Bills Central

Surprise tight end emerges as go-to option for Josh Allen vs. Bengals

Not Dalton Kincaid, but this venerable player did all he pleased on Sunday
Owen Klein|
Dec 7, 2025; Orchard Park, New York, USA; Bills tight end Dawson Knox (88) runs with the ball in the fourth quarter against the Cincinnati Bengals at Highmark Stadium.
Dec 7, 2025; Orchard Park, New York, USA; Bills tight end Dawson Knox (88) runs with the ball in the fourth quarter against the Cincinnati Bengals at Highmark Stadium. | Gregory Fisher-Imagn Images

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The Buffalo Bills had a dream matchup going into their game against the Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday, with the Bengals' tight end defense being the worst in the NFL by far and with Dalton Kincaid, their star player at the position, returning from a hamstring injury.

However, it wasn't Kincaid who took the mantle. Rather, it was seventh-year tight end Dawson Knox became the go-to target for Josh Allen inside a snowy Highmark Stadium.

Knox accumulated 93 yards, the third-highest total of his career, on six catches, both of which led the Bills, and a two-point conversion following an immaculate Josh Allen touchdown pass.

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"There's a reason he's the most valuable player in all of football," Knox said after the game. "It's hard not to be in awe of him every time I'm out there on the field with him, but at the same time, we're really used to him because he does it every week."

Seams down the middle of the field were open all game long in the snow for Knox to exploit, and that was prevalent on his 31-yard catch-and-run on the Bills' final scoring drive. He also appeared to score a touchdown on that drive, but replay review showed he juggled the ball along the sideline.

Dawson Knox
Dec 7, 2025; Orchard Park, New York, USA; Bills tight end Dawson Knox (88) is pushed by Bengals linebacker Barrett Carter (49) in the fourth quarter at Highmark Stadium. | Mark Konezny-Imagn Images

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Buffalo's tight ends took over in Cincinnati, with Kincaid and Jackson Hawes catching touchdowns from Allen, but Knox stole the spotlight among that position group.

"You never know if you're gonna have a lot of catches or touchdowns or whatnot," Knox said. "It's a really fun room to be in, man. I love all those guys."

With a lack of a downfield threat of a receiver, if Knox can keep up with similar performances, it'll be a big boon for Allen and the Bills' offense.

Dawson Knox
Dec 7, 2025; Orchard Park, New York, USA; Bills tight end Dawson Knox (88) runs with the ball in the third quarter against the Bengals at Highmark Stadium. | Mark Konezny-Imagn Images

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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.

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