Bills-Bengals ending, explained: How Josh Allen outlasted Joe Burrow in snowy Game of the Year candidate

Daniel Mader

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Bills-Bengals ending, explained: How Josh Allen outlasted Joe Burrow in snowy Game of the Year candidate image

By now, NFL fans know: A Joe Burrow vs. Josh Allen matchup is one you simply have to tune into. On Sunday, they lived up to the hype, and then some.

In a snowy Highmark Stadium in Week 14, the Cincinnati Bengals visited the Buffalo Bills with Burrow's squad desperately needing to win out for playoff contention, and Allen's squad needing a win to keep up with the Patriots in the AFC East.

It turned into one of the NFL's most entertaining games of the season. The Bills came out on top, 39-34, but not before there were 10 total touchdowns scored between the two sides, a fourth-quarter comeback from Buffalo and a dramatic ending.

Here's how the Bills beat the Bengals in the snow in Week 14 with an exciting finish.

MORE: Updated NFL playoff picture

Bills-Bengals ending, explained

The Bengals, coming in at 4-8, led for a majority of Sunday's game. Burrow was dealing, a shaky Bengals defense was at least slowing down Buffalo, and at halftime, Cincinnati carried a 21-11 advantage.

Allen and the Bills, however, came crawling back. In the third quarter, Buffalo made it a three-point game on a touchdown pass from Allen to Dalton Kincaid. The tight end found some snowy paydirt.

As the third quarter was about to come to an end, the Bills then had a chance to take the lead, on the goal line with upcoming scoring opportunities. But James Cook lost the football, fumbling it away to the Bengals — and Cincinnati went on to score on the following drive.

The Bengals had their path to victory in front of them, as a Mike Gesicki touchdown with under nine minutes remaining gave them a 10-point lead.

That's where the Bills' stampede began, however. First, Allen sent Buffalo fans into a frenzy with a 40-yard dash through the snow, with no Cincinnati defenders in sight as he sprinted to the end zone.

That pulled the Bills within three points.

Still, a long drive, or more points, could have put the Bengals in a solid spot. That wasn't the case. Christian Benford tipped a short-range Burrow pass to Ja'Marr Chase into the air, then intercepted it and had his own wide-open path to the opposite end zone.

With a 67-yard Pick-6, the Bills took the lead.

Burrow didn't seem to learn from that experience — immediately after, the same thing happened, but without the touchdown. He targeted Chase for the first play of the drive, but AJ Epenesa intercepted the pass after another tip at the line.

Buffalo took over with another massive turnover.

The onslaught of big Bills plays continued, as they scored on 4th and goal with around three minutes remaining. Allen found tight end Jackson Hawes for the score.

Cincinnati still managed to keep things close at the end, even with Burrow's interceptions; the quarterback used a quick drive to find Tee Higgins for a gorgeous, one-handed touchdown catch that made it a 39-34 lead for the Bills.

The Bills were able to hold on, despite all the drama. It appeared for a moment that the Bengals would get the ball back, but on a 3rd and 15, Allen had yet another open lane to run through, picking up the first down with his legs.

Buffalo was able to eat the rest of the clock thanks to the Bengals' defensive miscue, and Burrow didn't get a chance to play for the win after his late interceptions. With the win, Buffalo improved to 9-4 and continued to lurk behind New England in its division, while Cincinnati dropped to 4-9 and now virtually has no path to the playoffs. 

MORE: Updated Bengals playoff outlook after Week 14 loss

Josh Allen stats today

  • Completions/Attempts:  22/28 (75.9%)
  • Passing Yards:  251
  • AVG:  9.0
  • Passing TDs:  3
  • Interceptions:  0
  • Rating:  139.7
  • Rushing Yards:  78
  • Rushing TDs:  1

The reigning NFL MVP had an MVP-like performance in Buffalo's comeback, putting up four total touchdowns, no turnovers and 78 yards on the ground in Week 14.

Allen's passer rating of 139.7 was his best of the 2025 season so far — he had just six incompletions against the Bengals.

Josh Allen 2025 stats

Here's a look at Allen's updated numbers this season after his elite performance in Week 14.

Completions-AttemptsComp. %Passing YardsAVGPassing TDsINTsRatingRushing YardsRushing TDs
265-37870.1%3,0838.22210102.948712

MORE: Updated Bills playoff outlook after Week 14 win

Joe Burrow stats today

  • Completions/Attempts:  25/36 (69.4%)
  • Passing Yards:  284
  • AVG:  7.9
  • Passing TDs:  4
  • Interceptions:  2
  • Rating:  106.7
  • Rushing Yards:  0
  • Rushing TDs:  0

Burrow's interceptions, both of which came on tipped passes at the line of scrimmage, masked what was otherwise an excellent day throwing the football. He tossed four touchdown passes between Chase Brown, Mike Gesicki and Tee Higgins (2), cruising against Buffalo's defense in a must-win game for the Bengals.

Ultimately though, those picks were a huge swing in the result. The Bills took advantage of both for touchdowns, which led to the Bengals' ninth loss of 2025.

MORE: The latest on Daniel Jones' Achilles injury for Colts

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