Bengals torch Bills 47–35 as Burrow throws five TDs in Buffalo

BUFFALO, NY - The Bengals didn't arrive in Buffalo with postseason expectations, but they played like a team determined to reshape the narrative. Behind a masterclass from Joe Burrow, Cincinnati torched the Bills 47-35 on Sunday, handing Buffalo one of its most frustrating losses of the season.

"We were aggressive all night," Burrow said afterward. "When everyone's on the same page like that, it puts a lot of pressure on a defense."

Burrow puts on a clinic

Burrow was surgical from the opening drive, finishing with 441 passing yards and five touchdowns as the Bengals piled up 47 points against one of the AFC's top contenders. Cincinnati converted 9 of 11 third downs and consistently punished Buffalo for single coverage.

Ja'Marr Chase was at the center of it all, hauling in three touchdown receptions while repeatedly winning one-on-one matchups downfield.

"When you've got a guy like Ja'Marr, you trust him," Burrow said. "I'm going to give him chances, and he usually makes me right."

Mike Gesicki also had a career night, stretching the field vertically and providing a mismatch the Bills never solved.

Head coach Zac Taylor credited his quarterback's command of the offense. "Joe was in total control," Taylor said. "The decisions, the tempo, the confidence - that's as good as it gets."

Bills trade punches but can't seize control

Buffalo entered the game at 8-3-1 and showed plenty of firepower of its own. Josh Allen threw four touchdown passes and kept the Bills within striking distance for much of the night, but every surge was met with a Bengals answer.

"We had chances," Allen said. "But against a team like that, you can't trade touchdowns all night and expect to come out on top."

James Cook III and the Bills' receivers helped keep the scoreboard moving, yet defensive breakdowns proved too costly.

"That's on us," Bills head coach Sean McDermott said. "We didn't get off the field enough, and we gave up too many explosive plays."

Momentum swings Cincinnati's way

The game tilted firmly in the Bengals' favor during a dominant second quarter, when Burrow threw multiple touchdowns and Cincinnati briefly turned a tie game into a commanding lead. Even when Buffalo responded in the second half, the Bengals' efficiency never wavered.

"We stayed aggressive," Taylor said. "We weren't trying to protect anything. We wanted to keep attacking."

Cincinnati finished with over 500 yards of offense and eight red-zone trips, a level of consistency Buffalo couldn't match defensively.

What it means

For the Bengals, the win was a reminder of what this roster is capable of when everything clicks - even in a season that hasn't gone to plan.

"We're still playing for each other," Chase said. "That matters."

For the Bills, it was a missed opportunity in a tight AFC race, one that leaves little margin for error down the stretch.

"We'll learn from it," McDermott said. "But it has to show up next week."

Up Next

The Bengals return home in Week 15 to host the Baltimore Ravens, looking to build on one of their most complete performances of the season. The Bills stay in division play next week, traveling to Massachusetts for a Week 15 matchup against the New England Patriots.