The Buffalo Bills secured their latest AFC East title with a commanding 35-10 victory over the San Francisco 49ers, marking a significant milestone in their season. Quarterback Josh Allen demonstrated his remarkable skills by scoring touchdowns in three ways: passing, rushing, and receiving. This achievement made him the first quarterback to do so in the Super Bowl era and placed him among an elite group as only the seventh player to accomplish it throughout the championship era.
On a snowy Sunday night, which served as an atmospheric backdrop for this crucial game, Allen’s performance stood out. His receiving touchdown resulted from a creative play where he initially threw a short pass to Amari Cooper. As Cooper was surrounded by defenders, he managed to toss the ball back to Allen, who then dashed to the left corner of the end zone and leaped for the score. Although credited with both a passing and receiving touchdown, this particular play didn’t count as a traditional reception.
Allen’s overall statistics were impressive: he completed 13 of 17 passes for 148 yards and two touchdowns, alongside three carries that totaled 18 yards and another rushing score, even though he didn’t catch a pass himself. The crowd erupted into chants of “MVP!” as he sat out much of the fourth quarter, underscoring the Bills’ dominant position in the game.
The Bills scored on four of five possessions across halftime, building an impressive 28-3 lead, starting with Ray Davis’s 5-yard touchdown run. James Cook contributed with a career-best 65-yard run, finishing the game with 107 rushing yards. The Bills are on a seven-game winning streak after rebounding from consecutive losses to Baltimore and Houston. With a record of 10-2, they’ve achieved this status for only the fifth time in franchise history and the first since 1991.
In an eventful week, just two days after announcing his engagement to Hollywood actress Hailee Steinfeld, Allen’s total career touchdowns rose to 247—comprising 186 passing, 59 rushing, and two receiving—breaking Hall of Famer Jim Kelly’s previous franchise record of 244. In addition to Allen’s noteworthy contributions, the Bills scored on a 7-yard pass to Mack Hollins and a separate 8-yard rushing touchdown by Allen.
On the other hand, the defending NFC champion 49ers faced a challenging night, falling to a disheartening 5-7 record after their third straight loss. The team suffered a crucial blow with potential season-ending injuries to All-Pro running back Christian McCaffrey, as coach Kyle Shanahan reported. McCaffrey, injured during an 18-yard run, had previously been sidelined for the first eight games of the season due to Achilles tendinitis. He left the game with 53 yards on seven carries, leaving fans and teammates anxious about his availability.
Adverse weather conditions worsened the 49ers’ performance, with snow falling steadily throughout the game. Kicker Jake Moody struggled, missing field goal attempts from distances of 45 and 55 yards, adding to the team’s woes. San Francisco turned the ball over three times, including a critical fumble by fullback Kyle Juszczyk at the Buffalo 2-yard line, ending the 49ers’ first drive of the second half. Moody opened the scoring with a 33-yard field goal, followed by Isaac Guerendo’s 15-yard touchdown run.
As the game continued, Buffalo extended their streak of scoring 30 or more points to six consecutive matches, solidifying their offensive strength, while San Francisco dropped to 0-5 when scoring fewer than 20 points. Quarterback Brock Purdy, returning after missing a game due to a shoulder injury, completed 11 of 18 passes for 94 yards, but his efforts couldn’t shift the momentum in favor of the 49ers. This game not only confirmed Buffalo’s standing atop the AFC East but also raised concerns about San Francisco’s playoff aspirations as they navigate injury challenges and inconsistent play.
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