The Buffalo Bills defeated the Denver Broncos 31-7 in the Wild Card round of the NFL playoffs.
buffalo won the day thanks to a defensive performance that prevented further Broncos points after a mountaintop long-ball touchdown by Denver minutes into the contest.
They were able to do this because OC Joe Brady and QB Allen distributed the ball for short gains and long possessions, bringing a stingy Broncos defense down to earth.
“I don’t think there was one particular thing over another. We just wanted to come out and have a good performance,” Allen said after the game. “At the end of the day we just wanted to come out and play our best football and I feel like we did that today.”
Entering the game, the Broncos ranked 31st in the NFL in defense-adjusted percentage above average (DVOA) when defending passes to RBs. An area where Joe Brady and the Bills offense are active.
Allen led an efficient and balanced offensive distribution of the football, going 20 of 26 for 272 yards with two touchdowns to go and 46 yards on eight carries.
He was joined by RB James Cook, who rushed for 120 yards and a touchdown as Buffalo maintained that momentum and scored a total of 31 unanswered points.
While there was plenty of short-gain offense, Allen completed a highlight-reel 24-yard touchdown pass on fourth down to RB Ty Johnson, who also made a highlight play and slid to make the catch.
JOSH ALLEN. TY JOHNSON. WOW
📺: #DENvsBUF on CBS/Paramount+
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Allen then found receiver Keon Coleman for a two-point rebound that gave the rookie the first postseason score of his career.
He also threw a 55-yard touchdown toss to Curtis Samuel, which was the second-longest playoff touchdown toss of his postseason passing career (75-yard TDs for Gabe Davis vs. KC 2022).
JOSH ALLEN TO CURTIS SAMUEL FOR THE 55-YARD TD 💨
Bills go through with it 🔥
(above @NFL)
pic.twitter.com/5WDMX2m3i5– Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) January 12, 2025
The Bills' QB surpassed legendary Hall of Fame signal-caller Jim Kelly for the most postseason pass TDs in Bills history.
“It’s great, it’s amazing,” Bills receiver Khalil Shakir said of Allen via Sky Sports. “We know that we are like him, how special he is and what he can do, we are always there no matter what.
“We just keep working, you can never be too good, it’s a league where everyone is constantly getting better.”
The Bills remain undefeated at 9-0 despite holding their halftime lead intact this season, and became the first team since at least 1960 to not lose the turnover battle in the first 18 games of a season (including playoffs).
The game also produced some interesting comments NFL Next Gen Stats This indicates that Buffalo used more than six offensive players on 22.2% of offensive plays against Denver, which was the third-highest rate in a game this season.
Meanwhile, Allen posted an EPA over 20 for the third time in his postseason career and completed all four of his deep passes for 139 yards and 2 touchdowns. He now leads all QBs in the postseason with 23 completions and 791 yards on passes of more than 20 air yards since entering the league in 2018. His 55-yard touchdown throw to Samuel was also the first deep Completion that Surtain was the closest defenseman allowed this season.
Allen suffered a hit to his right hand from Denver outside linebacker Nik Bonitto late in the game, prompting him to sit on the bench and be looked at by the Bills' coaching staff. He was replaced by backup quarterback Mitch Trubisky for the final possession.
The television broadcast showed a close-up of his bleeding thumb as a Bills trainer applied glue to it.
“It’s good,” Allen remarked after the game. “I just got a little blood there. It's okay. We're fine.”
“We will follow this nail all week” CBS Analyst Tomy Romo mused.
