Josh Allen threw for 280 yards and rushed for a touchdown Sunday as the visiting Buffalo Bills maintained their big AFC East lead with a 30-20 win over the Indianapolis Colts.
Allen completed 22 of 37 passes and threw two interceptions, but Buffalo (8-2) still outgained Indianapolis 415-361. The Bills won their fifth straight game and led the New York Jets by 4 1/2 games in the division before the Jets played the Arizona Cardinals later Sunday afternoon.
Joe Flacco hit on 26 of 35 passes for 272 yards with two touchdowns for the Colts but also tossed three interceptions. Indianapolis (4-6) was guilty of four turnovers and also permitted four sacks.
However, the game was still close entering the fourth quarter. Buffalo put it away with Tyler Bass’ third field goal, a 28-yarder, with 10:58 left, and James Cook’s 2-yard touchdown run with 3:04 remaining.
Flacco tacked on a 10-yard scoring strike to Alec Pierce with two seconds on the clock.
Jonathan Taylor rushed 21 times for 114 yards for the Colts.
Buffalo’s defense started the scoring less than three minutes into the game on Indianapolis’ first snap. Flacco was intercepted by Taron Johnson and he took it 23 yards for a 7-0 lead.
The Bills made it 10-0 with 5:33 left in the first quarter on Bass’ 29-yard field goal but the Colts finally got something going on their next drive. Matt Gay converted a 27-yarder at the 3:31 mark to cut the deficit to 10-3.
Flacco got Indianapolis into the end zone on its next drive, finishing off a possession of nearly six minutes with a 2-yard touchdown pass to Tyler Goodson that tied the game at 10 with 9:22 left in the second quarter. Gay made a 23-yard field goal less than three minutes later, five plays after E.J. Speed intercepted Allen.
However, Buffalo regained the lead for good on its next drive, going 70 yards in eight plays and finishing it on Allen’s 13-yard run with 2:14 remaining. Bass added a 47-yard field goal as time expired for a 20-13 halftime advantage.