NFL roundup: Buccaneers thrash Eagles, Bills defeat Steelers to advance

On Monday, Josh Allen led the Buffalo Bills to a 31-17 triumph over the Pittsburgh Steelers in the NFL playoffs, while the Philadelphia Eagles saw their once-promising season come to an end with a 32-9 defeat by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

In the chilly conditions at Buffalo’s Highmark Stadium, Allen, the Bills quarterback, threw three touchdowns and executed an impressive 52-yard run for a rushing touchdown, contributing to the downfall of the seventh-seeded Steelers.

This win propels the Bills into another playoff showdown with Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs, the reigning Super Bowl champions, set to take place on Sunday in an enticing Divisional Round battle.

Having suffered defeats to the Chiefs in the AFC playoffs in 2022 and 2021, Buffalo is gearing up for what promises to be another intense matchup. Reflecting on the upcoming challenge, Allen emphasized the need for a collective team effort, acknowledging the formidable nature of the Chiefs and their quarterback, Patrick Mahomes.

“We know the type of team that they are, obviously the type of quarterback that they have in Pat over there,” said Allen.

The Bills laid the groundwork for their victory with a dominant first-half performance, capitalizing on the offensive struggles of the Pittsburgh Steelers.

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The Monday game had been rescheduled from Saturday due to a winter storm that swept through parts of the United States the previous week. Despite the Orchard Park pitch being cleared in time for kick-off, the stands were covered in thick snow.

Once the game started, Josh Allen showcased an impressive performance, leading the Buffalo Bills to a commanding 21-0 lead. Allen connected with Dawson Knox for the first touchdown after an 80-yard drive and capitalized on a Steelers fumble on the next possession with a 29-yard pass to tight end Dalton Kincaid.

In the second quarter, Allen further electrified the crowd with an outstanding individual play, exhibiting his athleticism by charging 52 yards for a rushing touchdown, extending the Bills’ lead to 21-0. At that point, the Bills seemed on track for a decisive victory, dominating a Steelers offense that struggled with three punts, a fumble, and an interception in their first five possessions.

Although the Steelers mounted a comeback, narrowing the margin to seven points at 24-17 early in the fourth quarter, the Bills responded with their fourth touchdown of the game. Khalil Shakir received a pass from Allen, stooped to gather it, and maneuvered into the end zone, reestablishing a 14-point lead.

In the NFC Wild-Card game on Monday, the Philadelphia Eagles saw their playoff hopes dashed in the culmination of a late-season collapse. Despite being potential Super Bowl contenders at the start of December with a 10-1 record, the Eagles experienced five defeats in their final six regular-season games. The season’s unraveling concluded in Florida on Monday as the Tampa Bay Buccaneers exploited the Eagles’ vulnerabilities.

Tampa Bay, the 2021 Super Bowl champions led by Tom Brady, will travel to Detroit for the divisional round following their victory on Monday.

Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield celebrated a personal triumph, throwing three touchdowns and no interceptions, accumulating 337 passing yards.

Mayfield, drafted as the No. 1 pick by the Cleveland Browns in 2018, faced challenges after being released by the Browns in 2022. He struggled to revive his career with the Carolina Panthers and Los Angeles Rams before joining Tampa Bay in 2023.

In Monday’s game, Mayfield guided the Buccaneers to a 10-0 lead in the first quarter, delivering a 44-yard pass to David Moore for the opening touchdown. He continued his strong performance with a 56-yard touchdown connection to Trey Palmer in the third quarter. Mayfield sealed the memorable victory in the fourth quarter with a 23-yard completion to Chris Godwin.

Reflecting on the win, Mayfield expressed pride in the team’s effort to reach the playoffs and emphasized the focus on the next challenge, saying, “We wanted to give ourselves a chance, and we did just that. We can play better than we did tonight, but it’s on to the next one. We’re on to Detroit.”