With Josh Allen at quarterback, anything seems possible for the Buffalo Bills, including overcoming a sloppy start.
Bills coach Joe Brady said following a second half in which Allen oversaw three touchdown drives in a 36-10 win over the Baltimore Ravens that watching Allen feels like a luxury. Brady noted that Allen is one of one and incredible, with plenty of football still ahead of him.
In Baltimore, the Ravens face the prospect of finishing their season without Lamar Jackson.
What was supposed to be a marquee matchup of two of the NFL’s top quarterbacks ended on Baltimore’s first snap from scrimmage when Jackson hurt the right thumb on his throwing hand by jamming it on the arm of Buffalo pass rusher Greg Rousseau.
Coach Jesse Minter revealed that Jackson will require surgery and be placed on injured reserve, with a possibility of him missing the remainder of the season. Minter explained that when the injury happened, everyone hoped it was minor before quickly realizing the severity.
Compounding the Ravens’ troubles, backup quarterback Tyler Huntley left the game with a toe injury in the second quarter, forcing emergency third-stringer Joe Fagnano to finish the contest.
Allen and the Bills finally took advantage over the final thirty minutes. After settling for a touchdown and three field goals in the first half, Buffalo scored touchdowns on three of its first four possessions of the second half.
Reflecting on a first half defined by two turnovers and costly penalties, Allen said he told himself to take a breath, settle his feet, and simply go through his progressions. He added that going into halftime, the team knew they were much better than that and that he had been pressing early on.
Allen finished 21 of 34 for 289 yards with two passing touchdowns, one rushing score, and an interception. In doing so, he raised his career total, including playoffs, to 260 passing touchdowns, breaking the franchise record held by Pro Football Hall of Famer Jim Kelly, who threw 258. Allen also earned his 102nd victory, including playoffs, moving ahead of Tom Brady for third among players through their first nine seasons. Late-game choices like these echo the thinking behind how expected threat influences substitution decisions in football.
DJ Moore scored on an 11-yard catch in his return after missing two games with a shoulder injury. Dalton Kincaid also scored on a 23-yard catch.
The AFC East-leading Bills are off to their ninth 6-1 start in franchise history.
Buffalo’s defence forced three turnovers, added a fourth-down stop, recorded four sacks, and limited the Ravens to 144 total yards. Although the Ravens played without their primary quarterbacks, the performance was considered a major step forward for a much-criticized Buffalo defence that ranked among the NFL’s statistical worst and had surrendered 29 or more points in five of its previous six outings.
The Ravens have now lost three straight games, a stretch that included Jackson’s return from a three-game absence due to an ankle injury. With Huntley’s status uncertain, Baltimore faces difficult questions on a short week ahead of hosting Jacksonville on Thursday night.
Minter emphasized that how a team responds to adversity matters most, noting that they will do everything in their power to keep rolling. He expressed full confidence in Joe Fagnano or whoever else might have to step up.
Fagnano, an undrafted rookie out of Connecticut, finished the game going 10 of 21 for 91 yards with an interception and a lost fumble on a botched snap during his NFL debut. Derrick Henry scored Baltimore’s lone touchdown on a two-yard run.
Zay Flowers, who entered the weekend fifth in the NFL with 608 receiving yards, was held without a catch on five targets.
Brady praised the defensive effort, stating that the unit should look at this game as the baseline expectation for flying around and making plays.
Milestones
Buffalo kicker Tyler Bass converted all three field-goal attempts, including a 56-yarder. He has now hit 21 consecutive attempts, breaking the franchise record of 18 set by Rian Lindell in 2007. Bass missed the entire previous season with pelvis and groin injuries, with his most recent miss coming in December 2024.
Derrick Henry’s touchdown marked the 136th of his career from scrimmage, tying him with Marshall Faulk for fourth on the all-time NFL list.
Injuries
For the Ravens, cornerback Nate Wiggins was evaluated for a concussion in the fourth quarter. For the Bills, wide receiver Josh Palmer was ruled out after hurting his right hamstring while attempting to track down a deep pass in the first quarter.
Up next
The Ravens host Jacksonville on Thursday night, while the Bills travel to face the Minnesota Vikings on November 9.
