Keon Coleman Posts Career-High 116 Yards in Bills' 29-26 Loss to New England

With DJ Moore out by halftime, third-year receiver Keon Coleman produced six catches, a career-best 116 yards and a late touchdown in Buffalo's first defeat.

The Sunday defeat to New England was doubly costly for Buffalo. Beyond the 29-26 final that marked the Bills' first loss of the season, wide receiver DJ Moore went out with a shoulder injury before halftime, leaving the offense short-handed while the club was still trying to defend a perfect 3-0 record. The game was carried by CBS and Paramount+ and streamed on NFL+.

Keon Coleman took on the added responsibility. Now in his third professional season, the receiver recorded six receptions — the second-highest single-game total of his career — for a personal-best 116 yards and a touchdown, handing quarterback Josh Allen another outside target once Moore departed. It was the sort of showing Buffalo's coaches, front office and fan base had been hoping to see from him.

Coleman credited persistence for the numbers on an uneven day for the offense. "Good play called by Joe, Josh just letting it go and, you know, I'm just doing my routine job," he said afterward. Asked about producing while a teammate was hurt, he said it demonstrated to the locker room that he can be relied upon, though the defeat kept him from treating the afternoon as anything special.

The acrobatics began in the opening quarter. A pass arrived high and beyond Coleman's back shoulder, and he left his feet for it, rotating as he descended and hanging on for the completion.

His most consequential moment came in the final period. Facing third-and-6, Coleman deflected Allen's throw into the air, chased the ball toward the boundary and secured a 22-yard completion to extend the possession. "Really just focus the ball," he said of the grab. "Ball never dead until it hits the ground, so don't let it hit and that's a pivotal down."

Soon after, Coleman concluded an 80-yard possession with a 34-yard touchdown reception at the 4:27 mark, separating from Charles Woods and giving Buffalo a short-lived lead. He described the snap as nothing out of the ordinary, explaining that he ran a deep post, varied his speed and used a rocker step to get open. "Ran my route, win, and then that was it," Coleman said. "Seen Josh eyes, I was like, that's a boss."

Allen pointed to the third-down receptions and said the offense will need more of them in the weeks ahead. Head coach Joe Brady, who required somebody to handle the snaps Moore normally takes, approved of how Coleman adapted even though the result gave the Bills little to enjoy. "That's the expectation of Keon — getting the opportunities and making the most of it," Brady said. The yardage total was Coleman's largest since a 125-yard effort against the Tennessee Titans in 2024.

The performance came despite physical concerns. Coleman managed an ankle issue during the game and had practiced on a limited basis in the week leading into the matchup. Moore, meanwhile, had his designation lowered to doubtful as the contest progressed, and there was no clarity about his condition beyond Sunday.

Buffalo now turns to a Monday night road matchup with the Los Angeles Rams on Oct. 12, a game in which Coleman could again be asked to carry a greater share of the passing game workload.