Bills clinch AFC East, eager to 'play free' while chasing 1-seed

ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. -- Just as the game between the Buffalo Bills and San Francisco 49ers was set to kick off, snow descended on the stadium. The amount of snow -- which continued throughout the night -- was unexpected after a storm hit the region over the weekend.

The game ended with Bills coach Sean McDermott challenging his quarterback Josh Allen to do snow angels on the field with him -- after McDermott promised tight end Zach Davidson at halftime he would if Buffalo won -- as the team celebrated the victory and with it a fifth straight AFC East title.

The conditions served as a picturesque white background as the Bills beat the 49ers 35-10 on "Sunday Night Football" to continue a seven-game winning streak, improve to 10-2 and become the second team this week to punch their ticket to the postseason, following the Kansas City Chiefs. 

Along the way, the Bills set a variety of records, including becoming the seventh team since 1980 to clinch a division title with five games remaining in a season. They are the fourth team to do so since division realignment in 2002 -- the previous three lost in the Super Bowl -- but the only one to have three or more division games still to play.

With the division checked off, however, the Bills' sights are already on goals still to be reached, including the No. 1 seed in the AFC. They currently sit a game back of the Chiefs (11-1).

"This one feels a little bit different, this early in the season ... so, the cool thing about it, get to go out there, and we get to play free," Allen said. "There's really no repercussions for what we're doing, but at the same time, we're chasing the 1-seed. We understand that. We know that and we've got to keep getting better each and every week.

"But it's going to be fun to go out there and play free and play relaxed and play loose. I think that could be a dangerous team."

Buffalo has made the postseason in seven of the eight years McDermott and general manager Brandon Beane have led the Bills. Only once has the team reached the AFC Championship Game (2020), and never in that stretch have the Bills been the No. 1 seed.

"It's probably the next goal for us is to position ourselves the best we can," McDermott said. "We control a piece of that and then some of that we don't. So, it's really about our level of play every week, getting to the level it needs to be, and that usually puts you in a good spot one way or the other."

Buffalo is 6-0 at home this season -- accentuating the goal of the No. 1 seed -- the first time the Bills have started 6-0 at home since 1991, when they reached the Super Bowl.

Clinching the division came as the Bills defied many outside expectations. The Jets (3-9) entered the season as the favorites to win the AFC East (+160 at ESPN BET), slightly ahead of the Bills (+185).

"It's like a participation trophy. OK, like now we [are] participating in something bigger, but it don't really mean nothing," cornerback Rasul Douglas said. "You want some hardware, something that you can keep forever ... the whole trophy or ring or something that you can be remembered forever with."

The Bills' offense showcased against the 49ers why it has been able to put up 30-plus points in six straight games. After a three-and-out on Buffalo's first drive of the game and the 49ers kicking a field goal on their opening offensive possession, the Bills scored unanswered touchdowns on three straight possessions.

The effort was led by Allen, who became the first quarterback in NFL history with a passing, rushing and receiving touchdown in a single game. Allen finished 13-of-17 passing for 148 yards and two touchdowns and had three rushes for 18 yards and the score.

Some of that scoring production came on a unique play with wide receiver Amari Cooper with 6:05 remaining in the third quarter. On first-and-goal from the 49ers' 7-yard line, Allen passed to Cooper for what would have been a loss of 2 yards, but as defenders got to Cooper, he saw Allen directly behind him and lateraled the ball to the quarterback.

"I was wondering what he was doing over there," Cooper said. "That doesn't usually happen when you throw a dart route like that. I just saw him. I figured he was over there because he wanted the ball, so I gave it to him."

Allen then ran past defenders and leaped into the end zone to give the Bills a 28-3 lead. He was credited for a passing touchdown and a receiving touchdown on the play, but not a reception as it was a lateral.

"I wish [Cooper] got credited for something there, an assist or a passing touchdown. But, again, I kind of threw a bad ball, "Allen said. "So, I was just kind of chasing it. He made a heck of a catch. I threw it, it was just kind of sticky hand and I just kind of chased the ball just to be there. And we made eye contact, and he just pitched it, and I had to go make a play. It was dope."

The Bills were able to solidify the win with three second-half fumble recoveries and by limiting the 49ers to 239 net yards in outside linebacker  Matt Milano's return to the field. Milano played 76.6% of the defensive snaps, per Next Gen Stats, in his first game since October 8, 2023.

Milano is one of three players, along with left tackle Dion Dawkins and long snapper Reid Ferguson, who have been with the team for all eight seasons under McDermott and Beane.

"When I came into the league, it was the  Patriots," Dawkins said. "They were doing it every single year, and now it's us and it's beautiful. Being on this side, I enjoy it. ... Everything is the right amount of right for this thing to coast the way it's supposed to."