Steelers vs. Bills final score, results: Buffalo advances to divisional round after Josh Allen's four-TD performance

David Suggs

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Steelers vs. Bills final score, results: Buffalo advances to divisional round after Josh Allen's four-TD performance image

Josh Allen finally got the monkey off of his back.

The Bills star has been a regular-season darling over the course of his career, rocketing himself to the upper echelons of quarterbacking with a rocket arm and bumbling footwork.

The playoffs have tended to be a different story, though. Buffalo's supernova has lost his way at different points in his short career, posting a 4-4 record across his first eight playoff starts.

Not today, though. Allen was everything the Bills needed and then some against the Steelers defense. And with 282 yards of total offense and four total scores, Allen's unique skillset was paramount as Buffalo triumphed over the Steelers, 31-17 to set up yet another January duel with Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs next week.

Allen was composure epitomized on Monday, finding a hot streak even as frigid winds swirled across Highmark Stadium. He completed 21-of-30 pass attempts for 203 yards and three touchdowns, having his way against a Pittsburgh defense left reeling by the absence of T.J. Watt.

He was even more lively on the ground. Allen raced for 79 yards on grass, including a stunning 52-yard touchdown that made NFL history.

MORE: Watch NFL playoff games live with Fubo (free trial)

Buffalo needed every bit of the help. Mason Rudolph (22-of-39 passing, 229 yards, two touchdowns and one interception) and the Steelers looked toothless for much of the opening 30 minutes. The second half offered a respite, however, with Pittsburgh's offense finding life. The Black-and-Gold even brought the game to within a possession in the fourth quarter.

Allen wouldn't let his opposition come any closer, though. And after hitting Khalil Shakir with a pass — and letting the diminutive wideout do the rest — it was clear that this iteration of Buffalo was different. At least different enough to not suffer a disheartening defeat in the early stages of the postseason.

The Sporting News tracked live updates from Monday's wild-card contest between the Steelers and Bills. Follow below for highlights and live results as all the action unfolds at Highmark Stadium in Buffalo.

Steelers vs. Bills score

  Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Final
Steelers 0 7 3 7 17
Bills 14 7 3 7 31

Steelers vs. Bills live updates, highlights from 2024 NFL playoff game

(All times Eastern)

End of fourth quarter: Bills 31, Steelers 17

7:38 p.m.: The Bills' ensuing drive ends with a missed field goal. However, there's precious little time left for the Steelers to get back into this one.

7:28 p.m.: TURNOVER ON DOWNS! Rudolph's effort hits the turf on fourth-and-third! The Bills will get the ball back with the clock winding down! Could've possibly been a pass interference call there. But it wasn't. And it looks like Buffalo is going to walk out of Highmark on top.

7:21 p.m.: TOUCHDOWN! Khalil Shakir makes magic happen! Just evaded Fitzpatrick's hit before trotting to the end zone! Huge play for Buffalo; the Bills lead swells to 14 with a little more than six minutes left.

Bills 31, Steelers 17

7:17 p.m.: Allen's legs have come up trumps time and time again. He just prompted an unnecessary roughness call after scurrying down the field for a couple yards. He's up to 74 yards on the day.

7:14 p.m.: Contentious call on first down as the referees call a defensive pass interference after a Steelers defender grabs a fistful of Kincaid. Questions will be asked as it seemed the pass might've been uncatchable.

7:08 p.m.: TOUCHDOWN! The Steelers are back in this one! Rudolph hits Calvin Austin to make bring the deficit to just one possession.

Bills 24, Steelers 17

End of third quarter: Bills 24, Steelers 10

6:59 p.m.: Pickens again! Rolled around the edge for another first down on the end around. He's starting to percolate. And it's got the Steelers trotting into Buffalo territory.

6:57 p.m.: Huge throw and catch between Rudolph and Pickens on third-and-long! Biggest play of the game for Pittsburgh, which keeps its comeback effort alive with the timely first.

6:50 p.m.: FIELD GOAL! Bass sinks his effort to bring the Bills' lead back to 14.

