to get past the Chiefs once again. The back-to-back reigning champions are hoping to achieve the first three-peat in modern NFL history, so another epic playoff game against Buffalo could be on the horizon.
With Allen leading the way, the Bills could exorcise their postseason demons by taking down the defending champs.
Josh Allen's Wild TD for Bills vs. 49ers Amazes Patrick Mahomes, NFL Fans
Dec 2, 2024
ORCHARD PARK, NEW YORK - DECEMBER 1: Josh Allen #17 of the Buffalo Bills smiles prior to an NFL football game against the San Francisco 49ers at Highmark Stadium on December 1, 2024 in Orchard Park, New York. (Photo by Kevin Sabitus/Getty Images)
Buffalo Bills star quarterback Josh Allen pulled off another mind-blowing touchdown that had the football world buzzing.
During the third quarter of Sunday night's game against the San Francisco 49ers, Allen threw a pass to veteran receiver Amari Cooper, who then pitched him the ball, and he carried it to the goal line for the score that gave the Bills a 28-3 lead:
Amazingly, the play was scored as a seven-yard receiving touchdown for Allen on a touchdown pass from himself. He wasn't credited with a reception on the play.
The improbable touchdown is the latest installment to Allen's MVP campaign. After years of being one of the top contenders for the award, this could be the season he finally takes it home.
Allen's impressive performance this year has the Bills looking like one of the top contenders to win the Super Bowl, and they will be hard to stop if he continues converting broken plays into touchdowns.
NFL Rumors: Bills' Matt Milano Activated After Biceps Injury, Will Play vs. 49ers
Nov 30, 2024
ORCHARD PARK, NEW YORK - JUNE 13: Matt Milano #58 of the Buffalo Bills participates during Buffalo Bills mandatory mini camp on June 13, 2024 in Orchard Park, New York. (Photo by Bryan Bennett/Getty Images)
Buffalo Bills linebacker Matt Milano is expected to see NFL action on Sunday for the first time since October 2023.
The Bills have activated Milano from injured reserve on Saturday in anticipation that he will play in Week 13 against the San Francisco 49ers, NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reported.
He has been listed as a full participant in practice leading up to the contest.
Milano has been sidelined since August, when he underwent surgery on a torn bicep suffered during practice.
The linebacker last played on Oct. 8 of last year, when he suffered a season-ending leg and knee injuries in Week 5 of the 2023 campaign.
The 49ers and Bills tip off on Sunday night at 8:20 p.m. ET. The Bills will provide an official update on Milano's availability at 6:50 p.m. ET, according to the team's website.
Milano, who played his way into a starting role by the end of his rookie 2017 season, is in his seventh campaign with the Bills.
Most recently he recorded 30 tackles and two interceptions in five starts prior to his injuries in 2023.
He earned the first Pro Bowl and All-Pro nod of his career during the 2022 campaign, when he led the Bills with 72 solo tackles and 12 tackles for loss.
Milano also added 1.5 sacks, 11 passes defensed, seven quarterback hits and three interceptions, one of which was returned for a touchdown.
Matt Milano hoping this seals it for the @BuffaloBills!
Milano said on Wednesday that he "feels good" after rejoining the Bills for practice.
"It feels good just to be out there with the guys, man. Be competing again and playing ball," Milano said on Wednesday, per BuffaloBills.com's Alec White.
Bills head coach Sean McDermott then said on Friday that Milano's participation in practice was the "next step" in his return to the team.
"He hasn't been through a Friday practice really to this extent," McDermott said on Friday, per ESPN's Alaina Getzenberg. "So, we'll see how he handles today and then go from there."
Adding Milano's speed and hard hits to the Buffalo defense will provide a boost in a crucial Week 13 contest. The Bills could clinch the AFC East title for a fifth straight season with a win over the injury-ridden 49ers.
Video: Bills vs. 49ers Under Snow Warning; 2-3 Feet in NFL Week 13 Weather Forecast
Nov 30, 2024
ORCHARD PARK, NEW YORK - JANUARY 21: Kadin Austin, Cleaning and General Maintenance Associate of the Buffalo Bills, shovels snow off the seats prior to the AFC Divisional Playoff game against the Kansas City Chiefs at Highmark Stadium on January 21, 2024 in Orchard Park, New York. (Photo by Timothy T Ludwig/Getty Images)
The National Weather Service has extended its "lake effect snow warning" in Buffalo through Monday at 7 p.m. ET, with potentially 2-3 feet of additional snow accumulations in the area.
The Bills are currently scheduled to host the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday Night Football at 8:20 p.m. ET.
