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11/30 18:35 CST Josh Allen sets career mark for rushing TDs by a QB as the
Bills mash the reeling Steelers 26-7
Josh Allen sets career mark for rushing TDs by a QB as the Bills mash the
reeling Steelers 26-7
By WILL GRAVES
AP Sports Writer
PITTSBURGH (AP) --- Josh Allen threw for a touchdown and ran for another, Joey
Bosa sacked Aaron Rodgers to spring Christian Benford for a game-tilting,
17-yard scoop-and-score, and the Buffalo Bills pushed the Pittsburgh Steelers
around in a 26-7 victory on Sunday.
Buffalo (8-4) bounced back from a loss at Houston by whipping Pittsburgh (6-6)
up front. James Cook ran for 144 yards as the Bills piled up 249 yards on the
ground and controlled the clock for nearly 42 minutes inside blustery Acrisure
Stadium.
The swirling winds at one of the league's trickiest venues made passing nearly
impossible. Allen completed 15 of 23 for 123 yards with an interception and a
3-yard scoring toss to Keon Coleman, who returned to the active roster after
being a healthy scratch the last two weeks due to disciplinary issues.
The reigning MVP essentially put the game away when he bulldozed across the
goal line from 8 yards out early in the fourth quarter to give the Bills a
16-point lead. It was the 76th rushing touchdown of Allen's career, breaking
the NFL record for touchdown runs by a quarterback that he briefly shared with
Cam Newton.
Missing both starting offensive tackles and facing one of the league's best
pass rushes, the Bills kept it simple. They attacked Pittsburgh's leaky run
defense repeatedly, and whenever Buffalo appeared on the verge of sputtering,
Allen extended drives with his legs.
Things didn't go quite as smoothly for Pittsburgh. Rodgers, playing with a
brace protecting his broken left wrist, was largely ineffective and missed the
chunk of one drive early in the second half after getting drilled by Bosa on
the first play of the third quarter.
Rodgers fumbled on the play, and Benford picked up the loose ball and sprinted
to the end zone to turn a 7-3 halftime deficit into a 10-7 lead. The
41-year-old quarterback left the field with a bloody nose.
Mason Rudolph filled in for Rodgers for a series and threw an interception that
ended up in Benford's hands. Buffalo marched 56 yards in eight plays, and
Allen's fourth-down flip to Coleman gave the Bills firm control.
Rodgers returned but finished 10 of 21 for 117 yards as the Steelers lost for
the fifth time in seven games while being booed frequently.
Despite the swoon, Pittsburgh remains in a tie with Baltimore for the AFC North
lead. The rivals meet twice over the final five weeks.
Buffalo's hopes of catching AFC East-leading New England remain alive, and the
brand of football the Bills displayed in the late-November chill could serve
them well down the stretch.
Injuries Bills: Bosa sustained a hamstring injury in the fourth quarter and did not return with Buffalo leading comfortably. Steelers: LB Patrick Queen exited late in the first half with a right hip injury and did not return. ... CB James Pierre left in the second half after entering the concussion protocol. Up next Bills: Host Joe Burrow and the Cincinnati Bengals next Sunday. Steelers: Visit Baltimore next Sunday, hoping to bounce back and take control of the division. ___ AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl |
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