Josh Allen entered the night winless in seven career overtime games, and the eighth one nearly slipped away too. The Buffalo Bills beat the Los Angeles Rams 37-34 in overtime on Oct. 12 in Inglewood, California, handing Allen his first overtime win in eight tries, playoffs included. In those seven defeats, three of which were playoff exits, Allen had averaged 292 passing yards, 75 rushing yards and about two touchdowns per game.
A blocked kick kept his night alive, and Allen pointed straight at the teammate behind it. You’re hoping someone on defense or special teams can make a play, and that’s what happened. Greg Rousseau made a play.” Early in the extra period, the Bills looked done.
Running back James Cook fumbled inside Rams territory, and Los Angeles drove to the Bills’ 30 before Greg Rousseau, an edge defender, got a hand on Harrison Mevis’ field goal try. Buffalo was missing wideouts DJ Moore and Joshua Palmer, so head coach Joe Brady dialed up four runs on the winning drive, two for Cook. Allen kept it on the other two, scrambling for 19 yards and 13 more before Tyler Bass split the uprights from 45 yards with 1:55 remaining.
Allen ran for 121 yards, the second-best rushing game of his career, and threw for 210. Those 331 yards came with two touchdowns. From the final quarter through OT, he went 5-for-5 for 121 yards and added 91 rushing yards on six carries, including a touchdown.
He also threw a successful 2-point conversion. Brady and Allen both said they’d rather not lean so heavily on the quarterback’s legs, and ESPN noted that 10 runs with 12 completions isn’t sustainable. Buffalo improved to 4-1, its sixth such start in eight seasons and the first in Brady’s debut year as head coach.
Allen’s overtime record finally reads 1-7.
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