"Whiteout conditions are expected and will make travel treacherous and potentially dangerous," the NWS said in its alert. "Travel will be very difficult to impossible within the heaviest portion of the lake effect snowband."
The expectation for Sunday is that the game will be held as scheduled despite the potential blizzard conditions.
"This is going to be concerning for people trying to travel to the football game. We do not expect the game to be postponed or anything like that. The game will go on," Erie County executive Mark Poloncarz told reporters Friday. "Now, we've had games that are colder than that. Just got to dress appropriately. So people need to be prepared. It's the first real cold of the season. We haven't had anything like this all year."
Buffalo is no stranger to major winter weather systems or potential game delays. A January Wild Card matchup between the Bills and Pittsburgh Steelers was delayed by one day last season due to driving bans during a storm, while two years ago, a home game against the Cleveland Browns had to be played in Detroit instead.
"We're trying to stay on top of it," Bills head coach Sean McDermott told reporters on Friday. "You guys know things change around here quickly with the weather coming off the lake and everything. So do the best we can."
As for the game itself, the Bills (9-2) would already clinch their fifth straight AFC East title with a win, while the 49ers (5-6) are fighting for their playoff lives but will be doing so without edge-rusher Nick Bosa, offensive tackle Trent Williams, linebacker Dre Greenlaw and cornerback Deommodore Lenoir due to injuries, per head coach Kyle Shanahan.
Quarterback Brock Purdy is questionable.
Josh Allen, Girlfriend Hailee Steinfeld Announce Engagement in Social Media Photo
Nov 29, 2024
ORCHARD PARK, NEW YORK - NOVEMBER 17: Josh Allen #17 of the Buffalo Bills celebrates after scoring a touchdown in the fourth quarter of the game against the Kansas City Chiefs at Highmark Stadium on November 17, 2024 in Orchard Park, New York. The Bills beat the Chiefs 30-21. (Photo by Lauren Leigh Bacho/Getty Images)
Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen and actress/singer Hailee Steinfeld have announced their engagement, which took place last Friday, Nov. 22.
Congratulations to Josh Allen and Hailee Steinfeld on their engagement! 💍❤️
Things have been going great in their professional lives.
Allen is leading the scorching-hot 9-2 Bills, who just most recently handed the two-time defending Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs their only loss of the season. Buffalo has won six straight in pursuit of chasing down the Chiefs for the AFC's No. 1 seed in hopes of winning the franchise's first-ever Super Bowl. Allen has done his part, accounting for 23 touchdowns (18 passing, five rushing).
Steinfeld is the voice actor for Gwen Stacy / Spider-Woman in the animated Spider-Verse, beginning with Into the Spider-Verse in 2018 and Across the Spider-Verse in 2023. Production is ongoing for Beyond the Spider-Verse. She's also starred as Kate Bishop in the television miniseries Hawkeye. Steinfeld previously broke out with her Academy Award-nominated role as Mattie Ross in True Grit (2010).
Allen had a week-long break after the win over the Chiefs on Nov. 17 with the team heading on a bye. He clearly made the most of his time away as he and Steinfeld are now engaged.
PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - NOVEMBER 26: Josh Allen #17 and Stefon Diggs #14 of the Buffalo Bills look on against the Philadelphia Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field on November 26, 2023 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images)
Former Buffalo Bills wide receiver Stefon Diggs was reportedly "detrimental" to the atmosphere of the team as well as quarterback Josh Allen.
"The coach and GM [Brandon Beane] had the foresight to get rid of the receiver [Stefon Diggs] because they knew it was detrimental to the quarterback and the atmosphere," an opposing coach told Mike Sando of The Athletic. "All of sudden, they are playing with Curtis Samuel and draft picks and just whatever, and the quarterback is playing good. And then they add Amari Cooper."
Diggs made Pro Bowl appearances in each season with the Bills from 2020-23 before he was traded to the Houston Texans in April.
High level of difficulty? No problem for Stefon Diggs 😱
While the veteran receiver may have negatively impacted the locker room during his time in Buffalo, Allen praised his former teammate ahead of a meeting between the two squads in Week 5 that ended with a 23-20 Houston victory.
"I've got a lot of love for [Diggs]. I still do," Allen said, per Alec White of the team's official website. "The things that he did for me in my career, and the things that he did in a Buffalo Bill uniform won't be forgotten anytime soon, especially from me."
Diggs recorded 496 receiving yards and three touchdowns in his first eight games with the Texans before suffering a season-ending torn ACL on Oct. 27.
Allen has also thrived despite the absence of his former No. 1 wideout, racking up 18 touchdown passes compared to five interceptions while leading the Bills to a 9-2 record.
