DETROIT -- Josh Allen and winning seem to go together like mashed potatoes and gravy on Thanksgiving Day.
On Thursday, the Buffalo Bills’ franchise QB started in the third Thanksgiving Day game of his young career. Like his previous two starts, Allen came out on the winning side of things. In doing so, Allen made NFL history.
By defeating the Lions 28-25 in the early Thanksgiving Day timeslot, Allen moved to 3-0 on Thanksgiving and became the first quarterback in NFL history to win the three timeslots on the holiday.
Last season, Allen and the Bills defeated the New Orleans Saints 31-6 in the late Thanksgiving Day game timeslot. His Thanksgiving Day debut came in 2019 when he led Buffalo to a 26-15 win over the Dallas Cowboys in the afternoon timeslot.
Allen was far from 100 percent against the Lions on Thursday and it showed, but he came up with big plays when they mattered most late in the game. Trailing in the fourth quarter, Allen was able to lead the team on a 14-play, 90 yard drive to take a 25-22 lead late. He ended that drive with a touchdown strike to Stefon Diggs. After the Lions tied the game with a field goal late, Allen once again worked his magic driving Buffalo into field goal range with just 23 seconds remaining in regulation. He opened that drive with a 36-yard strike to Diggs and followed it up with 12 yards rushing on the next two plays to set up Tyler Bass’ 45-yard field goal.
He finished the game completing 24-of-42 passes for 253 yards with two touchdowns and one interception. He added another 78 yards and one touchdown on 10 carries.
It wasn’t always pretty, but Allen made history by making the biggest plays in the most meaningful spots to help Buffalo move to 8-3 on the season.
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