Josh Allen catches first career touchdown pass to give Buffalo Bills lead
HOUSTON -- Two plays silenced any concerns about the Bills' possible playoff jitters in Saturday's wild-card matchup with the Houston Texans.
In his first playoff start, quarterback Josh Allen broke off a 42-yard gain on a designed quarterback run to put Buffalo in the red zone; after faking a jet sweep to receiver Isaiah McKenzie, Allen kept the ball himself with three Bills linemen lead blocking. The run marked the second-longest of his career.
Two plays later, Allen faked a handoff to running back Frank Gore before tossing it to receiver John Brown for what appeared to be a reverse. Instead, Brown lofted the ball back to a wide open Allen, who trotted into the end zone for his first career reception.
It was Brown's second-career pass attempt -- and second career passing touchdown. Allen finished the drive with 11 passing yards, 42 rushing yards and 16 receiving yards; excluding Taysom Hill, Allen is the first quarterback to record a receiving touchdown in the playoffs since Nick Foles, according to ESPN Stats & Information.
Allen is the first quarterback with 10 rushing yards, 10 receiving yards and 10 passing yards in a playoff game since John Elway in Super Bowl XXII against the Redskins.
