Josh Allen throws 4 TD passes and the Bills roll to a 47-10 win over the unraveling Jaguars

ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. (AP) — Any concerns Josh Allen had about how the Bills would perform following a 10-day break were eased during a 10-play opening drive that ended with James Cook scoring on a 6-yard touchdown run.

Buffalo kept on scoring. Allen threw four touchdown passes and the Bills scored TDs on each of their five first-half drives in a 47-10 win over a misfiring Trevor Lawrence and the unraveling Jacksonville Jaguars on Monday night.

“It feels good. I’ll tell you that,” said Allen, whose 11 games with four TD passes set a team record, surpassing Hall of Famer Jim Kelly.

“I think this could have easily been a game where we had 10 days off and let up on the gas. But didn’t sense that from our guys, a lot of urgency throughout the week,” he said of a team that hadn't played since a 31-10 rout of Miami on Sept. 12. “We didn’t win it today. We won it in the last 10 days.”

Allen went 22 of 28 for 247 yards in the first 30 minutes alone, with completions to nine receivers. He only attempted two passes after halftime, finishing 23 of 30 for 263 yards before Mitchell Trubisky relieved him.

And he spread the wealth, completing touchdown passes to Dalton Kincaid, Keon Coleman, Khalil Shakir and Ty Johnson.

“Freak of nature, all those things,” Shakir said of Allen, whose 230 touchdowns (passing, rushing and receiving) are one short of matching Patrick Mahomes for most by a player in his first seven NFL seasons.

Buffalo’s defense limited Jacksonville to 70 yards, five first downs and a field goal in five first-half possessions. The game was essentially over when Allen completed a 16-yard TD pass to Johnson 19 seconds before halftime.

Safety Damar Hamlin contributed to the rout with his first career interception. He easily picked off Lawrence’s overthrown pass intended for rookie Brian Thomas Jr. Five plays later, Allen completed a 27-yard TD pass to Shakir, who caught the ball at the 22 and broke two tackles running up the right sideline for the score.

Hamlin’s interception came about 21 months after he went into cardiac arrest and had to be resuscitated on the field in a Monday night game at Cincinnati.

“We all know my last game and how that game went,” said Hamlin, a starter after spending last season as a backup. “So to be able to come all the way back from that, and have a special moment, it’s all God.”

The four-time defending AFC East champions are off to their first 3-0 start since 2020 and third since coach Sean McDermott took over in 2017. They have topped 30 points in each game.

The Jaguars are in free fall. They last opened 0-3 in 2021 under coach Urban Meyer, who was fired before the end of the season.

And if things couldn't go any worse for the Jaguars, mechanical issues led to their flight being delayed out of Buffalo, the team announced.

Jacksonville’s latest defeat comes a week after Lawrence expressed his frustrations by saying “We suck right now” following an 18-13 loss to Cleveland. The Jaguars squandered leads of 14-0 and 17-7 in a season-opening loss at Miami.

On Monday, it was coach Doug Pederson’s turn to question his team.

“It’s really shocking. Very disappointed. You hate to say it, but the reality is we’re not very good right now,” Pederson said. “I need everybody to coach and play better. Let’s leave it at that.”

Lawrence finished 21 of 38 for 178 yards with a touchdown and interception. He’s lost eight straight starts dating to last season, and hasn’t won since he had 364 yards passing in a 24-21 victory at Houston on Nov. 26.

“I’m not playing my best right now and that’s frustrating,” Lawrence said. “It seems like everyone takes their turn in making a bad play at the wrong time, including myself. It seems really difficult to go forward. Can’t find that rhythm right now. We all have our share in it.”

After opening the second half with a 6-yard touchdown pass to Brenton Strange, Lawrence’s final two drives ended on downs.

He was yanked with 7:45 left and watched from the sideline with his hands on his collar as backup Mac Jones was sacked and lost a fumble three snaps into his first possession. That led to Ray Davis scoring on a 3-yard run.

More concerning is a Jaguars defense that couldn’t find a way to stop Allen. The Bills gained 288 yards, posted 19 first downs and converted 6 of 8 third-down chances and both fourth-down opportunities in the first half alone.

Buffalo’s 31-point lead at the half matched the third largest in team history, and its largest since leading Atlanta 38-7 on Nov. 22, 1992.

Von Miller had a sack to increase his total to 126 1/2 and move into a tie for 17th on the career list with Derrick Thomas, one ahead of Dwight Freeney.

Jacksonville: CB Jarrian Jones did not return after hurting his left shoulder on Buffalo’s opening drive. ... LB Foyesade Oluokun was ruled out with a foot injury. ... RT Anton Harrison was ruled out with a knee injury.

Bills: DB Cam Lewis returned after being evaluated for a head injury.

