Bills offense sets the table with an 'everybody eats' approach that has 13 players with a TD catch

ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. (AP) — The table is already set for 13, but leave room for at least one more, because the Buffalo Bills weren’t kidding about their so-called “everybody eats” approach to offense this season.

With practice squad call-up Tyrell Shavers scoring on his first career catch in a mop-up role of a 40-14 win over the New York Jets last week, the Bills became the ninth team in league history with 13 players with at least one touchdown catch in a season.

So why not go for the record with Buffalo (13-3) — already locked into the AFC’s No. 2 seed entering the playoffs — preparing to rest many starters in its season finale at New England (3-13) on Sunday.

“Absolutely, I’ve thought about it,” fullback Reggie Gilliam said following practice on Wednesday. “I was telling Jalen Virgil that we’re the last ones.”

Well, not exactly.

Gilliam is the only Bills player at a skill position on the active roster not to have caught a touchdown pass this season. And Virgil is the only practice squad receiver not to have done so.

Other candidates remain, including two practice squad players, running back Frank Gore Jr. and tight end Zach Davidson. And don’t forget about backup offensive tackle Alec Anderson, an eligible receiver in being often used as a sixth lineman in running and passing situations.

“That would be awesome,” Anderson said. “I’m not going to be sitting here crying for it. But if my opportunity arises, I think I’ll take advantage of it.”

Should Buffalo break the record, it won’t matter who scores in the big picture because of the selfless approach the team has adopted since coordinator Joe Brady introduced the “everybody eats” mantra in May.

The phrase was prompted out of necessity, with the offense facing major questions over who was going to replace the production in the wake of Buffalo trading top option Stefon Diggs to Houston and losing No. 2 receiver Gabe Davis to free agency. The pair accounted for more than a third of Josh Allen’s 385 completions, nearly half of his 4,306 yards passing, and combined to catch 15 of his 29 touchdown passes last season.

The concerns have been long forgotten in a season the Bills have leaned on a more balanced approach to set single-season records with 509 points and 63 touchdowns. And they’ve done so without a player yet topping 1,000 yards receiving or rushing.

“Put the ball down and play. We got a lot of guys that can make the plays, so when given opportunities, they make them,” rookie receiver Keon Coleman said. “It says a lot about the unselfishness in the guys that we have here.”

Four players have four or more TD catches, led by Mack Hollins with five. Allen is on the list, having been credited with touchdown catch after scoring on a lateral off a pass he completed to Amari Cooper. And every Bills player who’s caught a pass this season has scored a TD with the exception of Davidson and Marquez Valdes-Scantling, who was released in October.

“Everybody eats has such a deeper meaning as far as the guys got to care for one another,’” receiver Khalil Shakir said.

“You might only have 10 yards this game, but Keon has 100, but I’m going to go and make sure to block for him,” he added. “And when you’ve got a team playing for each other like that, I don’t think there’s anything that beats it.”

Buffalo is the only team to have 13 players catch at least a TD in a season twice, having also done it in 2020. Of the eight previous teams on the list, only two missed the playoffs, and five reached the conference championship game, including the 2016 Falcons and 2019 49ers, who went on to lose in the Super Bowl.

“The team is bigger than any one person, and we want everybody to have success” Brady said.

“We were putting an offense together that was going to be able to find different ways to win football games,” he added. “And when you’ve got the best player in football at quarterback, he makes it all go. And when you got a lot of selfless guys around, you’re able to do those things ... you know, the everybody eats mindset.”

Shavers felt the love Sunday. His 69-yard touchdown off a screen pass from backup quarterback Mitchell Trubisky sparked an enthusiastic celebration in which he was mobbed by teammates in the end zone and then again on the sideline.

“It shows that there’s no selfish people on this team. Everybody just wants to win,” Shavers said, before asked who might become the 14th Bills player to catch a touchdown pass.

“Ain’t no telling,” Shavers said. “It could be anybody really.”

