Josh Allen showcased an impressive performance by scoring a touchdown through the air while also catching one, leading the Buffalo Bills to a decisive 35-10 win against the San Francisco 49ers in snowy conditions on Sunday night. With this victory, the Bills secured their fifth consecutive AFC East title.
Allen made history by becoming the first quarterback, and just the seventh player in the Super Bowl era, to achieve passing, rushing, and receiving touchdowns in a single game; the last player to do so was Christian McCaffrey of the 49ers in 2022.
His receiving touchdown was a creative play where he threw the ball to Amari Cooper, who was stopped just short of the end zone. Cooper then pitched the ball back to Allen, who dashed toward the left corner and dove to score, earning him both a passing and a receiving touchdown for the play—although it wasn’t counted as a traditional reception.
In total, Allen completed 13 of 17 passes for 148 yards, notching two passing touchdowns, rushing for 18 yards and another score, and no receptions for 7 yards with a touchdown attached.
The game saw snowflakes swirling like confetti as the Bills scored on four out of five possessions that spanned across halftime, quickly building a commanding 28-3 lead. This momentum started with Ray Davis’ 5-yard touchdown run, followed by James Cook’s impressive 65-yard touchdown run, contributing significantly to his total of 107 rushing yards.
This marked the Bills’ seventh consecutive win, bouncing back from earlier defeats against Baltimore and Houston. They now stand at 10-2, a record they have achieved only five times in franchise history, and the first occurrence since 1991. The team is now part of an elite group of eight NFL teams to clinch a division title with five games still left in the regular season, a feat not seen since the Indianapolis Colts in 2009.
With this performance, Allen elevated his career touchdown total to 247, surpassing Hall of Famer Jim Kelly’s previous franchise record of 244 touchdowns. His additional scores in the game included a 7-yard touchdown pass to Mack Hollins and an 8-yard rushing touchdown.
On the other hand, the defending NFC champion 49ers faced a tough outing, their third consecutive loss, compounded by the injury of McCaffrey in the second quarter. He seemed to have twisted his left foot awkwardly on the slippery field, which forced him to leave the game after racking up 53 yards on seven carries. This game was particularly challenging for McCaffrey, who had returned from missing the first part of the season due to Achilles tendinitis.
Things spiraled downward for the 49ers, who now face an uncertain playoff future after last year’s Super Bowl run. The weather conditions played a role, as Jake Moody missed attempts on field goals from both 45 and 55 yards. Additionally, San Francisco committed three turnovers, including fullback Kyle Juszczyk losing the ball at the Bills’ 2-yard line, terminating their first drive of the second half.
Moody initially got the scoring started with a 33-yard field goal, while Isaac Guerendo also contributed with a 15-yard touchdown run later in the match.
Looking ahead, the 49ers will host the Chicago Bears next Sunday, while the Bills are scheduled to take on the Los Angeles Rams in their upcoming matchup.
