Allen's four TD passes lead Bills past Patriots

[December 29, 2020]  Josh Allen threw three of his four touchdown passes to Stefon Diggs as the playoff-bound Buffalo Bills routed the New England Patriots 38-9 on Monday in Foxborough, Mass.

Allen, who completed 27 of 36 passes for 320 yards, found Diggs for an 8-yard score early in the fourth quarter to set a franchise record with his 34th passing touchdown of the season. The total surpassed the mark set by Pro Football Hall of Famer Jim Kelly in 1991.

Diggs had nine receptions for 145 yards for the Bills (12-3), who currently hold the second seed in the AFC by virtue of their 26-15 victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers (12-3) on Dec. 13. Buffalo can clinch the No. 2 seed with a win over visiting Miami on Sunday or a Pittsburgh loss at Cleveland.

Tight end Lee Smith had a touchdown reception and rookie Zack Moss added a scoring run as the Bills completed a season sweep of the Patriots (6-9) for the first time since 1999. Moss rushed for a pair of touchdowns in Buffalo's 24-21 home win over New England on Nov. 1.

Cam Newton recorded his 12th rushing touchdown of the season early in the second quarter to tie Steve Grogan (1976) for the Patriots' single-season mark among quarterbacks.

Newton completed 5 of 10 passes for 34 yards before being pulled early in the third quarter in favor of Jarrett Stidham, who went 4 of 11 for 44 yards.

Nick Folk missed the extra-point attempt following Newton's 9-yard touchdown to keep Buffalo's lead at 10-9 before Allen started his scoring frenzy.

Buffalo Bills running back Zack Moss (20) runs the ball for a touchdown against the New England Patriots in the half quarter at Gillette Stadium. Mandatory Credit: David Butler II-USA TODAY Sports

Allen tossed a 4-yard touchdown pass to Smith, then used play action to find Diggs, who scored from 50 yards out to stake the Bills to a 24-9 lead late in the first half.

Allen and Diggs certainly weren't done, as the wide receiver split a pair of defenders for an 18-yard touchdown early in the third quarter. The duo capped the scoring in the fourth, with Diggs tying his career high for receiving touchdowns in a game, a mark he initially set against the Philadelphia Eagles on Oct. 13, 2019.

--Field Level Media

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