Halftime Report: Bills Lead Browns 20-10, but Josh Allen Injury Casts Shadow Over Strong First Half
The Buffalo Bills head into halftime of their Week 16 matchup against the Cleveland Browns with a 20-10 lead, but the scoreboard doesn’t tell the full story. This game has been packed with first-half fireworks - and not all of them have been good news for Buffalo.
The biggest concern coming out of the first two quarters? Josh Allen’s health.
Late in the second quarter, Allen took off on a scramble that never had much of a chance to succeed. Trying to make something out of nothing near the goal line, Allen came up hobbling after what looked like an awkward plant or twist.
The injury appeared to affect his ankle or lower leg. While the team hasn’t provided an official update yet, his status for the rest of this game - and potentially beyond - is very much in question.
And Allen wasn’t the only one to go down. Rookie running back Quinshon Judkins has been ruled out with a significant lower leg injury, a tough blow for a young player who’s shown flashes this season.
But amid the injury concerns, James Cook III has been nothing short of electric. With nine carries for 100 yards and two touchdowns already, Cook has been the engine of Buffalo’s offense.
He’s running with purpose, vision, and burst - and if the Bills are going to close this one out without their franchise quarterback, Cook’s going to be the focal point. Buffalo’s downhill rushing attack has been punishing, and right now, it’s their best weapon.
Offensively, the Bills have looked sharp - efficient in the run game and opportunistic through the air. That’s been a welcome sign for a unit that’s had its ups and downs this season.
But on the other side of the ball, the defense has had its hands full. The front seven, in particular, has struggled to contain Cleveland’s physical ground game, getting pushed around at times.
The secondary, however, has held firm, keeping things from spiraling.
One area that’s clearly a concern: special teams. Kicker Michael Badgley’s debut hasn’t inspired much confidence.
He missed his first extra point with a loud doink off the upright and followed it up with a misfired kickoff that drew a flag. With Matt Prater still sidelined, the Bills are feeling the effects of instability in the kicking game - and in a tight playoff race, that’s the kind of detail that can come back to haunt you.
And then there’s the looming presence of Myles Garrett. Buffalo’s done a decent job of keeping him quiet so far, but on the play where Allen got hurt, Garrett nearly added another sack to his season tally - one that would’ve tied the NFL single-season record. That’s the kind of pressure that can flip a game in an instant, especially if Allen can’t return.
So, as the second half gets underway, the Bills hold the lead - but the path forward just got a lot more complicated. If Allen’s out, it’ll be up to Cook, the offensive line, and a defense that needs to tighten up to bring this one home.
Plenty of football left to play in Week 16. Let’s see how Buffalo responds.