Jaguars: At Houston on Sunday.

Bills: Make their third straight prime-time appearance and open a stretch of three straight road games at Baltimore on Sunday night.

AP Pro Football Writer Mark Long contributed to this report.

AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl

Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence answers questions after an NFL football game against the Buffalo Bills, Monday, Sept. 23, 2024, in Orchard Park, NY. (AP Photo/Steven Senne)

Buffalo Bills running back Ray Davis (22) scores a rushing touchdown against the Jacksonville Jaguars during the second half of an NFL football game Monday, Sept. 23, 2024, in Orchard Park, NY. (AP Photo/Steven Senne)

Buffalo Bills wide receiver Keon Coleman celebrates after scoring a touchdown against the Jacksonville Jaguars during the first half of an NFL football game Monday, Sept. 23, 2024, in Orchard Park, NY. (AP Photo/Steven Senne)

Buffalo Bills wide receiver Khalil Shakir (10) celebrates his touchdown catch with teammates during the first half of an NFL football game against the Jacksonville Jaguars, Monday, Sept. 23, 2024, in Orchard Park, NY. (AP Photo/Adrian Kraus)

Buffalo Bills head coach Sean McDermott watches from the sideline during the second half of an NFL football game against the Jacksonville Jaguars, Monday, Sept. 23, 2024, in Orchard Park, NY. (AP Photo/Adrian Kraus)

Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence, center, is sacked by Buffalo Bills defensive end AJ Epenesa, left, and linebacker Dorian Williams (42) during the second half of an NFL football game Monday, Sept. 23, 2024, in Orchard Park, NY. (AP Photo/Adrian Kraus)

Jacksonville Jaguars head coach Doug Pederson watches from the sideline during the second half of an NFL football game against the Buffalo Bills, Monday, Sept. 23, 2024, in Orchard Park, NY. (AP Photo/Steven Senne)

Buffalo Bills running back James Cook (4) lunges into the end zone to score a touchdown during the first half of an NFL football game against the Jacksonville Jaguars, Monday, Sept. 23, 2024, in Orchard Park, NY. (AP Photo/Steven Senne)

The Jacksonville Jaguars line up against the Buffalo Bills during the first half of an NFL football game Monday, Sept. 23, 2024, in Orchard Park, NY. (AP Photo/Adrian Kraus)

Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence (16) lunges for yardage under Buffalo Bills linebacker Dorian Williams (42) during the first half of an NFL football game against the Buffalo Bills, Monday, Sept. 23, 2024, in Orchard Park, NY. (AP Photo/Adrian Kraus)

Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence (16) hand off to running back Travis Etienne Jr. (1) during the first half of an NFL football game against the Buffalo Bills, Monday, Sept. 23, 2024, in Orchard Park, NY. (AP Photo/Steven Senne)

Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence (16) runs out of the pocket during the first half of an NFL football game against the Buffalo Bills, Monday, Sept. 23, 2024, in Orchard Park, NY. (AP Photo/Adrian Kraus)

Buffalo Bills wide receiver Keon Coleman, left, scores a touchdown past Jacksonville Jaguars cornerback Montaric Brown during the first half of an NFL football game Monday, Sept. 23, 2024, in Orchard Park, NY. (AP Photo/Steven Senne)

Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin (3) celebrates after intercepting a pass during the first half of an NFL football game against the Jacksonville Jaguars, Monday, Sept. 23, 2024, in Orchard Park, NY. (AP Photo/Adrian Kraus)

Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen (17) signals for a first down during the first half of an NFL football game against the Jacksonville Jaguars, Monday, Sept. 23, 2024, in Orchard Park, NY. (AP Photo/Adrian Kraus)

ATLANTA (AP) — A final day that wasn't on the schedule and won't soon be forgotten.

An improbable comeback by the New York Mets in the opening game of a makeup doubleheader to secure their playoff berth. A gritty recovery by the Atlanta Braves in the nightcap, stamping their postseason ticket as well.

And all the Arizona Diamondbacks could do was watch hopelessly from the desert, their hopes snuffed out by two games on the other side of the country.

“You’re just focused on getting into the postseason,” said Braves first baseman Matt Olson, soaked in champagne as he celebrated a 3-0 win in the last game of the regular season. “Whatever it took. If we had to play four games today, we would have done it.”

The regular season went to extra innings after the Mets and Braves had a pair of games rained out last week by Hurricane Helene. They controlled their own fates, with each holding a tiebreaker edge over the defending NL champion Diamondbacks.

Arizona needed one team to sweep, so they were pulling for the Mets after they overcame deficits of 3-0 in the eighth inning and 7-6 in the ninth to win the opener 8-7, going ahead for good on Francisco Lindor’s two-run homer.

