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Alaina GetzenbergESPN
ORCHARD PARK, NY — On the second play of the Buffalo Ticketswinning practice against the Miami Dolphinsthe offense retreated thanks to a sack from the quarterback Josh Allen.
Facing second-and-18 on their own 13-yard line, the Bills had to make big plays or be forced to return the ball to the Dolphins with limited time but likely in a good field position with the score tied. Instead, Allen connected with a wide receiver Gabe Davis on a 15-yard pass, and the Bills’ offense sailed downfield, taking all 5 minutes and 56 seconds remaining on the clock on a 15-play, 65-yard drive.
Aided by a defensive pass interference call on third down in Miami territory, the game ended with a 25-yard field goal attempt, which Tyler Bass started through the uprights after Bills players helped dust a spot in the snow for him.
The kick landed a 32-29 victory on the Dolphins and, for a Bills team with title aspirations, a fourth straight season with a playoff appearance. It also gave Buffalo its third straight campaign with 11+ wins, the second-longest streak in franchise history (four straight from 1990–93). The celebrations started with Bass and several players sliding through the snow in celebration.
“It took everything we had to get this one out tonight,” Bills coach Sean McDermott said. “That just makes it special. … You know, like I said, it’s humble. Really, that’s how I feel about it. Humbled to be a part of it in this great city that doesn’t get not as much credit as it deserves, honestly. And the fans, I mean, this place is unique. So, just awesome. Awesome.”
Trailing eight points early in the fourth quarter, the Bills tied the game in their penultimate practice, largely thanks to a 44-yard run from Allen on a quarterback draw that placed Buffalo in the Dolphins’ 20. Allen compared the way he ran to Forrest Gump, the way he got his knees up and kept going full speed ahead.
Allen’s long run was the highlight of the Bills’ revitalized rushing offense in the fourth quarter. They ran for 99 yards in the final 15 minutes after rushing for 51 yards in the first three quarters combined. Allen finished with a team-best 77 yards on 10 carries and also threw four touchdown passes, all of which went to running backs and tight ends, including a 5-yard pass to tight. Dawson Knox on the draw player. Allen then dove for the ensuing 2-point conversion.
“He makes games that I’ve never seen before. Sometimes you kind of become a fan while you’re watching him,” Knox said. “Unfortunately I was under a 300 pound technical on that play where he hit the ball on both points so I didn’t see him until we saw the JumboTron. kinda talked about before It’s not even surprising at this point. You’re just like, oh, Josh is Josh again. He’s the best quarterback in the league, the best football player in the league. So whenever you have him on your team, you have a chance to win.”
The Bills took a 21-13 halftime lead, but all three phases of their game were canceled in the third quarter. The offense threw four straight possessions, the defense gave up two quick touchdowns and special teams extended a Dolphins drive with a brutal kicker penalty on the defensive back Cam Lewis.
But as the snow fell in the fourth quarter, things fell into place for the Bills. After an Allen fumble, the defense held the Dolphins to the basket and the Buffalo offense set up the back-to-back scoring streaks to close the game.
“Almost like everything is meant to happen, isn’t it?” Invoice security Jordan Boyer said about the time of snow. “We didn’t see a lot of snow. We thought we were going to see a lot more snow than us. But yeah, Josh comes down, takes the attack and scores, and the snow starts falling. It was actually a bit surreal. It was a fun, fun atmosphere.”
The Bills remain atop the AFC with an 11-3 record, with games against the Chicago Bears, Cincinnati Bengals and the New England Patriots remaining. But the goal now is to host many more games at Orchard Park.
“That’s the #1 thing that Coach McDermott preaches is playoff caliber; you can’t win the Super Bowl unless you make the playoffs,” Allen said. “So that’s the No. 1 goal. The No. 2 goal now is to win the division. That’s how we’re going to take it. We’re going to take it one game at a time. Be ready for the week next. “
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