New dad energy helps Bills unlock a December weapon at the perfect time

Dads matter in December, too, as the Buffalo Bills proved in their 35-31 Sunday win over the New England Patriots. This week, quarterback Josh Allen announced he and his family are expecting a baby, and tight end Dawson Knox became a new father himself.

The two connected for two touchdown scores in the Bills’ comeback bid against New England. That gave Knox his 25th and 26th career touchdown receptions, enough to move him into the first-place standing in the Bills’ all-time tight end touchdown receptions list. 

Pete Metzelaars, who played for Buffalo from 1985 to 1994, held the franchise record for tight end receiving touchdowns before today.

Knox came into the contest with just one touchdown catch on the season. But he’s surging at just the right time, validating J.J. Watt’s exclamation after his second score, ”New dads play good football."

A franchise milestone puts Dawson Knox back at the center of Buffalo Bills offense

Knox’s production has waned in recent seasons, with Dalton Kincaid growing into a more prominent role in the passing game. Still, with the team’s lack of production at wide receiver, Allen has looked Knox’s way a few extra times here in December.

Last week, Knox had one of the biggest games of his career, catching six passes for 93 yards against the Bengals. To follow that up with a two-touchdown performance is a sight that Bills fans are happy to see with the final stretch of the regular season coming into focus.

Buffalo needs reliable targets at all levels of the field, and Knox has been around Allen and the offense long enough to be a trusted component in the passing game. His latest step in the franchise leaderboards is a testament to that. Knox has caught 221 passes for 2,630 yards and the 26 touchdown receptions in his seven seasons as a Bill.

Knox has been on the ride with Allen and company practically the whole way, so it’s no surprise that when Allen is willing the Bills back in front on the scoreboard these past two weeks, he’s looked Knox’s way successfully.