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Game Recap

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Bills 39, Bengals 34 | Final score, game recap + highlights

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Location: Highmark Stadium

Final score: Bills 39 Bengals 34

Records: Bills (9-4), Bengals (4-9)

Next opponent: Bills at Patriots Sunday, Dec. 14 at 1:00 p.m. EST

The Bills flipped the script on the Bengals on Sunday after Cincinnati kept at least a three-point lead over Buffalo through the first three and a half quarters of play. The Bills came out on top, 39-34, thanks to critical defensive performances late in the game.

Game Recap

Cornerback Christian Benford came off an AFC Defensive Player of the Week performance in Week 13 and kept the energy going from Pittsburgh to Highmark Stadium.

In the fourth quarter with Cincinnati prepared to tally another touchdown on the board, Benford made a crucial play for Buffalo. In front of quarterback Joe Burrow, Benford jumped up and intercepted the pass. Burrow attempted to get Benford down immediately after the interception by his ankles, but Benford escaped and was off to the races. This gave the Bills their first lead of the game with under six minutes left of the fourth quarter, 32-28.

Cincinnati's offense was kicked off the field immediately once returning. Defensive tackle Jordan Phillips batted Burrow's pass down. With the ball deflected, still in the air, defensive end A.J. Epenesa put up the defense's second consecutive interception of the game.

The Bills' "find a way to win" mentality on offense could not have been more evident on Sunday. The run game was slow to spark, but offensive coordinator Joe Brady didn't want his team relying on just one thing to drive down the field.

After Epenesa's interception, quarterback Josh Allen connected with tight end Dawson Knox for 31 yards. With the Bills in the red zone at the eight-yard-line, Allen attempted finding Knox again. Though he made the catch, Knox's right foot didn't touch the ground before he was out of bounds.

That didn't stop Buffalo from going for the full six points on fourth-and-goal, however. This time, it was a different tight end getting in the mix: Jackson Hawes. The three-yard score made it an 11-point game, turning the tables on the Bengals.

Down 14-3 in the second quarter, Allen was tested on a fourth-and-four at the Cincinnati 11-yard-line. Running away from defenders, Allen frantically looked for options. Wide receiver Khalil Shakir found a way to get in the end zone as time was running out for Allen. Backing into the end zone, Allen got the ball out just in time with it barely whiffing past linebacker Demetrius Knight Jr. and into Shakir's hands.

Defensive end Joseph Ossai hit Allen, bringing him to the ground late after the pass. Buffalo elected to take advantage of the roughing the passer penalty to go for a two-point conversion. Similar to the Shakir touchdown, Allen and his pass catchers had to maneuver their way around to buy time and get open. Knox pushed off his man and created enough space for Allen to comfortably get the ball out and into the end zone. The additional two points put the Bills a field goal away from tying the score.

The pass game also helped extend the touchdown-scoring drive. At the Bengals 45-yard-line on another fourth-and-four, Buffalo's offense opted to stay out on the field. Allen found his tried-and-true wide receiver Gabe Davis. Escaping Cincinnati's defenders, Allen targeted Davis who moved with his quarterback toward the left. Before stepping out of bounds, he hauled in the pass and picked up 13 yards.

Tight end Dalton Kincaid had his first game back from injury since playing in Miami. With the run game picking up in the second half, catalyzed by running back James Cook III, the Bills got themselves to the Bengals nine-yard-line. Cook took his carry along the left sideline and looked like he could go all the way into the end zone, but was pushed out of bounds. After a four-yard rush from Cook on the following play, Allen connected with Kincaid and cut Buffalo's deficit down to three.

Allen started off Buffalo's first drive of the game on a high note, juicing up the pass game with a completion to Knox. As Cook ran right, bringing the defensive line in front with him, Allen targeted a wide-open Knox on his left side. Knox caught the pass and extended the play before the Bengals tackled him at their 45-yard-line. The 32-yard completion immediately established the pass game.

Buffalo was one slip away from tying the game on its opening drive. Following Knox's completion, running back Ty Johnson had a clear route into the end zone. Looking like a 7-7 tie was in the Bills' future, the snow got the best of Johnson, and he slipped at the Bengals 13-yard-line after a 23-yard gain. Unable to pick up another first down, Buffalo settled for a field goal, getting its first points on the board.

Take a look through the best game photos from the Bills vs. Bengals on Dec. 7 at Highmark Stadium. This gallery is presented by Gabe's Collision.

The Bills' defense kept it a two-possession game at the end of the half after Burrow and the Cincinnati offense drove down the field three times, each for a touchdown.

Cornerback Maxwell Hairston broke up a pass intended for wide receiver Tee Higgins, making up for the defensive holding penalty and 12-yard completion on the two previous plays Buffalo allowed. Benford was left uncovered by the Bengals' offensive line and had a straight shot at Burrow on second down. He sacked Burrow for a loss of seven yards. Looking for Higgins again, the wide receiver separated from Benford but couldn't reach high enough to make the catch. He crashed down onto the field and Cincinnati's punt unit came out, leaving the Bills within 10 points.

That defensive energy continued through the second half. After Kincaid's touchdown, Buffalo forced a three-and-out, putting Allen and his offense back onto the field.

