Josh Allen wasn’t interested in “I told you so.” Not after a few rough outings, not after outside noise questioned both him and Buffalo’s offense, and not even after he delivered one of the most unique statistical performances in NFL history.
But Sunday afternoon at Highmark Stadium, Allen let his play speak loudly enough.
The reigning MVP accounted for six total touchdowns — three passing, three rushing — to power the Buffalo Bills 44–32 win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, ending a monthlong offensive slump and pushing the Bills to 7–3 on the season.
Allen also stepped into the record books yet again, becoming the first player in NFL history to record two games with three passing touchdowns and three rushing touchdowns. He previously accomplished the feat in a 44–42 shootout loss to the Rams last season. In the process, Allen raised his career total to 290 touchdowns, surpassing Peyton Manning (288) for the most by any quarterback before turning 30.
And he did it while shrugging off an early mistake he labeled “boneheaded,” a second-snap interception that could have rattled a less seasoned star. Instead, Allen reignited a Buffalo offense that had been stuck in neutral for nearly a month.
Just one week removed from being shut out through three quarters in a 30–13 loss at Miami, Buffalo came out aggressive, even with 30 mph gusts whipping through Orchard Park. Allen threw three touchdown passes of 25 yards or more, including a perfectly placed 43-yard strike to Tyrell Shavers, who made a tumbling catch in the end zone.
With a revamped receiving corps debuting Gabe Davis and Mecole Hardman, Allen operated with a rhythm the Bills had been missing since early October.
He also used his legs to devastating effect. All three of his rushing touchdowns came in the red zone, including a physical 9-yard score in the fourth quarter, aided by a shove from Buffalo’s offensive line to seal the win with 2:35 remaining.
Head coach Sean McDermott made headlines before the game by deactivating receiver Keon Coleman for being late to a meeting — the second time this season the rookie has faced discipline.
If McDermott was aiming to set a tone, his team responded. Buffalo resembled the explosive group that blew out Kansas City (28–21) and Carolina (40–9) earlier this season, not the inconsistent version that entered its bye week with back-to-back losses to Atlanta and New England.
The Buccaneers (6–4) kept pace for much of the afternoon, engaging in a back-and-forth duel that featured nine lead changes before Buffalo pulled away late. Tampa Bay’s loss, combined with Carolina’s win over Atlanta, trimmed the Bucs’ NFC South lead to just a half-game.
A week after calling for a stronger “killer instinct,” Baker Mayfield delivered a competitive effort: 16 of 28 for 173 yards, a 28-yard touchdown pass to Sean Tucker, a 4-yard rushing score, and a costly interception. He also lost a fumble on Tampa Bay’s final possession.
The story for the Bucs was the emergence of Sean Tucker, who exploded for 106 rushing yards and scoring runs of 43 and 28 yards, giving life to a ground game that has been inconsistent all season.
Buccaneers: Travel to face the Los Angeles Rams next Sunday in a crucial NFC test.
Bills: Face a quick turnaround with a Thursday night visit to the Houston Texans.
With their offense firing again and Josh Allen rewriting record books, the Bills suddenly look like a team rediscovering its identity — and its timing could not be better.
