Allen, Bills demolish Steelers
ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. — Josh Allen picked apart a flimsy and injury-depleted Steelers secondary by throwing four touchdown passes in the first half alone — including two deep shots to Gabe Davis — in the Buffalo Bills’ 38-3 rout of Pittsburgh on Sunday.
After hitting Davis for a 98-yard TD on Buffalo’s third play from scrimmage, Allen all but sealed the win by hitting Davis for a 62-yard score and Stefon Diggs for a 15-yard score a little over two minutes apart to put the Bills ahead 24-3 in the second quarter.
Pulled in favor of Case Keenum early in the fourth quarter, Allen finished 20 of 31 for 424 yards, the second most in team history, and most in a game ending in regulation.
Davis became just the fifth NFL player since 2000 to have two touchdown catches of 60 or more yards in the same game, and first since Cincinnati’s Ja’marr Chase had a pair in a 34-31 win over Kansas City on Jan. 2 last season.
For the Steelers, rookie quarterback Kenny Pickett finished 34 of 52 for 327 yards and an interception, in taking over job from Mitch Trubisky.
Saints 39, Seahawks 32: Taysom Hill ran for three touchdowns, including a 60-yarder in the fourth quarter, and threw for another score, and New Orleans (2-3) snapped a three-game skid.
Hill rushed for touchdowns of 8 and 9 yards, and completed the only pass he’s attempted this season for a 22-yard score to fellow tight end Adam Trautman, a University of Dayton product.
Andy Dalton, starting his second straight game in place of the injured Jameis Winston, completed 16 of 24 passes for 187 yards with one TD pass and one interception.
Giants 27, Packers 22: Saquon Barkley took a direct snap and ran for a 2-yard touchdown in the fourth quarter to cap the Giants’ comeback victory at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London, spoiling Green Bay’s international debut.
Aaron Rodgers drove the Packers (3-2) to the 6-yard line, but his pass on fourthand-goal was swatted down by safety Xavier Mckinney with just over a minute left.
The Giants (4-1) scored 17 unanswered points in the second half. It’s their best start since 5-0 in 2009 and matches their 2021 win total (4-13).
Jets 40, Dolphins 17: New York got a safety on Miami’s first offensive play, Michael Carter scored on a pair of 1-yard runs and the Jets ran past the Dolphins to snap a 12-game skid against AFC East opponents. The Jets are 3-2 for first time since 2017.
The Dolphins (3-2) lost another quarterback to injury when Teddy Bridgewater left with an injured elbow and was examined for a concussion.
Buccaneers 21, Falcons 15: Tom Brady threw for 351 yards and a touchdown, as the Tampa Bay Buccaneers end a two-game losing streak.
Leonard Fournette scored two TDS for the Bucs (3-2).
Vikings 29, Bears 22: Kirk Cousins scored on a 1-yard quarterback sneak with 2:26 remaining on Minnesota’s fifth third-down conversion of its go-ahead drive.
Cameron Dantzler sealed the victory that put the Vikings (4-1) alone in first place in the NFC North by ripping the ball away from former teammate Ihmir Smith-marsette near the one-minute mark after a pass from Justin Fields to the Minnesota 39.
Fields went 15 for 21 for a season-high 208 yards and his first touchdown pass in 15 quarters and rushed eight times for 47 yards, but the Bears (2-3) didn’t have enough defense to pull it out.
Patriots 29, Lions 0: Rookie Bailey Zappe threw a touchdown pass in his first career start, Rhamondre Stevenson rushed for a careerhigh 161 yards for the Patriots (2-3). The Lions (1-4) were shut out for the first time since 2020.
Titans 21, Commanders 17: Derrick Henry rushed for 102 yards and a touchdown, and the Tennessee Titans (3-2_ made a last-minute goal-line stand to best Washington (1-4).
Texans 13, Jaguars 6: Houston (1-3-1) picked up its first win of the season and fifth straight in Jacksonville (2-3) despite finishing with just 248 yards.