Buffalo Bills 35, Chicago Bears 13: Final score, recap, highlights
Buffalo (11-2) can secure its third straight AFC East title and maintain the No. 1 seed in the AFC with a victory over Chicago (3-11) at 1 p.m. Saturday at frigid Soldier Field.
Buffalo is on a five-game winning streak and is in the playoffs for the fourth straight year. Chicago has lost seven straight games, one shy of a franchise worst.
This page will be updated throughout the game.
Final score: Buffalo Bills 35, Chicago Bears 13
Nathan Peterman, a former Buffalo draft pick who had a forgettable stint with the Bills - three touchdowns and 12 interceptions - played the last series at quarterback for the Bears. Peterman threw two completions before his Hail Mary was intercepted by safety Jaquan Johnson.
Buffalo clinched its third straight AFC East title. The Bills had a season-high 254 yards rushing. Devin Singletary rushed for 106 yards and a touchdown on 12 carries and James Cook had 99 yards rushing and a TD on 11 attempts. Josh Allen completed 15 of 26 passes for 172 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions and added 41 yards and a TD on the ground. The Bills' defense held Justin Fields to 11 yards on seven carries.
Josh Allen throws TD to Dawson Knox - Bills 35, Bears 13
The Bills added a bow to AFC East-clinching victory. On fourth-and-3, Josh Allen threw a 13-yard touchdown pass to Dawson Knox.
Late @Dawson_Knox TD extends the @BuffaloBills lead, 35-13.
📺: #BUFvsCHI on CBS
📱: Stream on NFL+ https://t.co/GpUr7UISpf pic.twitter.com/JKhnBlRu0k— NFL (@NFL) December 24, 2022
Bills sack Fields, take over on downs - 2:08 4th quarter
Justin Fields has been bottled up all game. Defensive end A.J. Epenesa sacked Fields for a 10-yard loss on second down. Fields was nearly intercepted on fourth-and-14 and the Bills will take over at the Bears' 21.
Josh Allen runs for TD to pad Buffalo lead - Bills 28, Bears 13
Buffalo has continued to gash Chicago on the ground. Devin Singletary opened with an 8-yard run and followed it with a 26-yard burst. On third-and-8, Allen tossed a short completion to Nyheim Hines, who spun past a defender for a first down. Josh Allen ran for a 7-yard touchdown on a naked bootleg.
.@JoshAllenQB goes full sprint to the end zone!
📺: #BUFvsCHI on CBS
📱: Stream on NFL+ https://t.co/GpUr7V0tNP pic.twitter.com/xe6FR48efR— NFL (@NFL) December 24, 2022
Bills defense forces three-and-out - 7:21 4th quarter
Chicago couldn't do anything on offense. David Montgomery ran for 4 yards, Khalil Herbert was tackled by defensive tackle Jordan Phillips for a 2-yard loss and the Bears were called for too many men on the field. On third-and-8, Fields scrambled but was tackled by linebacker Matt Milano after 1 yard. Trenton Gill's short, line-drive kick was returned 16 yards by Nyheim Hines but a holding penalty on the return will start Buffalo at its 44-yard line.
Bills struggle on special teams and offense - 9:13 4th quarter
Nyheim Hines is having a rough day. Hines muffed the kickoff, recovered and returned it 11 yards to the Bills' 16-yard line. James Cook ran for 1 yard on first down, Josh Allen threw incomplete on third down and Allen was flushed from the pocket and threw the ball away on third down. Sam Martin punted 62 yards out of bounds to the Bears' 21.
Bears turn interception into field goal - Bills 21, Bears 13
Chicago didn't get a first down but it still added three points. Cairo Santos made a 35-yard field goal.
Josh Allen throws second interception - 12:13 4th quarter
Josh Allen was picked for the second time of the game. Allen threw the ball right at linebacker Nicholas Morrow, who returned the interception 6 yards to the Bills' 18-yard line.
We'll take that 😏
📺: #BUFvsCHI on CBS pic.twitter.com/YhXvhm6n3G— Chicago Bears (@ChicagoBears) December 24, 2022
Buffalo wins challenge to take over on downs - 12:59 4th quarter
Chicago went deep on the first play. Justin Fields completed to a sliding Velus Jones for 44 yards. The Bears faced a fourth-and-3 and went for it. Fields connected with tight end Ryan Griffin, who initially was given a first down as he extended the ball as hit was tackled. Buffalo challenged and the play was reversed, putting Griffin short of the first down. Buffalo takes over at its 14-yard line.
FIELDS GOES DEEP TO VELUS JONES JR.
📺: #BUFvsCHI on CBS
📱: Stream on NFL+ https://t.co/GpUr7UISpf pic.twitter.com/1OE1UKiKF0— NFL (@NFL) December 24, 2022
Bills turn ball over for second time - :24 3rd quarter
Buffalo turned the ball over in Chicago territory. Josh Allen completed to Gabe Davis over the middle and Davis had the ball knocked loose. Safety Elijah Hicks recovered at the Bears' 33-yard line.
