Chicago, Ill. (WGR 550) - The Buffalo Bills averted, yet, another snow storm to take on the Chicago Bears on Saturday afternoon at Soldier Field. Buffalo used the running game and a strong defensive performance to earn a sixth win in-a-row, 35-13, and in the process, win their third-straight AFC East title.
The Chicago Bears received the opening kickoff and got their offense cooking early.
Quarterback Justin Fields marched the offense down the field quickly in just eight plays. While the Bills defense briefly stopped the Bears on the goal line, Fields found wide receiver Dante Pettis for the game's opening touchdown.
The Bills offense took a few plays to get going on their next drive, but quarterback Josh Allen led the way for the team. Allen and running back James Cook got things going on the ground game with a combined 34 yards rushing.
Allen then found wide receiver Gabe Davis with a 19-yard touchdown pass to get Buffalo on the board. However, kicker Tyler Bass missed the extra point attempt, as his kick his a gust of wind a blew wide-right.
After four changes of possession, the Bears offense got rolling again. The Bills defense almost caused a turnover on downs, however running back David Montgomery was able to convert on fourth down.
Buffalo's defense, though, was able to force another fourth down just three plays later, forcing kicker Cairo Santos to make a 37-yard field goal to give Chicago a 10-6 lead.
The Bills had one last chance before the end of the half to put points on the board, driving down the field through the two-minute warning. After the offense came up short of the end zone, Bass was called upon to attempt a 38-yard field goal to make it a 10-9 game. However, he missed his second kick of the day, as his kick missed, again, wide-right.
The Bills offense got the ball to start the second half with a lot of work to do and wasted no time.
After not connecting once in the first half, Allen was able to find wide receiver Stefon Diggs on an important 15-yard play.
It was running back Devin Singletary that came up big on the first drive of the second half, as he scampered 33 yards to put the Bills up with a touchdown run. The Bills elected to go for a two-point conversion and succeeded when Allen connected with rookie wide receiver Khalil Shakir.
The Bears got the ball for the first time in the half, but only had four plays before cornerback Dane Jackson forced a fumble that was recovered by defensive tackle Tim Settle recovered a fumble.
With great field position to work with, Cook became the focus of the drive, where he was able to put up a couple of solid runs, including a 27-yarder for a touchdown. After the Bills were flagged for an illegal shift on an attempted two-point conversion, Bass was able to step in and make the extra point attempt.
Following the last touchdown, the two teams changed possession six times that included a Bills fumble from Davis, a Bears turnover on downs, and another interception from Allen.
While the Bears weren't able to score a touchdown after Allen's second interception of the day in Chicago territory, Santos was able to cut the deficit to 21-13 with a 35-yard field goal.
Following a punt from each team, the Bills offense ticked a good chunk of time off the clock with an eight-play drive that lasted 3:36. Allen and Singletary led the way on this drive, as the two combined for 47 rushing yards. In the end, Allen capped it all off with a four-yard touchdown run.
In a last ditch effort, the Bears attempted to convert on a 4th-and-long, but failed.
The Bills didn't give up offensively, though, as they moved the ball 20 yards down the field in only four plays. The final play of the drive came with a 13-yard laser from Allen to tight end Dawson Knox for a touchdown.
As time ticked away, with no timeouts left, the Bears attempted one final "Hail Mary" play with quarterback Nathan Peterman under center. The pass was intercepted by safety Jaquan Johnson to seal the Bills victory, and the rights to the AFC East for the third year in-a-row.
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GAME SUMMARY
First Quarter:
- 7-0 CHICAGO: Bears touchdown (9:41) - Justin Fields tosses a six-yard touchdown pass to Dante Pettis. (Cairo Santos' extra point attempt is good)
Drive info: 8 plays, 64 yards, 5:19
- 7-6 CHICAGO: Bills touchdown (6:22) - Josh Allen throws a 19-yard touchdown pass to Gabe Davis. (Tyler Bass' extra point attempt is missed wide-right)
Drive info: 6 plays, 71 yards, 3:19
Second Quarter:
- 10-6 CHICAGO: Bears field goal (3:21) - Cairo Santos' 37-yard field goal attempt is good.
Drive info: 8 plays, 19 yards, 4:32
Third Quarter:
- 14-10 BUFFALO: Bills touchdown (10:51) - Devin Singletary explodes for a 33-yard touchdown run. (Buffalo's two-point conversion attempt is successful)
Drive info: 8 plays, 86 yards, 4:09
- 21-10 BUFFALO: Bills touchdown (7:57) - James Cook rushes 27 yards for a touchdown. (Tyler Bass' extra point attempt is good)
Drive info: 3 plays, 35 yards, 0:47
Fourth Quarter:
- 21-13 BUFFALO: Bears field goal (10:19) - Cairo Santos' 35-yard field goal attempt is good.
Drive info: 4 plays, 1 yard, 1:54
- 28-13 BUFFALO: Bills touchdown (3:45) - Josh Allen rushes four yards for a touchdown. (Tyler Bass' extra point attempt is good)
Drive info: 4 plays, 20 yards, 1:06
- 35-13 BUFFALO: Bills touchdown (1:02) - Josh Allen tosses a 13-yard touchdown pass to Dawson Knox. (Tyler Bass' extra point attempt is good)
Drive info: 4 plays, 20 yards, 1:06
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SKYWORKS EQUIPMENT RENTAL STATS OF THE GAME
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What's next?
The Bills will stay on the road, where they will travel to Cincinnati to take on the 11-4 Bengals on "Monday Night Football". Kickoff from Paycor Stadium is scheduled for 8:30 p.m. EST on the official voice of the Bills - WGR Sports Radio 550.
