Josh Allen scored a receiving touchdown on a pass he threw in his final all-out performance, and the Buffalo Bills clinched their fifth straight AFC East title with a 35-10 win over the San Francisco 49ers on a snowy Sunday night.
Allen had passing, rushing and receiving touchdowns, becoming the first quarterback and seventh player in the Super Bowl era to do so, and the first since the Niners’ Christian McCaffrey in 2022.
His receiving TD came on a play in which he threw to Amari Cooper, who was bundled up just short of the goal line and threw the ball back to Allen. The QB sprinted to the left corner of the end zone and dove down the pylon for the score. Allen was credited with a touchdown passing and reception on the play, although it did not count as a reception.
His final numbers: 13 of 17 passing for 148 yards and two touchdowns, three rushes for 18 yards and a score, and zero catches for 7 yards and a TD.
Snow flew like confetti from the packed stands in celebration as the Bills scored on four of five possessions at halftime to build a 28-3 lead, starting with Ray Davis’ 5-yard run. James Cook scored on a career-high 65 yards running and finished with 107 yards rushing.
Buffalo has won seven straight since back-to-back losses to Baltimore and Houston, and is 10-2 or better for the fifth time in team history, and the first since 1991. The Bills became the NFL’s eighth-ranked team, and the first since Indianapolis in 2009, to capture a division title with five games remaining.
Allen increased his career total to 247 TDs (186 passing, 59 rushing and two receiving) to break Hall of Famer Jim Kelly’s franchise record of 244. His other scoring plays were a 7-yard pass to Mack Hollins and an 8-yard run.
The defending NFC champion 49ers (5-7) fell apart as they dropped their third straight game lost McCaffrey from a knee injury in the second quarter. McCaffrey appeared to awkwardly step on the snowy field with his left foot and immediately went down. After being examined on the touchline, he limped to the dressing room and was sent off at the start of the second half.
McCaffrey had 53 yards on seven carries when he left the game, his fourth after missing the first eight of the season with Achilles tendonitis.
Very little went right for the 49ers, who are in danger of missing the playoffs by a season after losing the Super Bowl to Kansas City.
As the snow fell throughout the night and became heavier as the game progressed, the Niners’ Jake Moody missed field goal attempts from 45 and 55 yards. The 49ers turned the ball over three times and lost three fumbles, including fullback Kyle Juszczyk getting the ball out of his arms at Buffalo’s 2, ending San Francisco’s first drive of the second half.
Moody opened the scoring with a 33-yard field goal and Isaac Guerendo scored on a 15-yard run.
Next
49ers: Host Chicago this Sunday.
Bills: This Sunday at the Los Angeles Rams.