Bills 24, Steelers 10

6:30 p.m.: FIELD GOAL! Chris Boswell splits the uprights from distance to keep his perfect postseason record alive. More importantly, his make cuts Pittsburgh's deficit to just 11.

Bills 21, Steelers 10

End of second quarter: Bills 21, Steelers 7

6:02 p.m.: Diggs got folded up like a pretzel after incurring a heavy hit. He's slow to get up. Could be a problem for Buffalo moving forward if he's unable to get back into this one. Keep in mind, Gabe Davis is already out of this one.

5:59 p.m.: TOUCHDOWN! Rudolph flashes a pass to Diontae Johnson to open the scoring for the Steelers.

Bills 21, Steelers 7

5:52 p.m.: BLOCKED KICK! Tyler Bass' effort finds Bills hands. It sprawls down the field before settling on Buffalo's 33-yard line. Could that be just what Pittsburgh needed to get back into this one?

Also, worth noting that Bills punter Sam Martin looked to have done his hamstring while trying to corral the loose ball. That could be consequential if the Steelers are able to get back into this one.

5:48 p.m.: The Bills are flying. And much of that is due to Allen, who is currently at 13-of-17 passing for 131 yards and two touchdowns. He's got another 61 on three carries (and a score) so far. He's putting on a show under the lights at Highmark Stadium.

5:38 p.m.: TOUCHDOWN! It's Allen who breaks free for yet another score, his third of the game. Taking advantage of Rudolph's errant throw to put the Steelers firmly in control as the second quarter winds down.

Bills 21, Steelers 0

5:30 p.m.: INTERCEPTION! The Steelers began to find space and success for the first time today, even bringing the ball on the brink of the end zone. Unfortunately for them, Rudolph's pass flew into the hands of Kaiir Elam, who snuck in front of his marker to break Pittsburgh hearts.

End of first quarter: Bills 14, Steelers 0

5:17 p.m.: Rudolph delivered an arrow to Pat Freiermuth, who frolicked down the meadow for an additional ten or so yards. He was brought down racing towards the sideline, at which point a Bills defender jarred the ball loose. It looked to be recovered by Buffalo, however, referees ruled the ball hit Freiermuth's helmet before slithering out of play. Could be a hugely consequential call later.

5:15 p.m.: Scoring slowing up with the Steelers and Bills failing to find much of anything in their past two drives. Pittsburgh will look to make magic happen on the possession.

5:05 p.m.: TOUCHDOWN! Allen finds Kincaid on the first play of the drive for liftoff. 29 yards. The Bills are three feet high and rising at present.

Bills 14, Steelers 0

5:02 p.m.: FUMBLE! Uh oh! George Pickens stretched high to reach Rudolph's arrow. As he fielded it and turned upstream, he was met by a Bills defender. The ball tumbled onto the turf, which was eventually scooped up by Buffalo hands. The play was initially ruled an incompletion. However, it looks like it will be overturned in due time.

4:57 p.m.: Allen slips beyond his marker for eight yards, doing what he does best and making folks disappear in open field. It doesn't prove all that consequential in the end, though: he saw his ensuing throw miss the mark on third down, prompting another punt.

4:52 p.m.: Sean McDermott mystifies Mason Rudolph with his coverage, forcing the Steelers' hurler into a third-down incompletion. Buffalo is thriving in the early moments of this one.

4:47 p.m.: TOUCHDOWN! Allen hits Dawson Knox as the Bills open the scoring for today's clash.

Bills 7, Steelers 0

4:45 p.m.: Stefon Diggs gets his name in the lights with two catches totaling 22 yards. Sprinkle in a James Cook rush for another 10 or so yards and the Bills are on the brink of finding the end zone.

4:42 p.m.: Allen finds Dalton Kincaid with a soft toss as the Bills pick up 20 yards in the blink of an eye. Buffalo is driving down the field with relative fervor.

4:35 p.m.: Pittsburgh's opening drive falls short, with the Steelers being forced to send the ball to Buffalo after five plays. Let's see what Josh Allen and Co. have in store going forward.

