Bills Central

Two game-changing plays put Buffalo Bills in driver's seat vs. Steelers

Christian Benford got in on the action, and he received help from a long-time veteran
Owen Klein|
Nov 2, 2025; Orchard Park, New York, USA; Buffalo Bills cornerback Christian Benford (47) brings down Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Hollywood Brown (5) in the second quarter at Highmark Stadium.
Nov 2, 2025; Orchard Park, New York, USA; Buffalo Bills cornerback Christian Benford (47) brings down Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Hollywood Brown (5) in the second quarter at Highmark Stadium. | Gregory Fisher-Imagn Images

In this story:

Buffalo Bills | News, Scores, Schedules & Standings

The Buffalo Bills turned the ball over twice against a Pittsburgh Steelers defense known for taking the ball away. In the first two minutes of the second half, however, Buffalo delivered Pittsburgh a taste of its own medicine, taking the lead.

The Steelers received the second-half kickoff up 7-3, and on the opening play, Aaron Rodgers moved around in the pocket before he was crunched from behind by Joey Bosa, jarring the ball loose. Next thing he knew, his nose was bloodied and Christian Benford scored a touchdown on a 17-yard return.

Mason Rudolph promptly entered at quarterback as Rodgers headed into the medical tent, and four plays later, he sailed a deep pass over Darnell Washington's head and into the arms of a waiting Benford along the left sideline. It was the cornerback's first interception of the season.

RELATED: Refs ignore blatant late hit on Josh Allen in chippy Bills-Steelers showdown

The Bills took advantage of the interception, putting together an eight-play drive that culminated in Allen finding Keon Coleman in the back of the end zone on fourth-and-goal to give them a 16-7 lead about halfway through the third quarter.

With those plays, Benford became the third Bill ever and the first since Drayton Florence in 2010 with a fumble return touchdown and an interception in the same game.

On a day in which the Bills have self-imploded offensively when they're not running effectively, defensive plays like those really help.

— Sign up for OnSI’s Free Buffalo Bills Newsletter —

More Buffalo Bills News:

Published
Owen Klein
OWEN KLEIN

Owen Klein has covered football, basketball and baseball for Penn State athletics as a broadcaster on local radio, including producing Penn State’s 2024 men’s basketball Big Ten Tournament games and calling Penn State football’s Whiteout vs. Washington in November 2024. He has internships with the Buffalo Bisons and CBS affiliate WIVB in Buffalo, NY, in the summer of 2025. He is a Penn State University broadcast journalism student at the Bellisario College of Communications majoring in broadcast journalism and is passionate about college and professional sports, the Pokémon Video Game Championships and the Buffalo Bills.

Share on XFollow Kleiner2003