However, the Bills couldn't capitalize on it. Cook had two legit attempts to cross the plane. On the first, he got himself on the outside, rushing 24 yards and barely getting the ball past the pylon on his way out of bounds. An offensive holding penalty called the play back. The defense drawing an illegal use of hands to the face penalty assisted Buffalo in getting back into the end zone and put the offense at the 18-yard-line.

Wide receiver Keon Coleman had his chance to score from the 10-yard-line on third-and-three. Coleman made the catch and dove forward as far as possible but was two yards shy of the end zone. Falling back on Cook, Allen handed the ball off to his running back. Before securing the touchdown, cornerback DJ Turner II forced a fumble, and the Bills couldn't jump on it quick enough. Linebacker Oren Burks recovered the ball, leaving Buffalo scoreless on the drive and giving Cincinnati an opportunity.

Burrow made the most of what the Bengals' defense gave him, taking just over seven minutes off the clock and driving 80 yards down the field. From the Buffalo 34-yard-line, Burrow connected with Higgins in open space. Two plays after the 18-yard completion, Burrow found tight end Mike Gesicki, finishing off the drive with a 12-yard touchdown.

Allen responded quickly.

From the Bills 32-yard-line, Allen got the ball out to wide receiver Tyrell Shavers for 16 yards. Keeping the momentum going, Allen connected with Kincaid again for 12 yards, putting Buffalo in Bengals territory. After an incomplete pass to Kincaid that was nearly intercepted, Allen used the open field ahead of him on second-and-10 and ran it in himself for a 40-yard rushing touchdown.

Burrow had an opportunity to get Cincinnati back within three points. Trying a two-point conversion, like the Bills did on their first touchdown drive, Burrow didn't have any open options. Scrambling himself and dropping the ball, a fumble recovery by Epenesa was the initial ruling. Upon further review, it was ruled a sack and the Bengals' kickoff put Buffalo's offense back on the field.

Cincinnati remained in a five-point deficit to end the game as Allen scrambled for 17 yards on third-and-15, allowing the offense to run out the rest of the clock.

Scroll through the best fan photos from the  Buffalo Bills vs. Cincinnati Bengals matchup at Highmark Stadium. This gallery is presented by SnapDragon Apples.

Key Stats and Facts

  • Bills beat a Joe Burrow-led team for first time in history.
  • Bills are 24-4 in December and January regular season games since 2020.

Scoring Plays

First Quarter

BUF 0, CIN 7 – C. Brown left guard for 5 yards, TOUCHDOWN. E. McPherson extra point is GOOD.

BUF 3, CIN 7 – M. Prater 26-yard field goal is GOOD.

Second Quarter

BUF 3, CIN 14 – J. Burrow pass deep right to T .Higgins for 21 yards, TOUCHDOWN. E. McPherson extra point is GOOD.

BUF 11, CIN 14 – J. Allen pass short right to K. Shakir for 11 yards, TOUCHDOWN. TWO-POINT CONVERSION ATTEMPT. J. Allen pass to D. Knox is complete. ATTEMPT SUCCEEDS.

BUF 11, CIN 21 – J. Burrow pass short right to C. Brown for 10 yards, TOUCHDOWN. E. McPherson extra point is GOOD.

Third Quarter

BUF 18, CIN 21 – J. Allen pass short right to D. Kincaid for 5 yards, TOUCHDOWN. M. Prater extra point is GOOD.

Fourth Quarter

BUF 18, CIN 28 – J. Burrow pass short left to M. Gesicki for 12 yards, TOUCHDOWN. E. McPherson extra point is GOOD.

BUF 25, CIN 28 – J. Allen scrambles left tackle for 40 yards, TOUCHDOWN. M. Prater extra point is GOOD.

BUF 32, CIN 28 – J. Burrow pass short right intended for J. Chase INTERCEPTED by C. Benford at BUF 37. C. Benford for 63 yards, TOUCHDOWN. M. Prater extra point is GOOD.

BUF 39, CIN 28 – J. Allen pass short middle to J. Hawes for 3 yards, TOUCHDOWN. M. Prater extra point is GOOD.

BUF 39, CIN 34 – J. Burrow pass deep right to T. Higgins for 25 yards, TOUCHDOWN. TWO-POINT CONVERSION ATTEMPT. J. Burrow rushes up the middle. ATTEMPT FAILS.

FINAL

Milestone Watch

  • Sean McDermott wins 95th career regular season game, third-most in NFL history through a coach's first nine seasons.
  • Bills tie team record for most 40-yard rushing touchdowns in one season.
  • Josh Allen becomes first NFL quarterback to throw 20 passing touchdowns and rush for 10 touchdowns in three consecutive seasons.
  • Josh Allen is tied for the NFL lead with 15 pass touchdowns on 4th down since 2020.
  • James Cook III surpasses 5,000 scrimmage yards all-time and is the fourth-fastest Bills player to do so.
  • James Cook III produces most rushing yards by a Bills player in one season since Travis Henry in 2003.
  • Jackson Hawes becomes third Bills rookie tight end with three or more touchdown receptions.

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