4:06 p.m.: Mason Rudolph readying for the most important game of his career.

3:50 p.m.: The Penguins are lending support to their city counterparts for today's clash.

3:25 p.m.: So much action happening in the concourses at present. 

3:11 p.m.: Snowballs will be flying across the stadium at Highmark Stadium. It's not a game out here.

3:06 p.m.: And a look at the inactives for Pittsburgh. T.J. Watt will be a big loss. Minkah Fitzpatrick will be taking part in the festivities, however.

3:02 p.m.: Here are the inactive for the Bills. Gabe Davis, Rasul Douglas and Tyrel Dodson could be major misses for Buffalo today.

3:00 p.m.: Conditions are still slick as can be ahead of the game. Not for the faint of heart.

2:55 p.m.: Stefon Diggs is suited and booted for today's clash. Did anyone expect anything different?

2:30 p.m.: Snowfall swept over Highmark Stadium before today's game. However, it's not expected to interfere with the contest.

Steelers vs. Bills start time

  • Date: Monday, Jan. 15
  • Time: 4:30 p.m. ET, 1 p.m. PT

Steelers vs. Bills will kick off at 4:30 p.m. ET from Highmark Stadium in Orchard Park, N.Y. The game was postponed from its scheduled date and time due to a lake effect snow storm in Buffalo.

What channel is Steelers vs. Bills on today?

  • TV network: CBS (U.S.) | TSN 4/5, CTV (Canada)
  • Live streams: Paramount+, Fubo (U.S.) | DAZN (Canada)

The Steelers vs. Bills wild-card matchup will be broadcast nationally in the U.S. on CBS. Jim Nantz (play-by-play) and Tony Romo (color commentary) will track the game from the booth, while Tracy Wolfson (sideline reporter) will offer updates when appropriate.

Cord-cutters can find Sunday's clash on Paramount+ as well as Fubo, which offers a free trial.

Canadian viewers can watch the game on TSN 4/5 or CTV, or stream it with DAZN, which carries every NFL game.

NFL playoff schedule 2024

Wild-card round

Saturday, Jan. 13

Matchup Time (ET) TV Live stream
Browns at Texans 4:30 p.m. NBC Fubo, Peacock
Dolphins at Chiefs 8:00 p.m. -- Peacock

Sunday, Jan. 14

Matchup Time (ET) TV Live stream
Steelers at Bills 1:00 p.m. CBS Paramount+, Fubo
Packers at Cowboys 4:30 p.m. Fox Fox Sports app, Fubo
Rams at Lions 8:00 p.m. NBC Peacock, Fubo

Monday, Jan. 15

Matchup Time (ET) TV Live stream
Eagles at Buccaneers 8:00 p.m. ESPN, ABC ESPN+, Fubo

Divisional round

Saturday, Jan. 20

Matchup Time (ET) TV channel Live stream
Texans at Ravens/Chiefs 4:30 p.m. ABC/ESPN ESPN+, Fubo
Packers at 49ers 8 p.m. Fox Fubo

Sunday, Jan. 21

Matchup Time (ET) TV channel Live stream
Eagles/Buccaneers at Lions 3 p.m. NBC Peacock, Fubo
Chiefs at Bills OR Steelers at Ravens 6:30 p.m. CBS Paramount+, Fubo

Conference championships

Sunday, Jan. 28

Matchup Start time TV channel Live stream
TBD vs. TBD TBD CBS Paramount+, Fubo
TBD vs. TBD TBD Fox Fox Sports app, Fubo

Super Bowl 58

Sunday, Feb. 11

Matchup Start time TV channel Live stream
TBD vs. TBD TBD CBS Paramount+, Fubo

David Suggs

David Suggs Photo

David Suggs is a content producer at The Sporting News. A long-suffering Everton, Wizards and Commanders fan, he has learned to get used to losing over the years. In his free time, he enjoys skateboarding (poorly), listening to the likes of Stevie Wonder, Marvin Gaye and D’Angelo, and penning short journal entries.