The Buffalo Bills’ 2024 season has been written. So... let’s add some “illustrations!” If you’re new to Plays That Defined, this isn’t a highlight recap, but rather a cathartic retelling of the past season, chapter by chapter.
Don’t vote for your favorite play necessarily, vote for the one that best represents that game’s narrative. I’ll recap the game to refresh your memory, but don’t feel locked in by my narrative.
Chapter 18: Wild Card Round vs. Denver Broncos
There was a lot of talk leading up to the final seeding and, believe it or not, I believe I saw a few people ponder if Denver might end up being the worst matchup for Buffalo. That seemed like it might have been a warranted fear when Bo Nix and the Broncos moved the ball 70 yards in five plays on their opening drive to score a touchdown.
That fear quickly dissipated as the Bills shut the Broncos down completely afterward. Denver forced only a single punt all game as Buffalo took control.
The Broncos score (Q1; 12:36)
I like to show contrasting plays sometimes as an option to define the game by the outlier. They never get picked, but I still enjoy the idea. Anyway, here’s the Broncos sole score. There was almost a second one. I almost grabbed a GIF of the near score, a doinked 50-yard field goal attempt to end the half.
Let’s be honest for a moment here. When the Broncos got the ball and five plays in we saw them bust open a long touchdown like this did you believe we were in for a long day? Luckily things turned around real quick.
Matt Milano’s sack (Q1; 6:10)
Sure the defense allowed the quick score. After that though? Nothing. Matt Milano’s sack of 0 yards was a great rundown of a mobile quarterback. This game made it hard to decide which stops to put a GIF to.
James Cook’s TD (Q2; 13:02)
Buffalo was very confident running the ball in this game, using the ground game 44 times compared to 26 passes. That helped establish a preposterously high 41:43 time of possession.
For context, winning teams in games that hit overtime rarely would hit the 40 minute mark. This was close to two minutes over that in regulation. I wanted a run game to highlight that dominance and what better look than the Bills first touchdown, courtesy of James Cook.
Ty Johnson’s TD (Q3; 3:15)
I tend to steer one of two directions when it comes to games like this. Try to pick only one representative play and risk readers telling me I missed the mark. Or pick a bunch of plays to let you decide and risk voting go haywire as similar narrative cannibalize each other.
I went the latter risk this time because while the running game deserves a major nod, so does the individual efforts of nearly the entire roster exemplified by Ty Johnson somehow keeping his toes off the paint to allow this fourth-down score to stay on the board.
3rd-down stop (Q3; 1:25)
It’s not just the touchdowns I couldn’t stick with one on. Take your pick between the sack above, or this coverage stop that was nearly an interception. Damar Hamlin and Terrel Bernard were both in fantastic position.
Curtis Samuel’s TD (Q4; 15:00)
Going back to those individual performances, let’s talk about Curtis Samuel and Josh Allen for a second. Samuel’s day wasn’t gaudy, but he caught three passes on three targets including this insane touchdown.
While the run game was arguably the star, it’s mostly due to volume. Both facets of the game were near flawless as Allen shows on both the passing touchdowns.
Poll
Which play best illustrates the dominant Wild Card victory over the Broncos?
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The Broncos score
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Milano sack
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Cook TD
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Johnson TD
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3rd down stop
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Samuel TD
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