Honestly, if you just looked at the box score of the Bills vs Colts 2024 matchup, you’d think it was a standard Sunday at the office for Josh Allen. A 30-20 win. Another notch on the belt for a team that started 8-2 for the first time since the mid-90s. But stats are liars.
This game was weird.
It was chaotic, choppy, and at times, downright ugly. If you were sitting in Lucas Oil Stadium on November 10, you didn't see a polished Super Bowl contender. You saw a Buffalo team missing its biggest weapons, a quarterback playing hero ball to a fault, and a veteran Indianapolis quarterback basically handing out interceptions like party favors.
The Joe Flacco Problem Nobody Expected
Most people expected the Colts to be better with a steady veteran hand. That’s why they benched Anthony Richardson, right? To stop the turnovers? Well, the Bills vs Colts 2024 game turned that logic on its head.
Joe Flacco had a nightmare.
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On the very first play from scrimmage for the Colts, Flacco threw a ball toward Josh Downs that Taron Johnson snatched and housed for a pick-six. Ten seconds in, and Indy was already underwater. It didn't get better. Flacco ended the day with three interceptions and a lost fumble. It’s kinda wild to think that a guy with that much experience would struggle so hard against a Buffalo secondary that was missing key pieces, but the Bills defense just lived in his head.
Buffalo scored 17 points directly off those turnovers. That’s the game right there. Without those gifts, the Colts—who actually outgained Buffalo in yards per play for much of the first half—might have walked away with an upset.
How Josh Allen Won Without His Stars
Buffalo went into this game shorthanded. Amari Cooper? Out. Keon Coleman? Out. Then, mid-game, Dalton Kincaid goes down with a knee injury. Suddenly, Josh Allen is looking around the huddle at Mack Hollins and Curtis Samuel.
Allen didn't play a "clean" game. Not by a long shot. He threw two picks of his own. One was a deep shot to Khalil Shakir that E.J. Speed picked off, which actually gave the Colts a 13-10 lead in the second quarter. People forget the Colts were winning this game!
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But Allen does this thing where he just decides to be the biggest, strongest athlete on the field. He scrambled for 50 yards and a touchdown. That rushing score was his 57th, tying him with O.J. Simpson for the second-most in franchise history. He ended with 280 passing yards, but it was those "gritty" moments—the 13-play, 84-yard drive in the fourth quarter—that actually iced it.
That drive took nearly seven minutes off the clock. It was a masterclass in "we are tired, we are hurt, but we are bigger than you." James Cook eventually punched it in for a 2-yard score, and that was the dagger.
Key Stats From The Mess
- Final Score: Bills 30, Colts 20
- Turnover Margin: Bills +2 (4 forced, 2 given)
- Josh Allen: 22/37, 280 yards, 0 TD, 2 INT (plus 1 rushing TD)
- Jonathan Taylor: 21 carries, 114 yards (He was actually the best player on the field for Indy)
- Taron Johnson: Pick-six and a sack. Pure dominance.
The Jonathan Taylor Erasure
It’s honestly a shame that the Bills vs Colts 2024 game will be remembered for Flacco’s mistakes, because Jonathan Taylor was playing out of his mind. He had a 59-yard burst in the first quarter that nearly tore the roof off the stadium.
He finished with over 100 yards by halftime.
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The Bills' run defense looked vulnerable. They were giving up over 5 yards per carry. But because the Colts kept falling behind due to the interceptions, Shane Steichen had to abandon the run. It’s the classic NFL trap: your best player is a running back, but your quarterback keeps putting you in situations where you can't afford to run the ball.
Why This Game Mattered for the AFC
For Buffalo, this wasn't just another win. It was their first win in Indianapolis since 1998. Think about that. They hadn't won a road game against the Colts in the 21st century until this November afternoon. It proved they could win "ugly." If the 2024 Bills were going to make a deep playoff run, they needed to show they weren't just a finesse team that relies on 400-yard passing days from Allen.
For the Colts, this was the beginning of the end for the "Flacco as a Savior" narrative. The fans were restless. You could hear the boos. When you're 4-6 and your veteran QB is turning it over four times, the calls for the young guy—Anthony Richardson—get deafening.
Actionable Insights for the Rest of the Season
If you're following the trajectory of these two teams after the Bills vs Colts 2024 clash, here’s what you should be watching for:
- Watch the Bills' Injury Report: This game showed they are dangerously thin at WR. If Khalil Shakir or James Cook misses time, the offense stalls.
- The "Book" on the Bills Defense: Teams are going to start copying the Colts' early success with the run. Buffalo’s interior defensive line is the "soft" spot of an otherwise elite unit.
- Colts Quarterback Volatility: If you're a bettor or a fantasy manager, the Colts are a "stay away" until they solidify their identity. They have top-tier talent in Taylor and Alec Pierce, but the delivery system is broken.
This game wasn't a masterpiece. It was a 60-minute grind that exposed the flaws of both teams while confirming that Buffalo has a weird, stubborn "will to win" that the Colts just haven't found yet.