PITTSBURGH — For the second time in three years, thew Bills are going to the playoffs.
Josh Allen's 14-yard touchdown pass to tight end Tyler Kroft with less than eight minutes to play stood as the game-winner for Buffalo, which held on for a 17-10 victory against the Steelers.
In a game that featured two of the NFL's best defenses, the Bills' prized first-round quarterback largely avoided big mistakes.
The same couldn't be said for Devlin Hodges, the undrafted rookie free agent who has become a fan favorite as the Steelers had won seven of their previous eight games. He completed 23 of 38 passes for 202 yards, including an 11-yard touchdown pass to James Conner that gave Pittsburgh its first lead.
But Hodges also threw four interceptions. Tre'Davious White had the first two. The last two came from Jordan Poyer and Levi Wallace in the fourth quarter, on the Steelers' final drives of the game, resulting in touchbacks to thwart possible game-tying drives.
It's the Bills first 10-win season since 1999, and they will be no worse than a 5 seed when the AFC playoffs begin next month.
Allen completed 13 of 25 passes for 139 yards, which included the game-winning score and one interception. He also ran for a 1-yard score that gave Buffalo a 7-3 lead at halftime.
John Brown was Allen's favorite target, finishing with seven catches for 99 yards. And while running back Devin Singletary added 21 carries for 87 yards, he also fumbled twice, with the Steelers recovering one of them.
The Bills won't have too much time to celebrate the win, though. A short week of preparation culminating with a 4:30 p.m. Saturday game against the Patriots in Foxborough, Mass., comes next.
