PITTSBURGH (AP) — Josh Allen threw for a touchdown and ran for another, Joey Bosa sacked Aaron Rodgers to set up Christian Benford’s game-tilting, 17-yard scoop-and-score, and the Buffalo Bills dominated the Pittsburgh Steelers in a 26-7 victory on Sunday.
Buffalo (8-4) bounced back from a loss at Houston by overpowering Pittsburgh (6-6) up front. James Cook ran for 144 yards as the Bills piled up 249 yards on the ground and controlled the clock for nearly 42 minutes inside a blustery Acrisure Stadium. The swirling winds at one of the league’s trickiest venues made passing nearly impossible.
Allen completed 15 of 23 passes for 123 yards, throwing an interception and a 3-yard scoring toss to Keon Coleman, who returned to the active roster after missing two weeks due to disciplinary issues. The reigning MVP essentially put the game away early in the fourth quarter when he bulldozed across the goal line from 8 yards out, giving the Bills a 16-point lead.
That rushing touchdown was the 76th of Allen’s career, breaking the NFL record for touchdown runs by a quarterback that he briefly shared with Cam Newton.
Missing both starting offensive tackles and facing one of the league’s best pass rushes, the Bills kept their game plan simple. They attacked Pittsburgh’s leaky run defense repeatedly, and whenever Buffalo appeared on the verge of sputtering, Allen extended drives with his legs.
Things didn’t go as smoothly for Pittsburgh. Rodgers, playing with a brace protecting his broken left wrist, was largely ineffective. He missed part of a drive early in the second half after being drilled by Bosa on the first play of the third quarter. Rodgers fumbled on that play, and Benford scooped up the loose ball and sprinted to the end zone, turning a 7-3 halftime deficit into a 10-7 lead for Buffalo.
The 41-year-old quarterback left the field with a bloody nose. Mason Rudolph filled in for Rodgers for a series and threw an interception that again ended up in Benford’s hands.
Buffalo then marched 56 yards in eight plays, and Allen’s fourth-down flip to Coleman gave the Bills firm control of the game.
Rodgers returned but finished 10 of 21 for 117 yards as the Steelers suffered their fifth loss in seven games and were frequently booed by home fans.
Despite the slump, Pittsburgh remains tied with Baltimore for the AFC North lead, with the rivals set to meet twice over the final five weeks of the season.
Buffalo’s hopes of catching AFC East-leading New England remain alive. The type of tough, ground-focused football the Bills displayed in the late-November chill could serve them well down the stretch.
**Injuries:**
– **Bills:** Joey Bosa sustained a hamstring injury in the fourth quarter and did not return with Buffalo leading comfortably.
– **Steelers:** Linebacker Patrick Queen exited late in the first half with a right hip injury and did not return. Cornerback James Pierre left in the second half after entering concussion protocol.
**Up Next:**
– **Bills:** Host Joe Burrow and the Cincinnati Bengals next Sunday.
– **Steelers:** Visit Baltimore next Sunday, hoping to bounce back and take control of the division.
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