Lead: Josh Allen delivered a dominant, multi-faceted performance Sunday in Buffalo, accounting for six total touchdowns as the Bills beat the Tampa Bay Buccaneers 44-32. The game, played in blustery conditions, saw momentum swing multiple times, but Allen’s 5-yard go-ahead pass with 9:06 left and a 9-yard touchdown run at 2:35 secured the win. Allen finished 19-of-30 for 317 yards and three passing scores, plus six carries for 40 yards and three rushing touchdowns. The Bills improved to 7-3 and face a quick turnaround on the road versus the Houston Texans on Thursday night.
Key Takeaways
- Josh Allen accounted for six TDs (3 passing, 3 rushing) in Buffalo’s 44-32 victory over Tampa Bay.
- Allen’s box score: 19-of-30 passing, 317 yards, 3 passing TDs and 2 interceptions; rushing: 6 carries, 40 yards, 3 TDs.
- Buffalo committed three turnovers (including a muffed punt by Mecole Hardman), which kept Tampa Bay competitive late in the game.
- Tampa Bay’s Sean Tucker ran for 106 yards on 19 carries with two rushing TDs and added two catches for 34 yards and a receiving TD.
- Bucs QB Baker Mayfield finished 16-of-28 for 173 yards with one passing TD and one interception.
- The Bills held leads and trailed multiple times — Tampa Bay led 26-21 and 32-31 in the second half before Buffalo’s late response.
- Allen tied Cam Newton’s regular-season mark with his 75th game that included at least one passing and one rushing touchdown.
Background
Buffalo entered Sunday’s matchup looking to sustain momentum in a season in which playoff positioning is still fluid; the Bills improved to 7-3 with the win. The Buccaneers, meanwhile, were seeking to build continuity on offense and test their squad against an ascending contender. Weather in Buffalo — gusty winds and chilly temperatures — has historically influenced game planning there, often boosting the value of a quarterback who can both throw and run.
Josh Allen’s dual-threat profile has been a defining feature of Buffalo’s offense for years, and the team has leaned on him in high-leverage moments throughout the campaign. Tampa Bay’s ground game, powered Sunday by Sean Tucker, had been a developing strength and posed a contrasting challenge for the Bills’ defense. Turnovers and special-teams plays were widely expected to be pivotal in a tight AFC–NFC interconference matchup.
Main Event
The game traded leads several times in the second half. Tampa Bay held advantages of 26-21 and later 32-31, responding to Buffalo scores with efficient drives and tough running between the tackles. Allen answered the latter Buccaneers lead with a precise 5-yard touchdown pass that put Buffalo ahead with 9:06 remaining. That sequence shifted the on-field pressure back onto Tampa Bay to answer in the final quarter.
Late in the fourth quarter, the Buccaneers faced a fourth-and-2 on their own 39 and chose to punt; Buffalo then controlled the clock on the ensuing drive and Allen capped the possession with a 9-yard rushing touchdown at 2:35, effectively sealing the outcome. Special-teams miscues hurt the Bills earlier: Mecole Hardman muffed a punt return as part of Buffalo’s three turnovers, giving Tampa Bay extra opportunities. Despite those mistakes, Buffalo’s offense produced enough big plays to overcome the miscues.
Statistically, the contrast between the quarterbacks was stark. Allen produced 317 passing yards and three touchdowns while adding three rushing scores; Baker Mayfield moved the ball less through the air, finishing with 173 passing yards, one touchdown and one interception. Tampa Bay’s running attack, led by Tucker, kept the Bucs competitive and converted multiple red-zone opportunities into scores.
Analysis & Implications
Allen’s six-touchdown day reinforced his standing as a game-deciding player. A quarterback who can generate plays both as a passer and a runner forces defenses to allocate resources differently and opens space for complementary weapons. Tying Cam Newton’s mark for games with at least one passing and rushing TD underscores Allen’s sustained dual-threat production over multiple seasons.
Turnovers remain a concern for Buffalo despite the win. Three turnovers in a single game are an outlier for a team with playoff aspirations and could be costly against stiffer competition. The Bills’ coaching staff will likely emphasize ball security and special-teams fundamentals during the brief practice window before Thursday’s game in Houston.
For Tampa Bay, the performance from the running game suggests the Bucs can impose their will on shorter-yardage situations, but the passing game’s limitations — 173 yards from Mayfield — curtailed sustained drives at times. Defensive adjustments will be necessary if the Buccaneers hope to force more stops and shorten opponents’ possessions against pass-capable quarterbacks like Allen.
Comparison & Data
| Stat | Bills (Allen) | Bucs (Mayfield / Tucker) |
|---|---|---|
| Passing (Comp-Att) | 19-30, 317 yds, 3 TD, 2 INT | 16-28, 173 yds, 1 TD, 1 INT |
| Rushing (Leader) | Allen: 6 att, 40 yds, 3 TD | Tucker: 19 att, 106 yds, 2 TD |
| Total Turnovers | 3 | 0 |
| Final Score | Bills 44 — Buccaneers 32 | |
The table highlights the asymmetric ways each team produced points: Buffalo leaned on explosive plays from their quarterback both through the air and on the ground, while Tampa Bay derived much of its scoring from a strong running day by Tucker. The turnover differential (Bills +3, Bucs 0) is notable — generally, teams with a plus turnover margin win more often, but Buffalo overcame its own negative turnover impact through game-changing plays by Allen.
Reactions & Quotes
Postgame responses emphasized Allen’s outsized influence on the outcome and the mixed feelings inside the Bills’ locker room about the turnovers.
Allen’s performance was described as the decisive factor that swung the game in Buffalo’s favor.
NBC Sports (game recap)
On the Tampa Bay side, observers pointed to the running game and missed opportunities in the passing attack as key takeaways.
Tampa Bay’s ground gains kept the Bucs competitive, but a limited aerial output impeded sustained comebacks.
NFL game notes (league recap)
Unconfirmed
- Whether any of Buffalo’s turnovers involved play-design issues as opposed to execution errors — official play-by-play and coaching comments provide limited immediate detail.
- The precise rationale behind Tampa Bay’s decision to punt on fourth-and-2 from their own 39 — postgame explanations from coaching staff were not detailed in initial reports.
- Short-term injury status or lingering effects for any player after the game’s conclusion pending medical evaluation.
Bottom Line
Josh Allen’s six-touchdown outing was the defining storyline in Buffalo’s 44-32 victory over Tampa Bay; his ability to score both through the air and on the ground overcame an otherwise concerning turnover total. The win improves Buffalo’s standing to 7-3 and tests the team’s capacity to recover with a short week on the road versus Houston.
For Tampa Bay, the game reinforced the value of a productive run game led by Sean Tucker but exposed the limits of the passing attack on this day. Both teams head into different immediate challenges: Buffalo must limit mistakes in a quick turnaround, while the Buccaneers will aim to translate strong rushing results into more consistent offensive balance against the Los Angeles Rams next Sunday night.
Sources
- NBC Sports — media game recap
- NFL.com — official league game statistics and recap
- Buffalo Bills — team official game notes/recap