The Buffalo Bills (9-4) stormed back in the snow to beat the Cincinnati Bengals 39–34, capping a frantic fourth-quarter rally with a game-changing defensive play and a vintage performance from Josh Allen.
Trailing by 10 in the final period, Buffalo flipped the game with three touchdowns in just over four minutes, highlighted by Christian Benford’s 63-yard pick-six that put the Bills ahead for good with 5:25 remaining. Benford jumped Joe Burrow’s soft touch pass and outran Ja’Marr Chase to the end zone, marking his second defensive touchdown in as many weeks.
Allen powered the offense with three passing touchdowns and two huge scrambles — including a 40-yard rushing score that set a new franchise record for the longest run by a Bills quarterback and a 17-yard third-and-15 keeper that allowed Buffalo to drain the clock. He went 22 of 28 for 251 yards on a day when footing was far from ideal in steady flurries.
Burrow threw four touchdown passes but unraveled late, tossing interceptions on consecutive plays. The first went to Benford; the second, deflected at the line, was snagged by A.J. Epenesa and set up Allen’s short touchdown to Jackson Hawes. Cincinnati (4-9) had opened the game with three straight touchdown drives and converted nearly all its early third downs, but its defense couldn’t hold once Buffalo found rhythm.
Tee Higgins hauled in two touchdowns, including a one-handed grab in the final minutes, while Mike Gesicki and Chase Brown added scores for the Bengals. But Cincinnati slipped to 4–9, eliminating nearly any realistic postseason hopes and marking its fewest wins since Burrow’s rookie year. Buffalo, meanwhile, improved to 9–4 and won back-to-back games for the first time in a month to stay tight in the AFC race.
Injuries
Bengals: CB PJ Jules (ankle) did not return; WR Tee Higgins was evaluated twice for a concussion but finished the game.
Bills: S Cole Bishop briefly exited due to cramping.
Up Next
Bengals: Host the Baltimore Ravens next Sunday.
Bills: Travel to face the AFC East–leading New England Patriots next Sunday.
