ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. — Josh Allen threw for three touchdowns and ran for one, Christian Benford returned the go-ahead 63-yard interception and the Buffalo Bills rallied from a 10-point fourth-quarter deficit to beat the Cincinnati Bengals 39-34 on Sunday.
Allen scored on a 40-yard dash, breaking his record of 36 yards for the longest by a Bills quarterback, and Buffalo turned the game around with big defensive plays on a snowy day in Western New York. Benford and cornerback AJ Epenesa intercepted Joe Burrow on consecutive plays from scrimmage, leading the Bills to score three touchdowns in a 4:20 span of the fourth quarter.
Benford's interception – the defender jumped to catch Burrow's shot intended for Ja'Marr Chase – gave Buffalo its first lead with 5:25 remaining.
The Bills then went up 39–28 on Epenesa's interception, which he caught after Burrow's pass was deflected by cornerback Jordan Phillips. On fourth-and-goal from three, Allen found tight end Jackson Hawes for a touchdown.
The Bills (9-4) won back-to-back games for the first time in a month and maintained momentum in a tight AFC race.
The Bengals (4-9) saw their already shaky playoff prospects dim further. Their only real chance heading into the weekend was to win the AFC North, but they were three games behind Pittsburgh.
Burrow's promotion to the Bengals lasted just one week after he oversaw Cincinnati's 32-14 win over Baltimore in his first game as a starter after missing nine days with a toe injury.
The interceptions were Burrow's first in four starts this season. He finished 25 of 36 for 284 yards and four touchdowns in his first loss in nine starts last season.
Bengals' Burton suspended
Bengals wide receiver Jermaine Burton did not travel to Buffalo and was suspended by the team for one game. The Bengals did not specify the reason for their decision. The sophomore has yet to appear in a game this season. He had four catches for 107 yards in 14 games, including one start last year.
Bengals: Division opponent Baltimore next Sunday.
Scores: Next Sunday at the AFC East-leading New England Patriots.
