Allen under siege in Bills loss to Bengals

Two quarterbacks. Two very different afternoons for quarterbacks Andy Dalton and rookie Josh Allen. Dalton enjoyed the hospitality of Bills fans while Allen was sacked multiple times.

competition that remains unsettled.

Rookie Josh Allen strugORCHARD PARK, N.Y. » Bengled in his first preseason gals quarterback Andy Dalstart , while getting little proton doesn’t believe he could tection froman offensive line have scripted a better visit that allowed five sacks in the to Buffalo on Sunday. first half alone. He finished 6

The donation he made to of 12 andwas sacked formore Buffalo’s Roswell Park Canyards (39) than he had passcer Institute to open the day ing (34). was special. The two stand“I didn’t do a good enough ingovationshereceivedfrom job getting the ball out on Bills fans before the pretime,” the first-round pick season game were chilling. said. “I’ve got to do a better

And Dalton was able to job, but there’s a lot to learn keep his emotions in check from.” on the first snap fromscrimDalton eased whatever mage to hit John Ross for a concerns the starters raised 57-yard touchdown pass in with their sputters in last leading the Bengals to a 26week’s 21-13 win at Dallas 13 victory. by producing three scoring

“It was a good day. I think drives — two touchdowns the way it started was the and a field goal — over five best part,” Dalton said. “The series against the Bills. game went well, too.” Dalton finished 11 of

The Bills could not say the 16 for 180 yards and two same about their offense, touchdowns — including a and a three-way quarterback 14-yarder to A.J. Green — to celebrate the warm reception he received in Buffalo nine months after playing a key role in the Bills making the playoffs and ending a 17year playoff drought.

It happened in the final minute of the season finale against Baltimore on New Year’s Eve. Dalton’s 49-yard touchdown pass on fourth down to Tyler Boyd sent the Bengals to a 31-27 win, and eliminated the Ravens from playoff contention.

Bills fans responded immediately by making over $450,000 to Dalton’s charitable foundation.

“It’s a crazy story, and it’s been fun to be on this side of it,” Dalton said. “The best part is all themoney thatwas raised.”

Buffalo’s offense continues to raise concerns two weeks before opening the regular season at Baltimore.

Allen generated just three first downs before being forced out of the game in the final minute of the first half. He was escorted off the field to be evaluated for a possible concussion after being tackled by Carlos Dunlap in the end zone.

Though Allen was cleared to return, he stayed on the sideline while Nathan Peterman finished the game.

This was a week after the starters went three-and-out in four series and starter AJ McCarron was sacked once and hit several other times before being sidelined with an injury to his right throwing shoulder in a 19-17 win at Cleveland.

“It’s disappointing,” Bills coach SeanMcDermott said. “We’re going to make sure we’re helping him with protection and catching the football and not beating ourselves with penalties. Let’s just start there.”