Top 3 Things We Learned

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The top 3 things we learned from Bills vs. Bucs | Week 11

Nov 16, 2025 at 09:39 PM

Alec White

Content Manager

The top three things we learned about the Buffalo Bills (7-3) from their 44-32 win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (6-4) in Week 11 at Highmark Stadium.

1 — Josh Allen sets records as Bills shake up WR rotation

"He will not be denied."

Those words from head coach Sean McDermott perfectly sum up the day QB Josh Allen had at the office Sunday. Allen stacked together a six-touchdown performance, three through the air and three on the ground, a jaw-dropping statistical mark made even more impressive by Allen's ability to brush off two early interceptions.

"After the first quarter, it was really fun," Allen said. "Early on I was just probably riding the wave a little too much. And just taking it one play at a time, understanding what Joe's calling and again, just trying to execute the play being called."

The Bills came out on offense with a new look to their wide receiver rotation, utilizing WR Gabe Davis from the practice squad and WR Mecole Hardman Jr., as well as getting WR Joshua Palmer back after missing the last three games.

Due to a coaching decision for missing a team meeting, WR Keon Coleman was inactive, leading the team to find solutions in their passing attack elsewhere.

Outside of a chest pass gone wrong on a blitz and a tipped ball turnover in the first half, Allen had a spectacular outing, leading the Bills to scoring drives on the other seven possessions before the two-minute warning of the fourth quarter.

"I got into a rhythm and felt like I was seeing what they were doing," Allen explained. "Getting the ball out a little bit quicker and putting it into some space. And guys were making some plays."

Allen gashed the Bucs through the air, throwing for 134 yards and two touchdowns on attempts over 15 yards. The QB racked up completions of 43 yards (TD), 25 yards (TD), 23 yards, 22 yards and 21 yards when attacking deep.

Allen's other passing TD came as the Bucs tried to speed the QB up as they did earlier in the game on a blitz. This time, the offense was ready and countered with a swing pass to the left side to RB Ty Johnson who took it to the house for 52-yard TD, the longest play of Johnson's career to put Buffalo up 21-17.

"When you bring a lot of different blitzes from all over the field, you don't need to attack downfield as much as you think as you saw with Ty Johnson," Allen detailed. "It's a swing route that he takes 50 yards. That's the opportunity you have when teams blitz like that. So all we're trying to do is get them out of doing that."

Related Links

NFL players with 3 pass TDs of 25+ yards in a game: 182

NFL players with 3 rush TDs in a game: 357

NFL players to do both in the same game: 1 (Josh Allen today) pic.twitter.com/jdETlIlNqY
— Buffalo Bills (@BuffaloBills) November 17, 2025

The inclusion of Cook and Johnson in the receiving game was an element that had been missing at times this season. The pair combined for 127 yards on just five catches, the most combined receiving yards by Bills RBs this season. That position group combined for 186 receiving yards in the nine games prior.

"Ty Johnson down the sideline, just out-running people. And then Jimbo making a heckuva catch for that touchdown later too," Allen said of the running backs.

The Bills set season-highs with eight pass plays that gained 20 or more yards and scored 44 points. Allen generated 0.39 expected points added (EPA) per drop back, his highest in a single game this season and his highest since Week 15 against the Lions (0.54).

The reigning MVP was at his best when the Bills needed him to be. Trailing 26-21 in the second half, Allen guided the Bills on four-straight scoring drives, scoring twice on the ground and the other going to James Cook on a 25-yard pass.

Naturally, Allen's barrage of touchdowns helped him become the first player in NFL history with multiple performances with three passing touchdowns and three rushing touchdowns in a game.

"That's the type of competitor, type of person, type of teammate that he is," McDermott said.

2 — Unlikely heroes — both young and old — lift up Buffalo

With the healthy scratches of both WR Keon Coleman and WR Elijah Moore the Bills needed other receivers on the team to step up Sunday. That call was answered in dramatic fashion by WR Tyrell Shavers who led the Bills with 90 receiving yards.

Shavers made one of the biggest impact plays of the day, beating the Tampa Bay secondary and hauling in a diving 43-yard touchdown in the second quarter.

"It's amazing, it's what you work for," Shavers said. "I knew the opportunities would come, it's just a matter of when."

Allen shared how the play unfolded.

"We checked out into a zone concept, they ran a zone, and I should have probably thrown it to the back or Gabe. I went one to two and they were both open. I should've thrown it, but I didn't," Allen admitted before adding, "and then Shaves did a fantastic job of just turning up the sideline and making a heck of a catch."

JOSH ALLEN LAUNCHES DEEP.

TBvsBUF on CBS/Paramount+https://t.co/HkKw7uXVnt pic.twitter.com/86IVuSfdcv
— NFL (@NFL) November 16, 2025

Shavers, a 2023 undrafted free agent, has had a memorable journey in his professional career, making the 53-man roster for the first time in 2025.

"It's so freaking cool," Allen said of Shavers' journey. "The guy just continues to work extremely hard. He's never once complained. Working from the practice squad to now making legit plays in the NFL."

Shavers complimented his quarterback's confidence and resiliency after a tough start.

"That's a part of being great, is to overcome your mistakes. And whenever you mess up, it's how you bounce back your mistakes, it's how you respond to it that makes you better, makes you great — that's what he is.

Late in the game, the Bills defense created their first takeaway with a strip sack of Bucs QB Baker Mayfield by veteran DT DaQuan Jones. At 33 years old, Jones is the second-oldest player on the defense but still making impact plays.

The takeaway came right after the two-minute warning in the fourth quarter. with the Bills holding a 44-32 lead, and it secured the team's fifth home win of the season. Since 2022, Buffalo is 26-3 at home, the best winning percentage in the NFL at home during that span.

3 — Returners set the tone with positive field position

Inserting WR Mecole Hardman Jr. to the kick return team provided an immediate jolt to Buffalo's special teams unit as his first return went for 61 yards out of the gate to set the offense up in good field position. Allen got the Bills on the board with a two-yard TD run following the setup.

Positive field position for Buffalo was a huge part of Sunday's win. Buffalo had drives start from the Tampa Bay 36-yard line, 44-yard line and the Buffalo 49 and 44 yard line.

"It's such a spark. I'm proud of how they returned today. That's huge for an offense to win the field position like that," Allen said.

Second-year RB Ray Davis also handled kick return duties, taking the kick four times for an average of 39.5 yards per return.

The Bills recorded 292 total kick return yards on the day, the fifth-most in a game in team history.