Bills outlast Chiefs while NFL-best Colts fall to Steelers
Josh Allen ran for two touchdowns and threw for another to spark the Buffalo Bills over Kansas City 28-21 on Sunday while the NFL-best Indianapolis Colts were upset at Pittsburgh.
Reigning NFL Most Valuable Player Allen delivered Buffalo's fifth consecutive regular-season victory in as many seasons over the Chiefs, who are 4-0 in the past five years over the Bills in the playoffs.
"It was a team effort. A lot of hard work went into this," Allen said. "Great week of practice, really good game plan, guys getting out and making plays and we made one more than they did."
Allen completed 23-of-26 passes for 273 yards and ran six times for 19 yards as the Bills improved to 6-2.
"Justing trusting my feet, trusting the 10 players around me," Allen said. "That's what it all comes down to, going out there and trying to make good decisions with the ball."
Three-time Super Bowl champion Patrick Mahomes was 15-of-34 for 250 yards and an interception for the Chiefs (5-4) while Buffalo's James Cook ran 27 times for 114 yards.
Allen's 23-yard touchdown pass to Dalton Kincaid gave Buffalo the lead but a three-yard touchdown run by Rashee Rice and Harrison Butker's 46-yard field goal put the Chiefs ahead 10-7.
Ty Johnson's three-yard touchdown run and Allen's one-yard TD dive lifted the Bills ahead and Buffalo led 21-13 at halftime.
Allen added a one-yard touchdown run in the third quarter but Kareem Hunt's two-yard touchdown run and a two-point conversion pass from Mahomes to Travis Kelce lifted the Chiefs within 28-21 with 11:32 remaining.
Mahomes was incomplete on two desperation throws at the finish as Buffalo held off a late rally.
At Pittsburgh, the Steelers dominated defensively in a 27-20 stunner over the Colts, forcing six turnovers, two more than the Colts had surrendered all season, to set up three touchdowns.
"I can't say enough about the defense's effort," Steelers coach Mike Tomlin said. "We stayed in the fight, the defense provided us some short fields, we caught some momentum because of it.
"It's a fine line between drinking wine and squashing grapes in this business... it's a big-time win."
The Steelers improved to 5-3, pulling two games ahead in the AFC North. The AFC South-leading Colts fell to 7-2.
A one-yard touchdown run by Daniel Jones put Indianapolis ahead but T.J. Watt forced and recovered a Jones fumble to set up Jaylen Warren's one-yard touchdown run for Pittsburgh.
A Jones pass was intercepted by Payton Wilson to set up a 12-yard touchdown pass from Aaron Rodgers to Pat Freiermuth.
Wilson deflected a Jones pass in the third quarter and Pittsburgh rookie linebacker Jack Sawyer grabbed the interception to set up Warren's two-yard touchdown run. Two more late turnovers helped seal the Colts' fate.
The NFL's only other one-loss team also fell when Carolina's Ryan Fitzgerald kicked a 49-yard field goal on the final play to give the Panthers a 16-13 victory at Green Bay, dropping the NFC North-leading Packers to 5-2-1.
Detroit could have overtaken the Packers for the division lead but the host Lions (5-3) lost 27-24 to Minnesota as J.J. McCarthy threw for two touchdowns and ran for another.
- Little's big record -
Jacksonville's Cam Little kicked an NFL record-long 68-yard field goal, breaking Justin Tucker's old mark of 66 yards from 2021, and the Jaguars edged host Las Vegas 30-23 in overtime.
Caleb Williams threw a 58-yard touchdown pass to Colston Loveland with 17 seconds remaining to give the Chicago Bears a 47-42 victory at Cincinnati.
Matthew Stafford threw for 281 yards and four touchdowns to lead the Los Angeles Rams over New Orleans 34-10.
The Denver Broncos (7-2) won their sixth in a row when Wil Lutz kicked a 34-yard field goal on the final play to defeat host Houston 18-15.
Drake Maye threw for 259 yards and two touchdowns and New England (7-2) edged Atlanta 24-23 on a missed extra point by Falcons kicker Parker Romo.
Justin Herbert threw for 250 yards and two touchdowns and ran for another TD to spark the Los Angeles Chargers (6-3) in a 27-20 victory at Tennessee.
Mac Jones threw for 235 yards and two touchdowns to power San Francisco (6-3) to victory 34-24 at the New York Giants.
L.Lefevre--PS