The Buffalo Bills walked away from their Week 13 win over the Pittsburgh Steelers with more than just a W in the standings-they also picked up a couple of hits to the wallet. The NFL handed out fines to two Bills players following the physical, emotionally charged matchup.
Wide receiver Gabe Davis was fined $6,500 for unnecessary roughness, specifically for using his helmet during a play in the second quarter. It wasn’t flagged on the field, but the league reviewed the tape and decided Davis crossed the line. It’s the kind of play that might not turn heads in real time but gets a closer look under the league’s microscope during postgame evaluations.
Defensive end A.J. Epenesa also drew the NFL’s attention-and a bigger fine.
He was docked $11,593 for unsportsmanlike conduct after taunting Seahawks wide receiver DK Metcalf in the third quarter. Epenesa had just made a play, knocking the ball out of Metcalf’s hands after a catch, and let him know about it.
The officials threw a flag on the spot, and now the league’s made it official with a fine.
But what’s just as interesting as who got fined is who didn’t. Two moments that stirred up plenty of conversation during and after the game didn’t result in any discipline from the league.
The first was a hit on Josh Allen by linebacker Patrick Queen that many fans-and some analysts-thought was late. It looked like Allen had clearly given himself up, and Queen still delivered a shot that raised eyebrows.
No flag was thrown, and after a review, the NFL opted not to issue a fine either. It’s the kind of moment that often sparks debate about how quarterbacks are protected-or not-depending on who’s under center.
Then there was the dust-up between Allen and Steelers defensive tackle Cam Heyward. After a play, Heyward was visibly upset, claiming Allen had kneed him in the stomach.
That led to some prolonged chirping between the two, with Heyward making his displeasure known throughout the game. But after reviewing the footage, the league didn’t see enough to warrant a fine or penalty against Allen.
Heyward, however, wasn’t entirely in the clear. He was fined $11,593 for his own unsportsmanlike conduct-taunting-after a Bills touchdown. It was a moment that boiled over emotionally, and the league has made it clear that kind of behavior won’t go unnoticed.
All in all, it was a game that delivered not just hard hits and big plays, but also some lingering tension that spilled over into the league offices. The Bills got the win, but a few players are feeling the sting in their bank accounts.