Bills’ Rushing Attack Leads to 26-7 Win Against Steelers

by Jake Lax, December 01, 2025

Source: AP Photo

The Buffalo Bills traveled to Pittsburgh in week 13 of the NFL season to take on the Steelers. The Bills came into this matchup at 7-4 and second place in the AFC East, looking to continue their playoff push. The Steelers came in at 6-5 and first place in the AFC North, a division that is completely up for grabs.

The Bills opened the game by taking the opening kickoff and immediately leaning on running back James Cook. Cook had a pair of strong runs, quickly pushing Buffalo out to midfield. But the drive came to a sudden halt. Facing 3rd-and-9, Josh Allen tried to hit Gabe Davis, but his pass was intercepted by Steelers cornerback Bradin Echols, giving Pittsburgh an early momentum-shifting takeaway.

Offenses Start Slow

Aaron Rodgers and the Steelers offense couldn’t capitalize on the early turnover, gaining just 12 yards on their opening possession. The Bills took over again, turning to running backs James Cook and Ray Davis for a couple of short gains on the ground, but Pittsburgh’s defense tightened and forced another Buffalo punt. The first quarter ended with both teams scoreless.

Early in the second quarter, the Bills began to build some momentum. Josh Allen helped pick up three first downs. James Cook was then hit at midfield by linebacker Nick Herbig, who punched the ball loose. Patrick Queen pounced on the fumble, flipping possession back to Pittsburgh.

Steelers Strike First

The Steelers capitalized quickly. Aaron Rodgers opened the drive with a 14-yard strike to DK Metcalf, then followed it with a 17-yard completion to Kenneth Gainwell, moving Pittsburgh inside the 10. A few plays later, facing 3rd-and-goal from the 1-yard line, Jaylen Warren powered his way across the goal line for the game’s first score, giving the Steelers a 7–0 lead.

Buffalo answered on their next drive. Josh Allen used his legs to rip off a pair of runs, while James Cook added steady yards to push the Bills deep into the red zone. Facing 4th-and-3 from the Pittsburgh 4-yard line, a costly false start backed the offense up and wiped out their chance to go for it. Instead, Buffalo settled for a short field goal, trimming the deficit to 7–3 as both teams headed into halftime.

Scoop-And-Score Flips The Game

The Steelers opened the second half with the ball, but their possession didn’t last long. On the very first play, Aaron Rodgers was sacked by Joey Bosa, who knocked the ball free. Cornerback Christian Benford scooped up the fumble and raced 17 yards into the end zone for a touchdown. Just like that, the Bills took a 10–7 lead.

The hit on Rodgers sent him to the sideline on the next possession. Pittsburgh turned to backup Mason Rudolph, but his performance was short-lived. On just his second pass attempt, Rudolph threw a pass intended for Darnell Washington, and Christian Benford jumped the route for his second huge play, intercepting the ball and giving the Bills another takeaway.

Bills Take Control

The Bills then leaned on James Cook, who powered the offense all the way down to the goal line. Facing 4th-and-1, Buffalo kept the offense on the field, and Josh Allen fired a pass to Keon Coleman for a touchdown. The extra point missed, but the Bills stretched their lead to 16–7.

On the next Steelers possession, Aaron Rodgers returned to the game after his brief injury exit, but his presence didn’t change the outcome of the drive. Pittsburgh went three-and-out, continuing their offensive struggles.

Buffalo stayed committed to the run, moving the ball down the field with Ray Davis, James Cook, Ty Johnson, and Josh Allen all contributing on the ground. The rushing attack pushed the Bills deep into Steelers territory, setting up a 3rd-and-goal from the 8-yard line. Allen then ran it in for the touchdown, a historic score that marked his 76th career rushing TD, breaking Cam Newton’s record for quarterbacks. The Bills extended their lead to 23–7.

Pittsburgh’s next possession ended with a turnover on downs, and Buffalo took advantage of the chance to close things out. The Bills leaned on their run game once more, draining the clock and controlling the final minutes before tacking on a field goal. That kick pushed the score to 26–7, sealing a dominant performance and a Buffalo victory.

Final Stats and Takeaways

• James Cook: 177 Total Yards
• Josh Allen: 15/23, 161 Total Yards, 2 TDs
• Christian Benford: 1 INT, 1 FR, 1 TD

The Bills improve to 8-4 on the season and will take on the Bengals next weekend to continue their playoff push. The Steelers fall to 6-6 and will travel to Baltimore next week for a matchup to decide first place in the AFC North.