With the Bills facing second and one from their own 24 late in the second quarter, quarterback Josh Allen retreated under hot pursuit from Cleveland pass rushers (including Myles Garrett). Allen fell at the one and rolled into the end zone.
Allen came to rest without the ball entirely out of the end zone. At first blush, it was a safety.
The officials gave the Bills the ball at the one. That’s because, per the NFL, Allen was deemed to have given himself up when he fell.
The fair question is whether he truly did give himself up. He was running away from pressure and fell. He didn’t take a knee. He didn’t slide. He fell without being touched and came to rest with part of the ball in the end zone. It arguably should have been a safety.
The play is not reviewable. Making it another reason to believe everything should be reviewable, with a small handful of exceptions based on true judgment calls.
While there was an injury concern to Bills quarterback Josh Allen, he should be OK for the second half of Sunday’s game against the Browns.
Buffalo announced Allen had X-rays on his foot during halftime and has been cleared to return.
Allen went into the locker room early after suffering the injury late in the first half of the contest. Allen was trying to evade Cleveland’s pass rush and ran backward toward the end zone. The quarterback lost his footing and was touched down by defensive tackle Mason Graham.
On the next play, Allen was tush-pushed to get the Bills farther away from the end zone for a cleaner punt.
Allen was examined on the sideline before limping his way to the locker room without his right shoe on ahead of the rest of the team.
The quarterback was 6-of-7 for 86 yards in the first half, also taking four carries for 17 yards.
The Bills lead 20-10 after the contest’s first 30 minutes.
It appears one of the brightest spots of Cleveland’s 2025 rookie class has suffered a significant injury, as the bias lead the Browns 20-10 at halftime.
Running back Quinshon Judkins was carted off the field late in the first half of Sunday’s matchup with the Bills after suffering a right leg injury.
The Browns quickly ruled him out of the game.
The CBS broadcast elected not to show a replay of the injury, illustrating its seriousness.
Judkins was brought down by Matt Milano on a second-and-6 play for a 6-yard loss.
Cleveland’s medical staff placed Judkins’ right leg in an air cast before he was carted off the field. There was plenty of concern from Judkins’ teammates as he left the contest.
Generally in the first half, the Bills faced little resistance as they built their advantage. The Bills faced just two third downs in the first 30 minutes, averaging 8.2 yards per play. James Cook rushed for 100 yards on nine carries, taking in a 44-yard touchdown and a 3-yard touchdown.
Allen was 6-of-7 for 86 yards passing and also added four carries for 17 yards. But there is some concern on Allen, as he went into the locker room early after suffering an apparent lower-right leg injury late in the second quarter. He was trying to evade the pass rush on a scramble and was tackled with the ball just barely out of the end zone. Myles Garrett nearly recorded his first sack of the game, but Mason Graham touchdown Allen down first.
The Bills will receive the second-half kickoff.
Shedeur Sanders had to exit Sunday’s game against the Bills after suffering a lacerated pinky finger on his right hand.
Sanders came right off the field after an incomplete pass to the right on second-and-goal from the 4-yard line. The CBS broadcast showed Sanders with a significant, bloody cut on his pinky. Sideline reporter Evan Washburn noted Sanders went right to the locker room.
Dillon Gabriel came into the game and was sacked on third down, leading to the Browns settling for a field goal.
Sanders has started the game well, going 10-of-13 for 109 yards with a touchdown and an interception.
But the Bills still lead 20-10 with just over two minutes left in the second quarter.
UPDATE 2:06 p.m. ET: Sanders has returned with a bandaged pinky on his throwing hand. He missed one offensive snap.
It has mostly been a season to forget for the Browns, but one member of the team’s solid rookie class was able to do something a little special to open Sunday’s game against the Bills.
Tight end Harold Fannin set a new Browns rookie record for receptions before catching a 13-yard touchdown to give Cleveland an early 7-0 lead over the Bills.
Fannin’s 67th catch of the season came on first-and-10 from the Cleveland 45, with Shedeur Sanders connecting with Fannin on the right side for an 11-yard gain.
Later on the possession, Sanders again hit Fannin on the right side, this time with the tight end wide open and easily going in for his fifth touchdown of the year.
Sanders has started the game 5-of-5 for 58 yards with a TD.