"An instant classic game,” said Brandon Nimmo, whose two-run homer capped a six-run eighth.

The Braves, to their credit, bounced back to get the win they had to have. Even after ace Chris Sale was scratched because of back spasms, journeyman Grant Holmes stepped in to lead off a three-hitter spread among six pitchers.

At the end, in the perfect capper to a wacky day, there were champagne-spraying celebrations in both clubhouses at Truist Park.

Holmes found out he was starting about a half-hour before the first pitch.

“I was about to go get some food,” said the 28-year-old Holmes, who finally made it to the big leagues this year after a decade in the minors. "They came up to me and said, ‘Hey, you’re going to start this one off today.’ And I was like, ‘Oh, OK, here we go.’”

With their postseason berth locked up, the Mets added left-hander Joey Lucchesi to the roster to start the second game. The 31-year-old left-hander spent most of the season at Triple-A Syracuse, giving up five runs in 4 1/3 innings in his lone big league appearance before Monday,

He looked like an ace against the Braves, who might’ve still been a bit shellshocked after the way they lost the opener. Lucchesi (0-2) allowed just three hits, including a run-scoring single to Gio Urshela, in a six-inning, 111-pitch outing.

But Marcell Ozuna gave the Braves some breathing room with a two-run single in the seventh. Daysbel Hernandez (3-0) earned the win and Raisel Iglesias finished it off for his 34th save in 37 chances.

The Braves also got a scoreless inning from starter Reynaldo López, who had pitched six innings just two days earlier.

“I'm so proud of all those guys,” Atlanta manager Brian Snitker said. “It takes the whole building to make something like this happen.”

The Mets were already in party mode after Lindor’s 33rd homer.

Trailing 3-0, with just three singles through seven innings against rookie Spencer Schwellenbach, New York's offense came to life in the eighth.

The Mets surged ahead with their six-run outburst. The Braves stormed back with four runs in the bottom half, as Ozzie Albies delivered a bases-loaded double with two outs for a 7-6 lead — giving him five RBIs in the game after a two-run homer in the third.

But New York delivered the final blow with Lindor's drive into the Braves bullpen off Pierce Johnson (7-5).

“That was one of the craziest games I’ve ever been a part of,” said Carlos Mendoza, the Mets rookie manager. “Just the meaning of it. Coming back in the game and then losing the lead and then coming back again in the ninth. It was unbelievable, like you should write a book.”

Edwin Díaz (6-4) earned the win with a season-high 40 pitches despite giving up Albies’ go-ahead hit, which came after the Mets closer failed to cover first on a play that allowed Jarred Kelenic to reach on a two-out infield hit.

Díaz demanded to return to the mound for the ninth.

“I don’t care what you say, I’m going back out,” he told Mendoza.

New York had lost 77 straight games when trailing by three runs in eighth inning or later since May 17, 2023. With that streak snapped, Díaz slammed his glove to the ground and the Mets celebrated their 11th postseason berth in 63 seasons, the last coming in 2022.

“I’ve never seen a game like that,” Mets owner Steve Cohen said.

Or a final day like that.

SALE’S STATUS

Atlanta had been holding back Sale since his scheduled start last week was rained out, saying they wanted to use him in an elimination game.

But the left-hander wasn’t able to pitch because of back spasms, which Braves general manager Alex Anthopoulos said only cropped up after a throwing session Sunday but Snitker conceded had been an issue for some time.

“He’s had it off and on all year,” Snitker said. “Everybody in that room’s got aches and pains at this time of year."

The Braves aren't sure if Sale will be able to pitch in the playoffs.

UP NEXT

Mets: Head back to Milwaukee, where they just played a weekend series, for the best-of-three Wild Card Series that begins Tuesday.

Braves: Were heading to the airport for the four-hour flight to San Diego, where their Wild Card Series also starts Tuesday.

AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb

Atlanta Braves catcher Sean Murphy celebrates in the locker room after clinching a wild-card playoff berth after the second baseball game of a doubleheader against the New York Mets, Monday, Sept. 30, 2024, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Jason Allen)

Atlanta Braves players celebrate in the locker room after clinching a wild-card playoff berth after the second baseball game of a doubleheader against the New York Mets, Monday, Sept. 30, 2024, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Jason Allen)

The Atlanta Braves celebrate in the locker room after clinching a wild-card playoff berth after the second baseball game of a doubleheader against the New York Mets, Monday, Sept. 30, 2024, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Jason Allen)

Atlanta Braves pitcher Daysbel Hernández celebrates in the locker room after clinching a wild-card playoff berth after the second baseball game of a doubleheader against the New York Mets, Monday, Sept. 30, 2024, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Jason Allen)

