Josh Allen tried to make a game-changing play and it backfired, helping cost the Buffalo Bills the win. After evading a sack attempt by New England’s Dre’Mont Jones on second-and-6 at the Buffalo 40, Allen stepped up and launched a deep ball down the left sideline into double coverage; Craig Woodson came down with the interception. The Bills never regained possession in the final minute of a 29-26 defeat.
Allen admitted he let the moment get to him. With Buffalo already within about 20 yards of field-goal range, he said he should have thrown the pass out of bounds instead of taking the risk. The loss marked Buffalo’s first defeat at its new Highmark Stadium and the franchise’s first under rookie head coach Joe Brady, dropping the Bills to 3-1 and tightening the division race — New England is now 2-2 and only a game back.
The offense hasn’t looked as dominant as it did early in the year after scoring a combined 77 points and amassing 855 yards in the first two games. The Bills were coming off a strange, turnover-heavy 24-16 win over the Chargers — and added two more turnovers against the Patriots, including a fumble by receiver Khalil Shakir. Over his past two outings Allen has thrown three interceptions and lost a fumble; across his nine-year career he’s 42-7 when he protects the ball versus 49-33 when he turns it over.
Brady defended Allen but accepted responsibility for the play call, saying he should have handled that situation better and that everyone on the field has to execute in those moments. Still, Allen had some bright spots: he scored on a 2-yard rushing touchdown — his 88th career TD from scrimmage, a new franchise record — and tossed a 34-yard touchdown to Keon Coleman, who finished with six catches for 116 yards.
Buffalo now heads out on a two-game West Coast trip that begins Monday night against the Los Angeles Rams. Injuries are beginning to mount: DJ Moore missed Sunday with a shoulder issue, DT Ed Oliver was sidelined with a knee problem, and top corner Christian Benford is dealing with a toe injury.
Fan take: This game highlights how quickly turnovers can change a team’s trajectory — even an explosive offense can be undone by a few risky plays. For NFL fans, Buffalo’s struggles with ball security and emerging injuries make the AFC East more competitive and show how thin the margin is between contender and pretender.
Source: www.foxsports.com
