Buffalo Bills QB Josh Allen Fined For Taunting vs. Cincinnati Bengals
Josh Allen had a little more salt thrown into the wound from the Buffalo Bills' 24-18 loss to the Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday. The Bills quarterback was fined $10,927 for an unsportsmanlike conduct foul that he drew in the first quarter of the loss, per NFL insider Tom Pelissero.
On 1st and goal from the Bengals' (5-3) three-yard line, with 6:07 left in the first quarter, Allen pump-faked safety Nick Scott then pointed at him as he ran into the end zone for a touchdown that tied the game at 7-7. The penalty drew the ire of NFL fans and Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce.
"One of the weakest taunting calls you’ve ever seen? Probably,” Kelce said. “I’m not sure if I’ve seen too many of them ... I think it’s bogus. I’m on Josh’s team on this. This is bull****.”
The fine adds to what was a frustrating night for Allen and the offense. Buffalo didn't reach the end zone again until Allen and Diggs connected for a 34-yard touchdown with 3:32 left in the game.
Allen completed 26 of 38 passes for 258 yards, plus one touchdown and an interception. He also ran for 44 yards and the score.
Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen (17) throws a pass against the Cincinnati Bengals in the first half at Paycor Stadium.
© Katie Stratman, USA TODAY
Allen also drew an intentional grounding penalty late in the second quarter, one he vehemently disagreed with. The flag pushed Buffalo back 15 yards and out of field goal range with under 20 seconds left in the first half, a play that certainly impacted Buffalo's chances at shortening the deficit.
“I’ve never seen that call in my life,” Allen said. “It’s an option route. Gabe [Davis] can sit down or go. I wasn’t pressured. They decided to make that call and unfortunately didn’t allow us to get points there. I wouldn’t do anything different. I’m expecting him to run a go, he made the read to stop. That’s what it is.”
Buffalo (5-4) will look to get back on track on Monday Night Football when it hosts the Denver Broncos (3-5) at Highmark Stadium at 8:15 p.m. ET.