Teams trade punts - 2:37 3rd quarter
There have been three straight punts. Buffalo was set back by a Spencer Brown offensive holding call and Sam Martin's punt was downed at the Bears' 11. Chicago only gained 3 yards on the ensuing possession. Trenton Gill punted 54 yards and Nyheim Hines muffed the catch but recovered and made an 8-yard return.
Chicago goes three-and-out - 6:31 3rd quarter
The Bears couldn't answer. Chicago went three-and-out, with Justin Fields third-down pass going through the hands of Dante Pettis. Trenton Gill punted 40 yards and Nyheim Hines returned it 3 yards to the Bills' 33.
James Cook sprints for TD run - Bills 21, Bears 10
First it was Devin Singletary. This time it's James Cook. Cook ran for 8 yards and then followed it with a 27-yard touchdown. Buffalo went for the two-point conversion again before being called for an illegal shift penalty. Tyler Bass came on for the extra point and made it. Buffalo has scored 14 straight points.
James Cook touchdown! @BuffaloBills take a 21-10 lead. @thegreat__4
📺: #BUFvsCHI on CBS
📱: Stream on NFL+ https://t.co/GpUr7UISpf pic.twitter.com/26bCAucqJC— NFL (@NFL) December 24, 2022
Bills recover David Montgomery fumble - 8:39 3rd quarter
Buffalo started well defensively. Defensive end Shaq Lawson chased down David Montgomery for a 7-yard loss. Montgomery made a 10-yard catch and Bills cornerback Tre'Davious White was called for defensive holding. Then the Bears turned the ball over. Dane Jackson knocked the ball loose from David Montgomery on a run and it was recovered by defensive tackle Tim Settle at the Bears' 35.
Devin Singletary runs for long TD to give Buffalo lead - Bills 14, Bears 10
Buffalo started the second half from its 14-yard line after a holding penalty on the kickoff. Stefon Diggs wasn't targeted in the first half but hauled in a 15-yard catch on the first play. Isaiah McKenzie took a handoff 6 yards and Nyheim Hines ran for 2 yards and Allen flipped a pass to Devin Singletary for 10 yards on third down. Two plays later, Allen faked a pass to Singletary then hit him over the middle with a sidearm throw for 9 yards. Allen ran for 11 yards and a first down. Singletary ran for a 33-yard touchdown, his longest run of the season. Buffalo converted the two-point conversion as Allen found Khalil Shakir wide open in the back of the end zone.
.@MotorSingletary gives the @BuffaloBills the lead for Christmas.
📺: #BUFvsCHI on CBS
📱: Stream on NFL+ https://t.co/GpUr7UISpf pic.twitter.com/AYWlRWcXec— NFL (@NFL) December 24, 2022
Buffalo decides not to use timeouts before halftime
The first half ended awkwardly. Justin Fields was sacked for a 5-yard loss on first down and the Bills called their first timeout with 44 seconds left, seemingly intent on getting the ball back. David Montgomery ran for 4 yards on second down to the Bears' 27 but the Bills' didn't burn their second timeout and the Bears didn't make an effort to throw the ball to get into field goal range. Chicago let the clock run out.
Josh Allen has completed 7 of 12 passes for 89 yards and a touchdown and James Cook has 46 yards rushing on three carries. Justin Fields is 8 of 12 for 55 yards and a TD and David Montgomery has 60 yards rushing on nine carries.
Tyler Bass misses field goal attempt wide right - :51 2nd quarter
Buffalo began from its 34-yard line after Nyheim Hines returned Chicago's low bouncing kick 20 yards. Josh Allen avoided pressure and scrambled 15 yards to the Bills' 49. Center Ryan Bates went to the sideline after the play and Greg Van Roten took over at center. James Cook took a short pass 9 yards, rushed for 6 yards and a first down and then sprinted off left tackle for 16 yard to the Bears' 20. Allen threw incomplete for Dawson Knox on the ensuing play. Allen hit Gabe Davis along the left sideline and the play was originally called a completion before a review ruled it incomplete. On third down, Allen escaped pressure and his pass hit cornerback Jaylon Jones in the back. Tyler Bass missed a 38-yard field goal wide right.
Chicago makes field goal to extend lead - Bears 10, Bills 6
David Montgomery had runs of 3, 1 and 3 yards to set up another fouth-and-3 in Bills' territory. Chicago went for it again, this time converting on a short pass from Justin Fields to Montgomery. Fields gained 2 yards then lost 2 yards on designed runs but Buffalo was called of offsides on third down to set up a manageable third-and-5. Fields pass was short of the first-down marker and went off the hands of Khalil Herbert. Cairo Santos made a 37-yard field goal.
