James Cook ran for a season-high 120 yards and a touchdown, while Josh Allen threw two touchdown passes in the second half to lead the Buffalo Bills to victory in the AFC wild-card round for the fifth consecutive year. The Bills defeated the Denver Broncos 31-7 in Orchard Park, N.Y.
Allen was on target, completing 20 of 26 passes for 272 yards and adding 46 rushing yards to his impressive performance. The victory extended Buffalo’s perfect home record to 9-0, spanning the regular season and playoffs. As the second seed, the Bills will face the third-seeded Baltimore Ravens in the upcoming divisional round.
The impending clash between Allen and Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson will be a showdown between the top two contenders for the NFL Most Valuable Player award. Allen acknowledged the challenge ahead, noting, “They got after us earlier this year, so we have a lot of film to watch.” The Bills suffered a 35-10 loss to the Ravens in Week 4.
The underdog Broncos struck first with a score on the opening drive, but Buffalo quickly took control of the game. Ty Johnson and Curtis Samuel each caught long touchdowns to extend the Bills’ lead, with Johnson making a crucial play on fourth down to score.
Broncos’ rookie quarterback Bo Nix put up a solid effort, completing 13 of 22 passes for 144 yards and a touchdown. However, the Bills’ defense largely contained Denver’s offense, limiting them to just one score early in the game.
Tyler Bass contributed with three field goals for Buffalo, adding to the Broncos’ struggle to contain the Bills’ offensive onslaught. The Bills outgained the Broncos significantly in the second half, showcasing their dominance on both sides of the ball.
Despite Denver’s early momentum, Buffalo’s consistent performance and defensive efforts stifled the Broncos’ attempts to mount a comeback. The Bills’ ability to control the game and capitalize on key opportunities secured their victory and set the stage for a challenging matchup against the Ravens in the next round.
Both teams displayed resilience and determination throughout the game, but it was the Bills who ultimately emerged victorious, continuing their impressive playoff streak and setting the stage for an exciting divisional round showdown.
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