Josh Allen to Curtis Samuel extends the Bills' lead!
Buffalo signed Curtis Samuel in free agency to help mitigate the loss of Diggs before trading for five-time Pro Bowl receiver Amari Cooper on Oct. 15.
Cooper missed two games because of a wrist injury but returned to catch two passes for 55 yards during a 30-21 win over the Kansas City Chiefs in Week 11.
The Bills were immensely successful with Diggs despite the reported team environment that he helped cultivate, but Buffalo has remained a playoff contender in the AFC without him.
NFL Exec Would Draft Josh Allen over Mahomes, More Stars If Starting a New Franchise
Nov 18, 2024
ORCHARD PARK, NY - OCTOBER 26: Josh Allen #17 of the Buffalo Bills looks on from the field during an NFL football game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Highmark Stadium on October 26, 2023 in Orchard Park, New York. (Photo by Cooper Neill/Getty Images)
The full Josh Allen experience can be a roller-coaster ride, but the Buffalo Bills quarterback showed in Sunday's 30-21 win over the Kansas City Chiefs why he remains a franchise cornerstone.
"I'm picking Josh Allen if we have a draft now to start a franchise," one NFL team executive said to The Athletic's Mike Sando.
Allen threw for 262 yards, one touchdown and one interception, and his 26-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter was one of the best plays of the season.
The play encapsulated why the 28-year-old, for all of his flaws, is a talent around whom you build a Super Bowl contender.
Despite his propensity to tuck the ball and run before welcoming contact from a defender, Allen has largely been durable in his NFL career. He has only missed one game between the 2019-23 seasons. In the process, he's led the Buffalo to five straight postseasons and has earned two Pro Bowl bids.
Turnovers were again an issue for Allen in the 2023 campaign, as he threw for 18 interceptions. But he remained one of the NFL's most dangerous offensive weapons, throwing for 4,306 yards and 29 touchdowns while adding 524 yards and a whopping 15 touchdowns on the ground.
He led the Bills to an 11-6 record, an AFC East title and eventually the AFC Divisional Round, where they once again were thwarted by Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs.
This season, the handling of a Week 5 injury—when Allen had his head slammed into the ground and was seen on the sidelines going into the tent and being administered smelling salts before returning to the game—was controversial, though both the NFL and NFLPA ultimately ruled the proper protocols were followed. Allen was never diagnosed with a concussion.
Both the league and union reviewed the video of the play and came to the same conclusion as the unaffiliated neurotrauma consultants, booth spotters and team medical staff: There was no loss of consciousness. https://t.co/ELtvP3BvPL
Any injury—or potential injury—to Allen is going to earn an immediate spotlight in both Buffalo and around the NFL. He's a perennial MVP candidate and one of the most dynamic playmakers in football. Without him, the Bills are an entirely different team and their Super Bowl hopes will have to be put on hold.
Josh Allen: 'I'm Going to Do Anything and Everything I Can' to Help Bills Win Games
Nov 18, 2024
ORCHARD PARK, NEW YORK - NOVEMBER 17: Josh Allen #17 of the Buffalo Bills reacts after scoring a rushing touchdown against the Kansas City Chiefs during the fourth quarter at Highmark Stadium on November 17, 2024 in Orchard Park, New York. (Photo by Timothy T Ludwig/Getty Images)
Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen discussed his approach towards contributing to wins following the team's 30-21 victory over the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday.
"I'm going to do anything and everything I can do to help this team win football games," Allen told reporters after the game (4:50 mark). "Sometimes it's handing it off, sometimes it's throwing it, sometimes it's running it. Whatever I'm asked to do, I'm just trying to do to the best of my ability."
The 28-year-old helped secure the win over Kansas City with his legs in the fourth quarter, breaking multiple tackles during a 26-yard score on fourth down that gave Buffalo a two-possession lead.
Allen finished 27-of-40 for 262 yards. He threw a touchdown as well as an interception, picking up 55 rushing yards on 12 attempts to go along with his late score.
While Allen's mindset is admirable, his heroics were needed during Sunday's contest. Buffalo's running backs combined to average just 2.6 yards per carry against the Chiefs, totaling a mere 49 yards on 19 carries.
The Bills improved to 9-2 with the victory, owning a comfortable lead in the AFC East over the second-place Miami Dolphins at 4-6. Allen is in the midst of another impressive season, completing 64 percent of his passes for 2,543 yards and 18 touchdowns as well as just five interceptions.
While he hasn't utilized his speed on the ground as much compared to previous years, he's still been able to rack up 316 yards and five touchdowns as a runner.
Allen will be able to get some rest, as Buffalo is heading into a Week 12 bye.
