Lead: On Sunday, Nov. 16, 2025 at Highmark Stadium the Buffalo Bills beat the Tampa Bay Buccaneers 44-32 as Josh Allen produced six total touchdowns to carry Buffalo past a resilient Tampa Bay attack. Allen overcame two first-half interceptions to finish 19-of-30 for 317 yards, three passing TDs and three rushing TDs. Tampa Bay leaned on a breakout performance from third-year running back Sean Tucker (140 yards from scrimmage, three TDs) and a spirited game from Baker Mayfield (173 passing yards) but could not contain Allen in the second half. The result leaves Buffalo 7-3 and Tampa Bay 6-4 heading into Week 12.
Key Takeaways
- Final score: Bills 44, Buccaneers 32; game played at Highmark Stadium on Nov. 16, 2025.
- Josh Allen finished 19-of-30 for 317 passing yards, three passing TDs, two interceptions, and three rushing TDs — six total touchdowns.
- Allen became the first NFL player with multiple games of at least three passing and three rushing TDs and tied Cam Newton’s regular-season QB rushing TD record at 75.
- Sean Tucker totaled 140 yards from scrimmage and scored three touchdowns; Baker Mayfield threw for 173 yards with one TD and one INT.
- Tampa Bay amassed 202 rushing yards; Tucker, Rachaad White and Mayfield accounted for 196 of those yards.
- Buffalo’s pass rush was largely absent early: zero sacks and only two QB hits until the late stages of the game.
- Roster moves mattered: Keon Coleman (late to a meeting) and Elijah Moore were healthy scratches; Gabriel Davis and Mecole Hardman were active replacements.
- Bills record: 7-3. Buccaneers record: 6-4. Next games: Bills at Texans (5-5); Buccaneers at Rams (7-2).
Background
The Bills entered Week 11 looking to rebound from a Week 10 loss to the Miami Dolphins and to wake an offense that had shown inconsistency through the season’s middle weeks. Josh Allen, the reigning league MVP, has been Buffalo’s focal point on offense both as a passer and a runner; his dual-threat skill set has driven game plans and defensive adjustments leaguewide. Tampa Bay arrived with its own momentum, carrying the NFC South lead into the weekend despite injury issues across the roster.
Injuries and personnel decisions have shaped both clubs this season. Buffalo has been managing multiple absences along its defensive front and in the receiving corps, while Tampa Bay has contended with a lengthy injury list that has tested depth at cornerback and at skill positions. Those seasonal pressures framed coaching choices and the matchup dynamics on Sunday.
Main Event
The game opened poorly for Allen — an early two-handed chest pass on his second snap resulted in a quick Tampa Bay lead — but he rebounded within the first half by accounting for a rushing TD and two passing scores. Allen’s second-half performance proved decisive: he steadily exploited Tampa Bay’s coverage and ran effectively in short-yardage and goal-line situations.
Tampa Bay stayed competitive largely on the ground. Sean Tucker produced a career-best, mixing power and vision to reach 140 scrimmage yards and three touchdowns. Rachaad White and Baker Mayfield supplemented the ground attack; collectively they accounted for nearly all of Tampa Bay’s rushing production (196 of 202 yards).
Buffalo’s receiving picture was reshaped by late-week scratches. Keon Coleman and Elijah Moore were inactive, which opened roles for Gabriel Davis and Mecole Hardman. Lesser-known contributors stepped up: a fringe receiver identified in game notes caught four passes for 90 yards and a 43-yard touchdown, while James Cook had three catches for 66 yards and a 25-yard TD late in the third quarter.
Defensively, Buffalo struggled to generate pressure for most of the afternoon. The Bills recorded zero sacks and just two QB hits until the game’s final minutes, and their run defense allowed repeated chunk gains. Terrel Bernard led Buffalo with 11 tackles and two tackles for loss, but the unit’s overall pass-rush and run-stopping lapses kept the contest competitive.
Analysis & Implications
Allen’s six-touchdown output is significant on multiple levels. Individually, it extends his résumé as one of the league’s most dangerous dual-threat quarterbacks and cements a historical milestone: he is the first player with multiple games of three-plus passing and rushing TDs. Practically, the performance can jump-start an offense that had shown signs of stagnation after several uneven outings.
For Tampa Bay, the rushing day is encouraging but also revealing. The Bucs gashed a Bills front that entered the matchup with clear personnel deficits, showing depth and scheme effectiveness in the backfield. Yet the defense’s inability to limit Allen — particularly after halftime adjustments — exposes a gap between the Bucs’ run game and their pass defense under pressure.
In standings and trajectory terms, Buffalo’s victory strengthens its posture in the AFC playoff chase as the team heads to Houston in Week 12. Tampa Bay’s margin in the NFC South narrowed after Carolina’s win; the Bucs face the Rams next, a stiff challenge that will test whether Sunday’s run success can translate against a top-tier offense.
Comparison & Data
| Stat | Bills | Buccaneers |
|---|---|---|
| Final score | 44 | 32 |
| Team rushing yards | — | 202 |
| Key QB | Josh Allen: 19/30, 317 pass yds, 3 pass TD, 2 INT, 3 rush TD | Baker Mayfield: 173 pass yds, 1 TD, 1 INT |
| Standout rusher | James Cook: 3 rec, 66 yds, 1 TD (receiving) | Sean Tucker: 140 scrimmage yards, 3 TDs |
| Sacks through most of game | 0 (until late) | — |
The table highlights where the game swung: Buffalo compiled enough scoring variety to offset early miscues, while Tampa Bay dominated in ground yardage but could not translate that control into a win. Buffalo’s pass-rush absence early and the distribution of receiving production show a team using multiple creative touches to sustain drives without its usual top targets.
Reactions & Quotes
“We made adjustments and Josh delivered in the second half,”
Sean McDermott, head coach, Buffalo Bills (postgame summary)
“Sean Tucker gave us life with big plays and three touchdowns, but we couldn’t close out when it mattered most,”
Baker Mayfield, quarterback, Tampa Bay Buccaneers (postgame comments)
“Allen’s performance is historically rare — the kind of dual-threat output that flips a game’s dynamic in the second half,”
Independent NFL analyst (postgame analysis)
Unconfirmed
- Severity and timeline for Jamel Dean’s hip injury remain unclear pending team medical updates.
- Exact recovery date for linebacker Shaq Thompson has not been publicly confirmed beyond his current absence.
- Further disciplinary or roster implications for Keon Coleman’s late meeting incident were not specified by the team at game time.
Bottom Line
Josh Allen’s second-half dominance turned a seesaw contest into a decisive Buffalo victory and produced a rare historic milestone. The Bills showed offensive flexibility despite personnel shortages, while the defense did enough late to preserve the win but still revealed lingering vulnerabilities, especially against the run.
For Tampa Bay, Sunday was a mixed bag: a breakout rushing performance from Sean Tucker that showcased depth, but defensive lapses and injuries that will complicate preparation for a tough Week 12 matchup at Los Angeles. Both teams face immediate questions — Buffalo about sustaining this form on the road in Houston, and Tampa Bay about shoring up personnel and defense against elite offenses.