The New York Mets celebrate in the locker room after clinching a playoff berth with a victory in the first baseball game of a doubleheader against the Atlanta Braves, Monday, Sept. 30, 2024, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Jason Allen)

The New York Mets celebrate in the locker room after clinching a playoff berth with a victory in the first baseball game of a doubleheader against the Atlanta Braves, Monday, Sept. 30, 2024, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Jason Allen)

Atlanta Braves' Travis d'Arnaud, left, Orlando Arcia, center, and Ramón Laureano, right, celebrate after scoring in the eighth inning of a baseball game against the New York Mets, Monday, Sept. 30, 2024, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Jason Allen)

New York Mets owner, Steve Cohen, right, high fives Luisangel Acuña in the dugout after winning the game in the ninth inning of a baseball game against the Atlanta Braves, Monday, Sept. 30, 2024, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Jason Allen)

New York Mets pitcher Edwin Díaz, center, celebrates with teammates after winning the game in the ninth inning of a baseball game against the Atlanta Braves, Monday, Sept. 30, 2024, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Jason Allen)

New York Mets' Francisco Lindor, left, and Starling Marte, center, celebrate at home plate after scoring in the ninth inning of a baseball game against the Atlanta Braves, Monday, Sept. 30, 2024, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Jason Allen)

Atlanta Braves second baseman Ozzie Albies throws out New York Mets' Jose Iglesias at first base in the sixth inning of a baseball game, Monday, Sept. 30, 2024, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Jason Allen)

New York Mets second baseman Jose Iglesias, right, tags second base and throws to first before Atlanta Braves' Ozzie Albies, left, can slide into the bag in the fifth inning of a baseball game, Monday, Sept. 30, 2024, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Jason Allen)

Atlanta Braves' Ramon Laureano, center, celebrates with teammates in the dugout after hitting a solo home run to centerfield in the sixth inning of a baseball game against the New York Mets, Monday, Sept. 30, 2024, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Jason Allen)

Atlanta Braves' Marcell Ozuna waits for the pitch in the fifth inning of a baseball game against the New York Mets, Monday, Sept. 30, 2024, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Jason Allen)

New York Mets pitcher Huascar Brazoban throws in the sixth inning of a baseball game against the Atlanta Braves, Monday, Sept. 30, 2024, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Jason Allen)

Atlanta Braves' Ramon Laureano, behind, celebrates with Atlanta Braves Orlando Arcia, front, in the dugout after hitting a solo home run to centerfield in the sixth inning of a baseball game against the New York Mets, Monday, Sept. 30, 2024, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Jason Allen)

Atlanta Braves' Ramon Laureano hits a home run to center field in the sixth inning of a baseball game against the New York Mets, Monday, Sept. 30, 2024, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Jason Allen)

New York Mets' Francisco Lindor prepares to swing in the third inning of a baseball game against the Atlanta Braves, Monday, Sept. 30, 2024, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Jason Allen)

New York Mets fans await their turn to get autographs before the start of a baseball game against the Atlanta Braves, Monday, Sept. 30, 2024, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Jason Allen)

Bally reporter, Hanna Yates, broadcasts her pregame with fans standing behind her waiting for autographs before the start of a baseball game between the New York Mets and the Atlanta Braves, Monday, Sept. 30, 2024, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Jason Allen)

New York Mets pitcher Tylor Megill throws in the first inning of a baseball game against the Atlanta Braves, Monday, Sept. 30, 2024, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Jason Allen)

Atlanta Braves' Ozzie Albies, left, gestures to the crowd while stepping on home plate after hitting a two-run home run in the third inning of a baseball game against the New York Mets, Monday, Sept. 30, 2024, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Jason Allen)

New York Mets' Tyrone Taylor steal second base before Atlanta Braves second baseman Ozzie Albies, top, can tag him in the third inning of a baseball game, Monday, Sept. 30, 2024, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Jason Allen)

New York Mets owner Steve Cohen, right, poses with a fan for a photo before the start of a baseball game against the Atlanta Braves, Monday, Sept. 30, 2024, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Jason Allen)

Atlanta Braves pitcher Spencer Schwellenbach throws in the first inning of a baseball game against the New York Mets, Tuesday, Sept. 24, 2024, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Jason Allen)

Atlanta Braves fans await for the start of a baseball game against the New York Mets, Monday, Sept. 30, 2024, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Jason Allen)

Atlanta Braves' Ozzie Albies prepares to tag third base after hitting a two-run home run in the third inning of a baseball game against the New York Mets, Monday, Sept. 30, 2024, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Jason Allen)

Atlanta Braves pitcher Spencer Schwellenbach throws in the first inning of a baseball game against the New York Mets, Monday, Sept. 30, 2024, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Jason Allen)