It will be hard for even Josh Allen's biggest critics to find something wrong with his performance in leading the Buffalo Bills to a 31-17 win over the Steelers in Monday's Super Wild Card Weekend showdown. The AFC's No. 2 seed move on to host Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs next weekend in the divisional round.
Allen, who was snubbed from the Pro Bowl this season, threw three touchdowns and completed 70 percent of his passes. He also ran for 74 yards that included a 52-yard scoring jaunt (the second-longest touchdown run by a quarterback in playoff history) that stretched Buffalo's lead to 21-0 midway through the second quarter.
The Steelers battled back and even made it a one-touchdown game early in the fourth quarter when Mason Rudolph hit Calvin Austin III for a short score. But Buffalo ended any hopes of a comeback when Allen hit Khalil Shakir on the game-clinching touchdown with 6:27 left.
Allen's first two touchdowns came in the first quarter on passes to tight ends Dawson Knox and rookie Dalton Kincaid. Kincaid's score was set up by Taron Johnson, who forced a George Pickens fumble one play earlier.
Here's a closer look at Buffalo's fourth wild-card win in as many years.
Why the Bills won
The Bills played exceptional complementary football early that allowed them to build an insurmountable lead. Allen and Co. scored on their opening drive, while Buffalo's defense opened by forcing three straight Pittsburgh punts. The Bills' offense also turned two forced turnovers by their defense into touchdowns.
It was indeed a team win, but the biggest reason for Buffalo's win was the play of Allen, who followed up his monster first play in the half by making several critical plays in the second half. One of those plays was an incredible 12-yard completion to Stefon Diggs on a third-and-8 play that set up a field goal that extended Buffalo's lead to 24-10 late in the third.
After the Steelers scored on their next drive, Allen responded with a 13-yard scramble, another run that resulted in a Pittsburgh penalty and the game-clinching touchdown pass to Shakir.
Why the Steelers lost
Beating the Bills was going to be tough enough for Pittsburgh, which lost a 38-3 decision in Buffalo last season. The task was made almost impossible after the Steelers fell behind by three touchdowns.
Pittsburgh's massive hole was largely due to two turnovers that led to 14 Bills points. The defense's inability to contain Allen and force a turnover didn't help either. A big reason for Pittsburgh's defensive struggles was a lack of depth at ILB, a weakness that Buffalo happily exposed. It was an especially rough afternoon for recently retired linebacker Myles Jack.
Rudolph was off early, as the Steelers' struggles to complete any passes over the middle again reared its ugly head. Pickens' fumble was huge, along with Rudolph's interception in the end zone with the Steelers trailing by 14 points.
Pittsburgh's comeback was jumpstarted by Montravious Adams' blocked field goal with two minutes left in the third. Down 21-0 at the time, the Steelers scored 17 of the game's next 20 points behind the play of Rudolph, who found his rhythm after the slow start. But it was too little too late.
The Steelers are now 1-11 lifetime without T.J. Watt, who missed Monday's game after injuring his knee during Pittsburgh's Week 18 win over the Ravens.
Turning point
The Bills already had a 7-0 lead and momentum when Pickens put the ball on the ground with 4:21 left in the first quarter. But the fumble (which was overturned after initially being ruled as a catch) was immediately turned into points by Buffalo. The Steelers spent the rest of the game trying in vein to make up the deficit.
Play of the game
It was either Allen's 52-yard touchdown run or Shakir's game-clinching touchdown catch. Allen, asked postgame to pick between the two plays, chose Shakir's score as the game's best play, so we'll go with his pick here.
On the play, Shakir showed impressive determination while helping make up for the loss of injured teammate Gabe Davis.
Quotable I
"We've got a resilient group. The leadership that we have, I really think it's unmatched in the league. Guys love each other, they care about each other. We come into work extremely happy each and every day. I don't know if you get that most places. I just appreciate the guys." -- Allen during his postgame interview with CBS Sports' Tracy Wolfson
Quotable II
As you can see below, Tomlin declined to discuss his future during his postgame press conference. The Steelers longtime coach's future has and continues to be a hot-button topic.
What's next
Buffalo will face Kansas City in the playoffs for the third time third time in four years. The Bills lost both previous matchups, which were both played in Kansas City. Buffalo will host Patrick Mahomes and Co. this time.
Pittsburgh's season ends without a playoff win for the seventh straight year, extending the franchise's longest stretch without a postseason win since 1972.
