ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. — — Josh Allen picked aside a flimsy and harm-depleted Steelers secondary via throwing 4 landing passes within the first part on my own — together with two deep pictures to Gabe Davis — within the Buffalo Bills’ 38-3 rout of Pittsburgh on Sunday.
After hitting Davis for a 98-backyard TD on Buffalo’s 3rd play from scrimmage, Allen all however sealed the win via hitting Davis for a 62-backyard landing catch and Stefon Diggs for a fifteen-backyard ranking a little bit over two mins aside to place the Bills forward 24-3 with 7:20 left in the second one quarter.
Despite wind gusts of as much as 20 mph, Allen’s 348 yards passing within the first part have been tied for the second one maximum over the outlet two quarters in an NFL recreation since 1991, and 11 in need of the 359 yards Patrick Mahomes had in Kansas City’s 27-24 win at Tampa Bay in 2020.
Pulled in prefer of Case Keenum early within the fourth quarter, Allen completed 20 of 31 for 424 yards, the second one maximum in group historical past, and maximum in a recreation finishing in law.
Davis turned into simply the 5th NFL participant since 2000 to have two landing catches of 60 or extra yards in the similar recreation, and primary since Cincinnati’s Ja’Marr Chase had a couple in a 34-31 win over Kansas City on Jan. 2 final season.
The Bills erupted for 31 issues within the first part regardless of lacking 3 receivers — Isaiah McKenzie, Jake Kumerow and Jamison Crowder — to accidents, whilst additionally enjoying with out beginning tight finish Dawson Knox, who was once sidelined via foot and hamstring accidents.
Rookie receiver Khalil Shakir scored his first profession TD on a 24 backyard catch, and rookie operating again James Cook scored his first profession TD on a 24-backyard run.
Buffalo’s 31-3 lead on the part can have been even larger. Allen’s cross supposed for Davis in spite of everything zone was once intercepted via Levi Wallace to finish the Bills’ fourth ownership, whilst kicker Tyler Bass had a 49-backyard box-objective strive blocked 3 mins in.
The Bills progressed to 4-1, whilst the Steelers (1-4) have misplaced 4 immediately, which marks their longest skid since opening the 2013 season with 4 losses. The loss was once the most important margin of defeat for the Steelers since a 51-0 rout in opposition to the Cleveland Browns on Sept. 10, 1989.
Whatever spark the Steelers was hoping rookie quarterback Kenny Pickett would offer in his first profession get started was once negated via a protection lacking best cross rusher T.J. Watt and beginning protection Terrell Edmunds (concussion) and beginning cornerback Ahkello Witherspoon (hamstring). The accidents fixed throughout the sport with cornerback Cam Sutton sidelined via a hamstring harm and defensive take on Larry Ogunjobi dominated out with a again harm.
Pickett completed 34 of 52 for 327 yards and an interception, in taking up the beginning task from Mitch Trubisky.
The recreation went south for Pittsburgh within the opening minute.
Allen, going through 3rd-and-10 from the two, patiently waited within the pocket and hit Davis in stride at midfield with the receiver having a step on each Wallace and Tre Norwood. The 98-backyard of entirety matched a group file set via Ryan Fitzpatrick’s TD to Terrell Owens in 2009.
Davis’ 2d TD catch was once much more spectacular in bringing the ball in together with his proper hand, sooner than just about having it stripped via protection Minkah Fitzpatrick. Davis then ripped the ball again halfway in the course of the finish zone.
UNSPECIAL TEAMS
The Steelers’ James Pierre fumbled his first kickoff go back. Pierre were given the nod rather than Gunner Olzewski, who was once scratched after having fumbling troubles of his personal. PK Chris Boswell hit a 29-backyard box-objective strive, however was once vast left from 33 and 45 yards.
WATT WATCH
The Steelers showed sooner than the sport that Watt had arthroscopic knee surgical treatment, which is predicted to additional lengthen his go back whilst being sidelined via a pectoral harm. The group equipped no additional main points except for to verify the record first printed via ESPN on Saturday.
Watt was once the NFL’s Defensive Player of the Year final season, and has been sidelined since getting harm throughout a season-opening 23-20 time beyond regulation win over the Cincinnati Bengals. The Steelers dropped to 0-4 with out Watt within the lineup this season and nil-8 total.
INACTIVES/INJURIES
Steelers: TE Pat Freiermuth sustained a concussion within the 3rd quarter and didn’t go back.
Bills: MLB Tremaine Edumunds (hamstring) didn’t play, regardless that the Bills welcomed again beginning DT Ed Oliver, who ignored 3 video games with an ankle harm, and Jordan Phillips, who ignored two video games with a hamstring harm.
UP NEXT
Steelers: Host the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday.
Bills: At the Kansas City Chiefs in playoff rematch on Sunday.
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