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ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. — Josh Allen threw three landing passes and scored on a franchise playoff-record 52-yard landing run, and the Buffalo Payments beat the Pittsburgh Steelers 31-17 on Monday in an AFC wild-card playoff sport that was postponed a day due to a lake-effect blizzard.
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The Highmark Stadium stands erupted with snow being tossed into the air like confetti when Allen threw a 17-yard landing go to Khalil Shakir with 6:27 remaining that restored a two-touchdown lead for Buffalo. Shakir caught the go on the 10 over the center, after which slipped Minkah Fitzpatrick’s deal with try by spinning round earlier than outracing the remainder of the Steelers defenders into the tip zone.
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The second-seeded Payments (12-6), who closed the common season with 5 straight wins, advance to host Patrick Mahomes and the No. 3 seed Kansas Metropolis Chiefs within the divisional spherical on Sunday evening. The Payments have longed for a house playoff sport in opposition to the Chiefs after their 2020 and ’21 seasons ended with playoff losses at Kansas Metropolis.
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Allen completed 21 of 30 for 203 yards and ran for 74 yards on eight carries, changing into the primary quarterback in NFL playoff historical past to throw three or extra TD passes whereas speeding for 70 or extra yards and a rating. He didn’t have a turnover for simply the fourth time this season.
Mason Rudolph threw two landing passes in his first playoff begin for the Steelers (10-8), however Pittsburgh was too inconsistent on both aspect of the ball to maintain up with Allen and the Payments. The Steelers misplaced their fifth straight playoff sport; the franchise’s most up-to-date postseason victory was precisely seven years in the past.
Rudolph, a longtime backup, took over for the injured Kenny Pickett and ineffective Mitch Trubisky to steer the Steelers to 3 straight wins to shut the common season and was given the playoff begin even after Pickett recovered from an ankle harm.
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The Steelers got here out flat, permitting Buffalo to attain touchdowns on three of its first 5 possessions and construct a 21-0 lead on Allen’s electrifying landing run halfway by the second quarter. However Pittsburgh acquired again into the sport by blocking a area purpose try late within the quarter, resulting in a landing.
Buffalo had a to attend an additional day to host the Steelers after a harmful snowstorm that dumped greater than 2 toes of snow on the area, main the NFL to bump the sport from its scheduled Sunday afternoon begin.
The weather didn’t play a lot of an element. Although temperatures have been within the teenagers, the skies have been clear and there was solely a slight breeze blowing in off Lake Erie.
Rudolph went 22 of 39 for 229 yards with an interception.
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Allen’s 9-yard landing go to Dawson Knox capped an 80-yard opening drive for the Payments.
Buffalo scored once more after linebacker Terrel Bernard recovered receiver George Pickens’ fumble on the Pittsburgh 29. Allen threw a TD go to Dalton Kincaid on the very subsequent play.
Allen’s landing run got here after cornerback Kaiir Elam intercepted Rudolph’s go meant for Diontae Johnson ultimately zone.
The Steelers lastly capitalized on one of many Payments’ few errors of the half, when coach Sean McDermott elected to aim a 49-yard area purpose into the wind with just a little greater than two minutes left.
Montravius Adams blocked Tyler Bass’ low kick. The ball squirted some 20 yards into Payments territory and was recovered by Nick Herbig at Buffalo’s 33. The Steelers scored 5 performs in a while Rudolph’s 10-yard TD go to Johnson.
Pittsburgh finally reduce the result in 24-17 on Rudolph’s 7-yard landing go to Calvin Austin with 10:32 left.
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