By CHUCK POLLOCK, Wellsville Sun Senior Sports Columnist
It was a battle of two teams desperately trying to make the playoffs.
And for the better part of four quarters it appeared Buffalo’s bid to secure a post-season bid would fall to Cincinnati’s inspired play Sunday afternoon in the snow at sold out Highmark Stadium.
That was especially true when the Bills’ star running back, James Cook, fumbled for the fourth time in two games, forfeiting the lead touchdown twice in the closing seconds of the third quarter.
The Bengals still had a 10-point lead with 7 1/2 minutes to play … thanks to Cook’s fumbles, including one before he crossed the goal line with Cincy cornerback D.J.Turner knocking the ball loose into the end zone with linebacker Oren Burke recovering. The previous one —a 24-yarder — was nullified by a holding penalty and it took a review to decide the play wasn’t a touchback.
BUT, FROM then on, it was all Bills en route to a 39-34 victory.
First it was a 67-yard interception return by Buffalo cornerback Christian Benford on an underthrown pass by Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow. That iwas immediately followed by a pick of a deflected Burrow pass that set up a 40-yard touchdown run by Bills’ QB Josh Allen, his record-setting 77th rushing score by a QB. Defensive tackle Jordan Phillips deflected a Burrow pass and edge rusher A.J. Epenesa grabbed it.
“Christian’s interception was the play of the game and so was A.J.’s tip, they were huge, they were phenomenal plays” coach Sean McDermott said. “The toughness of the team was on full display.”
The result was 21-unanswered points in the fourth quarter and a dramatic boost in the odds of Buffalo (9-4) earning a wild-card playoff berth even as New England (11-2) will likely win the AFC East going away.
Meanwhile, the Bengals (4-9), favored in their final four games — behind Baltimore and Pittsburgh, (both 6-6 in the AFC North) — seem doomed to miss the playoffs, despite Burrow throwing four touchdown passes — two to Tee Higgins and one each to Chase Brown (who also ran for a score) and tight end Mike Gesicki — undermined by those two interceptions.
Allen, meanwhile, threw for three scores — to Khalil Shakir and tight ends Dalton Kincaid and Jackson Hawes — and had that impressive rushing TD, both the longest of his career and in franchise history.
“It was a blitz,” Allen recalled, “and they weren’t expecting a run. I tucked it and felt safe (running). It feels good and you don’t get those plays too often.”
NOTES from the Bills’ rally for a 39-34 win over Cincinnati, Sunday afternoon at cold and snowy Highmark Stadium:
— The game’s first turnover came when Bills star-crossed running back James Cook fumbled into the end zone with linebacker Oren Burks recovering, foiling Buffalo’s bid to take the lead in the fourth quarter. It was his fourth fumble in the last two games, losing two.
But the second takeaway was corneback Christian Benford intercepting a deflected Burrow pass and returning it 67 yards giving Buffallo the fourth-quarter lead. It was quickly followed by defensive end A.J. Epenesa intercepting after a Jordan Phillips deflection of a Burrow pass.
— Cincinnati’s first sack of Bills quarterback Josh Allen was recorded by Joseph Ossai, his team-leading fifth, the second went to defensive tackle B.J. Hill, his third and finally safety Geno Stone, got his second.
— Buffalo’s lone sack of Bengals’ QB Joe Burrow was credited to Benford, his second of the season.
— Stone had a game-high nine tackles with seven solos. Veteran safety Jordan Poyer led the Bills with eight tackles, including six solos.
— Cincinnati had an impressive performance on third down, converting 10-of-12 attempts. Buffalo was 11-of-16 on third down and a solid 3-of-4 on fourth down.
— Inactive for the Bills were wide receiver Joshua Palmer (knee/ankle), middle linebacker Terrel Barnard (elbow), offensive tackle Spencer Brown (shoulder), edge rusher Joey Bosa (hamstring/wrist), cornerback Darnell Savage, defensive tackle Phidariuan Mathis and offensive tackle Chris Lundt.
Ryan Van Dermark replaced Brown, Shaq Thompson took Bernard’s spot, Gabe Davis took Palmer’s spot and Epenesa inherited Bosa’s position.
— Key inactive for the Bengals was edge rusher Trey Hendrickson (hip/pelvis).
