Bills pull away from Broncos, face Ravens in divisional round

James Cook rushed for a season-high 120 yards and a touchdown, Josh Allen threw two touchdown passes in the second half and the host Buffalo Bills won in the AFC wild-card round for the fifth straight year, beating the Denver Broncos 31-7 on Sunday in Orchard Park, N.Y.

Allen was 20-for-26 passing for 272 yards and added 46 rushing yards as Buffalo improved to 9-0 at home between regular season and playoffs. The second-seeded Bills will host the third-seeded Baltimore Ravens in the divisional round next weekend.

The seventh-seeded Broncos scored on the game's opening drive, but it was all Buffalo the rest of the way. Running back Ty Johnson (24-yarder) and receiver Curtis Samuel (55) caught long touchdowns to put the game out of reach.

Broncos rookie quarterback Bo Nix completed 13 of 22 passes for 144 yards and a touchdown. He also guided the rushing attack with 43 yards. Courtland Sutton was the game's leading receiver with five catches for 75 yards.

Tyler Bass made a 27-yard field goal for a 13-7 Bills lead to begin the second half, and Buffalo regained possession after a quick three-and-out.

On fourth-and-1 at Denver's 24, Allen avoided the pass rush and tossed a deep ball to the back of the end zone. Johnson dove to the ground and corralled the pass while staying inbounds, and it was upheld as a touchdown upon review. Allen made it 21-7 by finding Keon Coleman for a two-point conversion.

The Bills piled on with Samuel's touchdown on the first play of the fourth quarter. He caught a deep ball near the right sideline, changed direction to get around two defenders and sprinted home.

Buffalo added Bass' third field goal of the day, from 34 yards, with 4:37 to go. The Bills dominated the Broncos in the second half, outgaining them 282-63 after halftime and 471-224 overall.

Denver struck first when Nix connected with his former college teammate Troy Franklin. He hauled in Nix's 43-yard bomb in the end zone just 2:24 into the game.

The Bills settled for a 26-yard field goal on their first possession before traveling 81 yards in 13 plays their next time out. Allen's 9-yard rush on third-and-3 set up Cook for a 5-yard touchdown run on the following play, putting Buffalo ahead early in the second quarter.

Denver punter Riley Dixon completed a 15-yard pass to Marvin Mims Jr. on a fake, but the Broncos' drive still fizzled out. Before halftime, Nix led them 60 yards in 1:52 before Wil Lutz's 50-yard field goal attempt resounded off the right upright as time expired.

--Field Level Media