Payments clinch AFC East as Allen wows with TD trifecta

ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. — Simply as the sport between the Buffalo Bills and San Francisco 49ers was set to kick off, snow descended on the stadium. The quantity of snow — which continued all through the evening — was sudden after a storm hit the area over the weekend.

The sport ended with Payments coach Sean McDermott difficult his quarterback Josh Allen to do snow angels on the sector with him — after McDermott promised tight finish Zach Davidson at halftime he would if Buffalo received — because the workforce celebrated the victory and with it a fifth straight AFC East title.

The situations served as a picturesque white background because the Payments beat the 49ers 35-10 on “Sunday Night time Soccer” to proceed a seven-game profitable streak, enhance to 10-2 and develop into the second workforce this week to punch their ticket to the postseason, following the Kansas City Chiefs.

Alongside the best way, the Payments set quite a lot of information, together with turning into the seventh workforce since 1980 to clinch a division title with 5 video games remaining in a season. They’re the fourth workforce to take action since division realignment in 2002 — the earlier three misplaced within the Tremendous Bowl — however the one one to have three or extra division video games nonetheless to play.

With the division checked off, nonetheless, the Payments’ sights are already on targets nonetheless to be reached, together with the No. 1 seed within the AFC. They at present sit a sport again of the Chiefs (11-1).

“This one feels just a little bit completely different, this early within the season … so, the cool factor about it, get to go on the market, and we get to play free,” Allen stated. “There’s actually no repercussions for what we’re doing, however on the identical time, we’re chasing the 1-seed. We perceive that. We all know that and we have to maintain getting higher each week.

“However it should be enjoyable to go on the market and play free and play relaxed and play unfastened. I feel that could possibly be a harmful workforce.”

Buffalo has made the postseason in seven of the eight years McDermott and common supervisor Brandon Beane have led the Payments. Solely as soon as has the workforce reached the AFC Championship Sport (2020), and by no means in that stretch have the Payments been the No. 1 seed.

“It is in all probability the following objective for us is to place ourselves the very best we are able to,” McDermott stated. “We management a bit of that after which a few of that we do not. So, it is actually about our degree of play each week, attending to the extent it must be, and that often places you in a great place in some way.”

Buffalo is 6-0 at house this season — accentuating the objective of the No. 1 seed — the primary time the Payments have began 6-0 at house since 1991, after they reached the Tremendous Bowl.

Clinching the division got here because the Payments defied many exterior expectations. The Jets (3-9) entered the season because the favorites to win the AFC East (+160 at ESPN BET), barely forward of the Payments (+185).

“It is like a participation trophy. OK, like now we [are] collaborating in one thing greater, however it do not actually imply nothing,” cornerback Rasul Douglas stated. “You need some {hardware}, one thing which you can preserve ceaselessly … the entire trophy or ring or one thing which you can be remembered ceaselessly with.”

The Payments’ offense showcased in opposition to the 49ers why it has been capable of put up 30-plus factors in six straight video games. After a three-and-out on Buffalo’s first drive of the sport and the 49ers kicking a subject objective on their opening offensive possession, the Payments scored unanswered touchdowns on three straight possessions.

The hassle was led by Allen, who turned the primary quarterback in NFL historical past with a passing, speeding and receiving landing in a single sport. Allen completed 13-of-17 passing for 148 yards and two touchdowns and had three rushes for 18 yards and the rating.

A few of that scoring manufacturing got here on a unique play with wide receiver Amari Cooper with 6:05 remaining within the third quarter. On first-and-goal from the 49ers’ 7-yard line, Allen handed to Cooper for what would have been a lack of 2 yards, however as defenders bought to Cooper, he noticed Allen immediately behind him and lateraled the ball to the quarterback.

“I used to be questioning what he was doing over there,” Cooper stated. “That does not often occur whenever you throw a dart route like that. I simply noticed him. I figured he was over there as a result of he wished the ball, so I gave it to him.”

Allen then ran previous defenders and leaped into the top zone to offer the Payments a 28-3 lead. He was credited for a passing landing and a receiving landing on the play, however not a reception because it was a lateral.

“I want [Cooper] bought credited for one thing there, an help or a passing landing. However, once more, I type of threw a foul ball, “Allen stated. “So, I used to be simply type of chasing it. He made a heck of a catch. I threw it, it was simply type of sticky hand and I simply type of chased the ball simply to be there. And we made eye contact, and he simply pitched it, and I needed to go make a play. It was dope.”

The Payments have been capable of solidify the win with three second-half fumble recoveries and by limiting the 49ers to 239 web yards in exterior linebacker Matt Milano‘s return to the sector. Milano performed 76.6% of the defensive snaps, per Subsequent Gen Stats, in his first sport since October 8, 2023.

Milano is one among three gamers, together with left deal with Dion Dawkins and lengthy snapper Reid Ferguson, who’ve been with the workforce for all eight seasons beneath McDermott and Beane.

“After I got here into the league, it was the Patriots,” Dawkins stated. “They have been doing it each single yr, and now it is us and it is stunning. Being on this facet, I get pleasure from it. … Every thing is the correct quantity of proper for this factor to coast the best way it is speculated to.”