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Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen (17) stands on the sidelines during the second half of an NFL football game against the New York Jets, Sunday, Dec. 29, 2024, in Orchard Park, N.Y. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)

Buffalo Bills wide receiver Keon Coleman (0) makes a catch in front of New York Jets cornerback Isaiah Oliver (23) during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 29, 2024, in Orchard Park, N.Y. (AP Photo/Adrian Kraus)

Buffalo Bills wide receiver Mack Hollins (13) reacts to a play against the New York Jets during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 29, 2024, in Orchard Park, N.Y. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)

Buffalo Bills wide receiver Tyrell Shavers (80) celebrates with fans after scoring a touchdown against the New York Jets during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 29, 2024, in Orchard Park, N.Y. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)

Buffalo Bills wide receiver Tyrell Shavers (80) scores a touchdown against the New York Jets on a catch a run during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 29, 2024, in Orchard Park, N.Y. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)

The first stage of Mohamed Salah’s rehabilitation at Liverpool is complete after the Egypt forward returned to the team for its 2-0 win over Brighton in the Premier League on Saturday.

The question now as Salah heads off to the Africa Cup of Nations: Is there a future for him at Anfield when he comes back?

Salah, who let rip last weekend about his current frustrations at Liverpool, entered as a 26th-minute substitute to a big ovation and set up the second of Hugo Ekitike’s goals as the defending champion extended its unbeaten run to five games in all competitions.

Also Saturday, Chelsea beat Everton 2-0 and was set on its way to victory by Cole Palmer’s first goal in three months. First-place Arsenal hosts last-place Wolverhampton later.

Salah held talks with Liverpool manager Arne Slot on Friday in an effort to overcome their issues and the result was that Salah was recalled to the matchday squad for the Brighton game. He had been a substitute for the last three Premier League matches before being left at home for the midweek Champions League trip to Inter Milan as a punishment for his explosive comments to reporters last weekend.

“It was an easy decision to put him in the squad," Slot said. “I have said many times before what has been said between us will stay between us.”

Liverpool's fans demonstrated they are willing to excuse Salah for his show of anger and gave him a rapturous welcome when he came on as a substitute for the injured Joe Gomez midway through the first half.

By then, Liverpool was leading 1-0 thanks to Ekitike's rising shot inside the first minute and Salah showed glimpses of his class, especially on the counterattack. It was Salah's corner kick that was headed in by Ekitike for the second goal in the 60th, sparking another round of chants for the Egyptian.

Slot said Salah was a threat all game.

“Pleasing to see but not a surprise,” Slot said.

Salah could be away for more than a month if Egypt goes all the way in the Africa Cup.

It was a second straight start for Palmer, whose season has been blighted by a groin injury that has restricted him to seven games in all competitions.

There looked to be nothing wrong with Palmer when he ran onto Malo Gusto's pass and slipped a finish inside the near post to give Chelsea the lead in the 21st minute at Stamford Bridge.

However, Palmer said after the game that he wasn't at his best yet because he was “still dealing with an injury.”

“It’s just a matter of not doing too much too soon,” Palmer told the BBC. “Literally, it’s just a day-by-day thing. Hopefully it gets better.”

Gusto added the second goal in the 45th minute for Chelsea, which jumped to fourth place.

Steve Douglas is at https://twitter.com/sdouglas80

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Chelsea's Cole Palmer celebrates after scoring his sides first goal during the English Premier League soccer match between Chelsea and Everton in London, Saturday, Dec. 13, 2025. (Adam Davy/PA via AP)

Liverpool's Hugo Ekitike celebrates after scoring his side's second goal during the English Premier League soccer match between Liverpool and Brighton and Hove Albion in Liverpool, England, Saturday, Dec. 13, 2025. (AP Photo/Jon Super)

Liverpool fans hold placard depicting Liverpool's Mohamed Salah before the English Premier League soccer match between Liverpool and Brighton and Hove Albion in Liverpool, England, Saturday, Dec. 13, 2025. (AP Photo/Jon Super)

Liverpool's Mohamed Salah, left, challenges for the ball with Brighton's Lewis Dunk during the English Premier League soccer match between Liverpool and Brighton and Hove Albion in Liverpool, England, Saturday, Dec. 13, 2025. (AP Photo/Jon Super)