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Josh Allen's resilience on full display with historic performance
Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen (17) takes the field prior to the game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Highmark Stadium. Gregory Fisher-Imagn Images

Bills QB Josh Allen's resilience on full display with historic performance against Buccaneers

Even when Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen doesn't have his best game, he still sets or ties multiple records. 

In Buffalo's home game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday, Allen had a topsy-turvy performance. The 2024 league MVP threw two interceptions and was penalized for an illegal forward pass early in the third quarter when he was well past the line of scrimmage. 

And yet, none of that ultimately mattered. Allen still found a way to carry the Bills to a 44-32 win, finishing 19-of-30 passing for 317 yards and three touchdowns, including a 43-yarder to wide receiver Tyrell Shavers. He also rushed for three TDs and 40 yards on six carries. 

With that performance, Allen is now the only player in NFL history with three or more passing and three or more rushing TDs in multiple career games (via the Bills public relations team). He also tied former Carolina Panthers star Cam Newton for the most regular-season rushing TDs (75) by a QB all-time. 

Bills may need more historic performances from Josh Allen

Sunday's win was pivotal for the 7-3 Bills, who are trying to keep up with the New England Patriots (9-2) in the AFC East race. According to The Athletic, Buffalo has only a 14% chance of winning the division.  

To catch New England, the Bills need even more from Allen, who's trying to succeed with a shaky receiving corps. Buffalo didn't acquire another WR before the trade deadline passed on Nov. 4, despite WR Khalil Shakir being one of its few dependable options. Entering Sunday, the Boise State product had a team-leading 457 receiving yards, 41st in the NFL. 

Second-year WR Keon Coleman — who Buffalo hoped would become a No. 1 option this offseason — is having discipline issues. He was ruled inactive for Sunday's game after missing a team meeting on Friday. 

The issues at WR may place more pressure on Allen, who may have to force the issue more and thus make more mistakes. But expect him to keep rebounding from those. He's one of the most talented players in the league and one of the most resilient. Consider Sunday's game as a case in point.

Clark Dalton

Dalton is a 2022 journalism graduate of the University of Texas at Austin. He gained experience in sports media over the past seven years — from live broadcasting and creating short films to podcasting and producing. In college, he wrote for The Daily Texan. He loves sports and enjoys hiking, kayaking and camping.

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