Bills recover own fumbled snap, go three-and-out - 7:53 2nd quarter
The only thing that got off the ground on Buffalo's third drive was the ball. Josh Allen fumbled the snap on first down but was able to recover at the Bills' 1-yard line. Devin Singletary ran for 3 yards and Allen was dropped on third down. Sam Martin punted 46 yards to midfield but Dante Pettis returned it for 12 yards.
Chicago goes backward after turnover - 10:10 2nd quarter
The Bears couldn't capitalize on the turnover. Chicago earned one first down before losing yards. Justin Fields' completion to Khalil Herbert lost 2 yards and Fields recovered a bad snap out of shotgun for a 14-yard loss. Rookie Trenton Gill's punt took a favorable bounce and traveled 63 yards to the Bills' 2.
Josh Allen throws interception to Kyler Gordon - 12:52 2nd quarter
Buffalo's second drive started with a 12-yard completion from Josh Allen to tight end Reggie Gilliam. Two plays later, Devin Singletary scampered for 15 yards into Bears' territory. Gabe Davis was wide open over the middle for a 15-yard catch to the Bears' 19-yard line. Buffalo guard Rodger Saffold was called for holding to set up first-and-20. Josh Allen was picked off at the goal line. Allen threw a deep pass for Isaiah McKenzie in double coverage and rookie cornerback Kyler Gordon made a leaping pick. Gordon landed in the end zone, got back to his feet and returned the interception 33 yards to the Bills' 34. It's Allen's 12th interception of the season.
Back-to-back games with an INT for @kyler_gordon!
📺: #BUFvsCHI on CBS
📱: Stream on NFL+ https://t.co/GpUr7UISpf pic.twitter.com/59VsApcnZC— NFL (@NFL) December 24, 2022
Bills stop Bears on fourth down - 2:44 1st quarter
Velus Jones returned the kickoff 40 years to the Bears' 42-yard line. David Montomery took three straight runs a total of 18 yards. Tight end Cole Kmet dropped a first-down pass and Khalil Herbert was smacked by defensive end Kingsley Jonathan for a 1-yard loss. Fields completed to Jones for 8 yards and Chicago went for it on fourth-and-3, with defensive end Ed Oliver tipping Fields' pass at the line of scrimmage. Buffalo takes over at its 33-yard line.
Buffalo answers with Josh Allen TD pass to Gabe Davis - Bears 7, Bills 6
Josh Allen opened with a 24-yard completion to Dawson Knox on Buffalo's first offensive play. Knox landed hard on the catch and was slow to get up by walked off on his own power. Buffalo was called for an ineligible downfield pass, Allen threw incomplete and then completed to Cole Beasley for 9 yards. Allen picked up the first down with a 10-yard scramble. The Bills committed a holding penalty but James Cook took a carry 24 yards to the red zone. Allen threw a 19-yard touchdown to an open Gabe Davis in the end zone. Tyler Bass missed the extra point.
.@JoshAllenQB to @GabeDavis13_!
📺: #BUFvsCHI on CBS
📱: Stream on NFL+ https://t.co/GpUr7UISpf pic.twitter.com/8lUGNBswDu— NFL (@NFL) December 24, 2022
Justin Fields throws TD pass on opening drive - Bears 7, Bills 0
Chicago received the ball first. Justin Fields started with a 7-yard run and David Montgomery picked up a first down. .Fields completed a short pass to Byron Pringle, who took it 20 yards. Montgomery broke free on the next play for a 28-yard run to the Bills' 1-yard line. Montgomery initially punched it in but offensive tackle Larry Borom was flagged for holding. On third-and-goal, Fields found a wide open Dante Pettis in the left corner for the end zone.
TD on the opening drive for the @ChicagoBears!
📺: #BUFvsCHI on CBS
📱: Stream on NFL+ https://t.co/GpUr7UISpf pic.twitter.com/5nQXJ2hbd2— NFL (@NFL) December 24, 2022
Bills vs. Bears weather: Winter weather advisory and below-zero wind chills
The temperature in Chicago is expected to be 7 degrees at kickoff with sustained winds of at least 20 mph. It will feel like minus-12 degrees with the wind chill factor. A winter weather advisory is in effect until 1 p.m.
Bills vs. Bears inactives
CB Xavier Rhodes, LB Baylon Spector, C Mitch Morse, TE Tommy Sweeney, S Dean Marlowe, DE Boogie Basham and OL Justin Murphy are inactive for the Bills.
WR Chase Claypool, WR Eqanimeous St. Brown, OL Teven Jenkins, DL Angelo Blackson, QB Tim Boyle, OL Cody Whitehair and TE Trevon Wesco.
This article originally appeared on Rochester Democrat and Chronicle: Buffalo Bills 35, Chicago Bears 13: Final score, recap, highlights