Bills quarterback Josh Allen has been named the AFC Offensive Player of the Week after leading the Bills to a 48-42 victory over the Detroit Lions, who are leading the NFC, on Sunday afternoon.
This marks Allen’s third Offensive Player of the Week award this season, bringing his career total to 14.
Allen and the Bills ended the Lions’ 11-game winning streak. He threw for 362 yards and 2 touchdowns, while also rushing for 68 yards and 2 more touchdowns.
“The mindset we had this week was win every play,” Allen said. “Whatever the play was, find a way to execute it at the highest level. We were just focused on the next one and guys made really good plays in there.”
He also became the first player in NFL history to record multiple passing touchdowns, multiple rushing touchdowns, 350+ passing yards, and 60+ rushing yards in the same game (including playoffs).
Allen added to his record-breaking performance by becoming the first player in NFL history with at least two touchdown passes and two rushing touchdowns in consecutive games. He is also the first player ever to have three such games in a season.
He tied Patrick Mahomes (74 wins) for the second-most regular-season wins by a quarterback in his first seven seasons in NFL history.
With his two rushing touchdowns, Allen raised his career rushing touchdown total to 64, now just one behind Thurman Thomas (65) for the most rushing touchdowns in team history.
The Bills were ahead by two scores at halftime and began the second half with a touchdown drive, extending their lead to three scores.
“We felt like that was one of the ways to beat these guys is you’ve got to score points, that’s what our mindset was,” Allen said. “If we had to score 21 to win, we would’ve tried to score 21. But we’re going out there each and every drive… Our guys did a good job of winning the play today.”
As the game neared its end and the Lions closed the gap to within 10 points, Allen made important plays with both his arm and his legs to keep the clock moving.
“He’s as special as they come,” offensive coordinator Joe Brady said. “With Josh Allen playing quarterback, he does things that the game doesn’t see… Calling plays for a guy like Josh… he’s locked in.
He gets the game. He’s prepared… He understands that the only thing he cares about is finding ways to win football games. I think our team kind of embodies that as well because of him.”