Josh Allen, Bills eliminate Steelers in NFL playoffs
Buffalo quarterback Josh Allen threw for three touchdowns and ran 52 yards for another score in the Bills’ 31-17 victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers in the first round of the AFC playoffs on Monday.
The Bills grabbed a 21-0 lead by moving 80 yards for their first and third touchdowns, but only 29 for their second TD after recovering a Steelers’ fumble. The third touchdown drive came after cornerback Kaiir Elam’s interception in the end zone prevented Pittsburgh from cutting into Buffalo’s 14-0 lead in the second quarter.
Buffalo reduced Buffalo’s lead to 24-17 with 10:32 left to play on Mason Rudolph’s second touchdown pass of the game. But the Bills took more than four minutes off the clock before Allen’s third touchdown pass re-established Buffalo’s hold on the game.
Six players from Alabama high schools and colleges got on the field in the Pittsburgh-Buffalo game:
· Steelers defensive tackle Montravius Adams (Auburn) made one tackle.
· Steelers linebacker Kwon Alexander (Oxford) is on injured reserve and not eligible to play.
· Minkah Fitzpatrick (Alabama) started at strong safety for the Steelers. Fitzpatrick led Pittsburgh with 10 tackles and recorded one tackle for loss in his return to the field. Fitzpatrick missed the final three games of the regular season because of a knee injury.
· Bills running back Damien Harris (Alabama) is on injured reserve and not eligible to play.
· Najee Harris (Alabama) started at running back for the Steelers. Harris ran for 37 yards on 12 carries and caught two passes for 15 yards.
· Bills cornerback Siran Neal (Jacksonville State) did not record any stats.
· George Pickens (Hoover) started at wide receiver for the Steelers. Pickens had five receptions for 50 yards and gained 15 yards on a rushing attempt. He also lost a fumble at the Pittsburgh 29-yard line.
· Bills wide receiver Tyrell Shavers (Alabama) is on the practice squad and not eligible to play.
· Steelers cornerback Levi Wallace (Alabama) made one tackle.
The teams were scheduled to play on Sunday afternoon at Highmark Stadium in Orchard Park, New York, but the game was moved back one day because of wintery weather.
Pittsburgh won its final three regular-season games to make the playoffs as a wild-card qualifier with a 10-7 record. Buffalo had an 11-6 regular-season record to win the AFC East and extended its winning streak to six games on Monday.
The Bills will stay at home for their Divisional Round game against the Kansas City Chiefs at 5:30 p.m. CST Sunday. CBS will televise the game.
Kansas City advanced with a 26-7 victory over the Miami Dolphins in the first round on Saturday night.
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Mark Inabinett is a sports reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter at @AMarkG1.