Highmark Stadium was full of snow which caused 27-plus hours of delay, but the Bills quickly made up for lost time by defeating the Steelers 31-17 and securing their spot in the Divisional Round against the Kansas City Chiefs. Fans celebrated by throwing snow into the air after each Buffalo touchdown. The game was scheduled for Sunday but because of snowstorm was pushed back to Monday, the snowstorm hit Buffalo and surrounding towns.
Josh Allen delivered a record-setting 52-yard rushing touchdown (longest in Bills postseason history). Quarterback Josh Allen completed 21 of 30 passes for 203 yards and 3 touchdown passes, adding 74 yards. Allen and the Bills played perfectly, averaging eight yards per play and ending with a lofted pass to Knox to lead. Allen’s overall performance was very impressive, but his record-breaking 52-yard touchdown run deserves a shoutout of its own. During a third-and-8 play, Damontae Kazee attempted to bring him down.
When Rudolph connected with Austin on a seven-yard scoring pass with 10:32 left remaining in the game Pittsburgh moved within 24-17.
Shakir’s dynamic solo play helped Buffalo to regain a 14-point lead. From the Pittsburgh 17-yard line, on second-and-nine, a short pass threw by Allen to the receiver. The receiver shirked a tackle attempt from Fitzpatrick at the 15.
In the opening quarter at the 7:02 Allen hit Knox for nine-yard score, the Bill then caught a break when Taron Johnson forced Pittsburgh’s George Pickens to fumble, with Buffalo’s Terrel Bernard recovering at Steelers 29 yards.
Following on the next play, a 29-yard touchdown pass by Allen to Kincaid increased the score to 14-0 at 4:10.
Pittsburgh had a chance to reduce the score difference, but Rudolph’s pass was intercepted by Elam in the end zone with 10:52 remaining in the first half. Buffalo took advantage when Allen turned a third-down scramble into a 52-yard touchdown run. Allen dodged a tackle and sped away from Steeler’s secondary, prompting wild scenes in the crowd as fans celebrated by throwing snow.
In the latter part of the second quarter, a 10-yard touchdown was passed by Allen to Johnson to pull Pittsburgh closer at 21-7 with 1:39 remaining. In the third quarter teams traded field goals- Chris Boswell hit a 40-yard for the Steelers and Tyler Bass kicked a 45-yarder for Buffalo to keep the margin at 14 points for entering the final quarter.
Stats and Facts
Allen created History by becoming the first player in NFL history to throw three touchdown passes while rushing for over 70 yards and a touchdown in a playoff game.
Allen became the fourth quarterback in NFL History to achieve 20+ passing touchdowns in his first nine playoff games.
Sean McDermott improves to an 11-1 record in both regular season and postseason games with a temperature of 32 degrees or below at kickoff and a 5-1 record in home playoff games.
