Joe Burrow completed 31 of 44 passes for 348 yards and two touchdowns to lead the host Cincinnati Bengals to a 24-18 victory over the Buffalo Bills on Sunday night.
Buffalo (5-4) threatened to rally when Josh Allen found Stefon Diggs for a 17-yard touchdown and ensuing two-point conversion with 3:32 left in the game to cut the Bills’ deficit to six.
But the Bengals (5-3) got the ball back and forced the Bills to use their third and final timeout, and Joe Mixon rushed for a first down with 1:53 remaining to seal the victory.
Mixon finished with 14 carries for 37 yards and a score, while Tee Higgins was Burrow’s favorite target through the air, hauling in eight catches for 110 yards.
Allen completed 26 of 38 passes for 258 yards with the TD and an interception for Buffalo, which lost for the second time in three games. Diggs had six receptions for 86 yards, while Dalton Kincaid totaled 81 yards on 10 catches.
Allen also scored on the ground, where he racked up another 44 yards on eight carries.
Sunday marked the first time Bills safety Damar Hamlin returned to Paycor Stadium, where he collapsed due to cardiac arrest during a game on Jan. 2. He took part in warmups before the game on Sunday and greeted several Bengals players but was inactive for the contest.
Cincinnati wasted no time getting on the board, driving 76 yards on nine plays on the game’s opening drive, with Burrow finding Irv Smith Jr. for a 9-yard TD.
Allen capped the Bills’ ensuing possession with a 2-yard rushing score with 6:03 left in the first quarter, but then the Bengals took control.
Mixon found the end zone from 2 yards out with 35 seconds remaining in the first, and Cincinnati’s defense then stood firm, keeping Buffalo off the board until halftime.
Burrow connected with Drew Sample for a 22-yard score just 1:37 before halftime to send the Bengals into the break up 21-7.
Tyler Bass and Evan McPherson traded field goals in the second half before Allen and Diggs’ late connection made things interesting.
–Field Level Media
