Buffalo Bills Experience Historic Loss
The Buffalo Bills were part of an NFL match that will be remembered for its astounding statistics and historic outlier. Despite scoring 44 points against the Los Angeles Rams and maintaining a clean sheet with zero turnovers, the Bills suffered a dramatic 44-42 defeat. This anomaly marked the first occasion in the Super Bowl era where a team scoring 44 points without turnovers ended up on the losing side, breaking Buffalo's long-standing perfect record of 245-0 under such circumstances.
Josh Allen’s Historic Performance
Josh Allen, the formidable leader of the Bills' offense, was the architect behind all six of Buffalo's touchdowns. His remarkable performance consisted of three passing touchdowns and an equal number of rushing touchdowns. This extraordinary feat establishes him as the first player in NFL regular-season history to achieve such a performance. Nevertheless, Allen's heroics weren’t enough to secure a victory, shattering Buffalo’s previous unblemished record of 53-0 when scoring 40 points or more in a game to a disappointing 53-1.
A Game of Records
This face-off between the Bills and the Rams wasn’t just a game; it was the highest-scoring encounter of the 2024 NFL season, with a total of 86 combined points lighting up the scoreboard. Additionally, this matchup contributed to NFL history, being only the second game in which five touchdown passes, five rushing touchdowns, and no turnovers were recorded in tandem.
Elsewhere in the League
In other developments, the Las Vegas Raiders faced their own uphill battle, trailing by at least 10 points in every single game of the season. The Philadelphia Eagles, on the other hand, are flying high with a nine-game winning streak, largely thanks to Saquon Barkley, who set a new single-season rushing record for the Eagles with an impressive 1,623 yards. The Detroit Lions outdo them with an even longer winning streak of 11 games, making them a formidable force in the league.
NFC East and Playoff Implications
The NFC East continues its turnover of power, crowning a new divisional leader for the 20th consecutive year. Unfortunately for the Dallas Cowboys, this meant elimination from the divisional title race, while the playoff drought continues haunting the New York Jets, who haven't tasted postseason action since 2010. This 14-year dry spell is now the longest active streak across major professional sports in the United States.
A Unique Victory and New Milestones
Noteworthy achievements weren't just confined to the Bills-Rams game. The Miami Dolphins secured a "scorigami" — a uniquely scored game that has never occurred before in NFL history — with their 32-26 victory over the Jets. Among individual performances, Aaron Rodgers broke his run of sub-300-yard games by throwing for 339 yards against the Dolphins, marking his first 300-plus yard game since December 2021. Meanwhile, Kirk Cousins is having a rough patch, with eight interceptions and no touchdowns over four games.
The Atlanta Falcons have succumbed to a similar trend, offering up zero passing touchdowns while conceding eight interceptions across four contests. This defensive lapse saw opposing quarterbacks rack up eight touchdowns during that stretch.
Rising Stars
Amid the seasonal turmoil, certain players are shining through. Rookie tight end Brock Bowers has been a revelation, setting a new benchmark with 87 receptions this season. This record is a sterling achievement for rookies in his position, adding an optimistic glimmer to the current NFL landscape.
With these historic events and standout performances, the current NFL season continues to deliver surprises, setting new records while challenging historical trends. Fans and teams alike anticipate what the next chapters of this enthralling season will bring.