Josh Allen sets NFL record for most quarterback rushing TDs

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Josh Allen set an NFL record for rushing touchdowns by a quarterback Sunday in Pittsburgh, while also helping keep the Buffalo Bills in an AFC wild-card playoff spot.

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The 29-year-old pivot from Firebaugh, Calif., broke a tie with former Carolina Panthers and New England Patriots star Cam Newton when he rushed to the right for an eight-yard score in the fourth quarter as the Bills beat the host Steelers 26-7 at Acrisure Stadium.

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Allen’s 76th career rushing touchdown also tied him for 25th overall among all players in NFL history as he now shares that spot with former Cincinnati Bengals running back Pete Johnson.

“It’s not why I play the game,” Allen said during a post-game news conference when he was asked about the record, crediting his offensive line for pushing him in for the score after getting stood up short of the goal-line by the Steelers defence.

“I’m just happy to help the team get a victory tonight.”

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Big game for Bills’ rushing attack

It was Allen’s 11th rushing touchdown of the season – tied for second in the league with the Green Bay Packers’ Josh Jacobs — after he put up a career-high 15 rushing TDs in 2023 and another 12 last season.

Allen also threw for a touchdown, the 214th of his career, moving him into a tie for 43th all-time with former San Francisco 49ers pivot John Brodie.

Buffalo (8-4) bounced back from a loss at Houston by whipping Pittsburgh (6-6) up front. James Cook also ran for 144 yards as the Bills piled up 249 yards on the ground and controlled the clock for nearly 42 minutes inside a blustery Acrisure Stadium.

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The swirling winds at one of the league’s trickiest venues made passing difficult. Allen completed 15 of 23 for 123 yards with an interception and three-yard scoring toss to Keon Coleman, who returned to the active roster after being a healthy scratch the last two weeks due to disciplinary issues.

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Missing both starting offensive tackles and facing one of the league’s best pass rushes, the Bills kept it simple. They repeatedly attacked Pittsburgh’s leaky run defence and whenever Buffalo appeared on the verge of sputtering, Allen extended drives with his legs.

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Rodgers aggravates injury during costly fumble

Things didn’t go quite as smoothly for Pittsburgh. Aaron Rodgers, playing with a brace protecting a broken left wrist, was largely ineffective and missed a chunk of one drive early in the second half after getting drilled by Joey Bosa on the first play of the third quarter.

Rodgers fumbled on the play and Christian Benford picked up the loose ball and sprinted to the end zone to turn a 7-3 halftime deficit into a 10-7 lead. The 41-year-old quarterback left the field with a bloody nose.

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Mason Rudolph filled in for Rodgers for a series and threw an interception that ended up in Benford’s hands. Buffalo marched 56 yards on eight plays and Allen’s fourth-down flip to Coleman gave the Bills firm control.

Rodgers returned but finished 10 of 21 for 117 yards as the Steelers lost for the fifth time in seven games while being booed frequently.

Despite the swoon, Pittsburgh remains in a tie with Baltimore for the AFC North lead. The rivals meet twice over the final five weeks.

Meanwhile, Buffalo’s hopes of catching AFC East-leading New England (10-2) remain alive with the Patriots hosting the New York Giants (2-10) on Monday night.

— With files from The Associated Press.

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