Josh Allen and Bryce Young made headlines in the NFL this week, setting new records while leading their respective teams to victories. Allen”s Buffalo Bills dominated the Pittsburgh Steelers with a decisive 26-7 win, showcasing their strength on the field.
In a game played at the blustery Acrisure Stadium, the Bills improved their record to 8-4, rebounding from a previous loss against Houston. They overwhelmed the Steelers, who fell to 6-6, by amassing 249 rushing yards, with James Cook leading the charge with 144 yards. Allen completed 15 of 23 passes for 123 yards, including a touchdown pass to Keon Coleman. Notably, Allen”s rushing touchdown from eight yards out early in the fourth quarter marked the 76th of his career, setting a new NFL record for rushing touchdowns by a quarterback, surpassing the previous record he shared with Cam Newton.
Following the game, Allen emphasized the importance of the win, stating, “Found a way to win, that”s all that matters.” Meanwhile, the Steelers, who have now lost five of their last seven games, received heavy criticism from their home fans. Linebacker T.J. Watt expressed his disbelief at the Steelers” inability to stop the same play repeatedly, saying, “I”m out of words for it.”
On the other side of the league, Young led the Carolina Panthers to a thrilling 31-28 victory against the Los Angeles Rams, snapping the Rams” six-game winning streak. Young completed 15 of 20 passes for 206 yards and three touchdowns, two of which were crucial fourth-down conversions. At just 24 years and 128 days old, he became the youngest player in NFL history to record 11 game-winning drives in the fourth quarter or overtime, surpassing Allen.
“The proof is in the pudding,” said Tetairoa McMillan, a wide receiver for the Panthers, highlighting Young”s leadership on offense. With this victory, Carolina improved to 7-6, marking their best start since 2017, the last time they reached the playoffs.
In another game, the Seattle Seahawks achieved a rare feat by shutting out the Minnesota Vikings 26-0. This marked the first scoreless game for the Vikings since 2007, as they suffered their fourth consecutive loss, dropping their record to 4-8. Seattle, now at 9-3, shares the top spot in the NFC standings with the Rams.
The Bills” impressive performance maintains their hopes of catching the AFC East-leading New England Patriots, who hold a record of 10-2. Meanwhile, the Denver Broncos matched the Patriots” record after a narrow 27-26 win over the Washington Commanders, extending their winning streak to nine games.
