323 and Counting: Josh Allen Passes Peyton Manning as the 8-1 Bills Roll Past the Jets, 31-12

Some records arrive with fireworks. Josh Allen's came on a 1-yard plunge. The Buffalo Bills quarterback pushed into the end zone for the first points of Sunday's game against the New York Jets, and that short run gave him 323 career touchdowns, one more than Peyton Manning's 322 for the most by any player in his first 10 NFL seasons ^[2]. By the end of the afternoon, the Bills had a 31-12 win at MetLife Stadium, an 8-1 record and a perfect 5-0 mark on the road ^[1].

It was a businesslike day for a team that has made winning look routine this fall. TSN called it Buffalo's best start in 35 years ^[5]. The Jets, meanwhile, fell to 2-8 and spent the second half worrying about the health of their starting quarterback ^[1].

A Record Built on Toughness

The numbers behind Allen's milestone say a lot about the kind of player he is. According to Buffalo Rumblings, his 323 regular-season touchdowns break down into 232 passing, 89 rushing and two receiving ^[2]. He tied Manning a week earlier with a 25-yard scoring pass to rookie tight end Keleki Latu on Monday Night Football against Minnesota, then broke the mark nine games into his ninth season ^[2]. Manning played all 160 regular-season games of his first 10 seasons on the way to 322; Allen matched that total in just 136 ^[2].

Think about that for a moment. Manning was one of the most cerebral passers the game has ever seen, a man who carried franchises on his arm. Allen is getting there with his arm and his legs, taking hits that most quarterbacks are coached to avoid. He ran for a second touchdown Sunday, and the Bills noted that the score gave him 10 or more rushing touchdowns for a fourth straight season, tying the NFL record for a quarterback ^[3].

Not every throw was sharp. Allen completed 11 of 21 passes for 196 yards with one touchdown and one interception, according to ProFootballTalk ^[1]. But his scoring strike to DJ Moore stretched the lead, and his legs kept the offense moving when the passing game sputtered ^[1].

Cook Breaks It Open

If Allen set the tone, James Cook finished the job. In the fourth quarter, the running back broke loose for a 74-yard touchdown run that made it 31-12, the longest run of the season for Buffalo ^[1]. Bleacher Report's box score had Cook with 157 yards on 18 carries ^[6]. He has now scored in eight straight games ^[1].

The run came right after a costly Jets mistake. Rookie quarterback Cade Klubnik completed a pass, but the play ended in a fumble on a backward pitch, and the Bills recovered to set up Cook's long run ^[1].

A Hard Day for the Jets

New York's afternoon turned late in the first half, when Geno Smith took a big hit that left coach Aaron Glenn furious that no flag was thrown ^[1]. Smith was evaluated for a concussion, and Klubnik started the second half ^[1]. The Jets' own recap described it as the rookie's professional debut, coming in relief of the injured starter ^[4].

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Smith was cleared and returned for one series, ProFootballTalk reported, before leaving again with an ankle injury, and he was ruled out for good in the fourth quarter ^[1]. Glenn is expected to say more about Smith's availability ahead of next week's road trip to face the Chargers ^[1].

For Klubnik, the box score showed three runs for 26 yards ^[6], along with the turnover that helped put the game away. It was a rough introduction, but every young quarterback has a first day, and the Jets will hope his next one comes with better protection and better luck.

Andre's Take

There is a temptation in sports to treat records as a numbers game. This one is about durability and grit. Allen has stood in against the blitz, lowered his shoulder at the goal line and taken his lumps for nine seasons in one city, and he has never asked out of the hard part of the job. That is the kind of example young players, and the young fans who wear his jersey, ought to see.

Manning's place in history is secure, and he earned it the old-fashioned way, game after game for nearly two decades. Allen still has the rest of this season and all of next season to add to his total before his 10th year is done ^[2]. If he keeps playing like this, Buffalo will be playing meaningful football deep into the winter, and the record book will keep making room.

Next up for the Jets is that trip to Los Angeles, with plenty of questions under center ^[1]. For the Bills, the goal is simple: keep stacking wins and keep their quarterback upright.