Buffalo Rumblings
Now this is more like it!
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.
The division had been locked up weeks ago, but with possible seeding implications on the line the Bills had to be prepared for the lowly New York Jets. An easy game to look past based on opponent and time of year, Buffalo elected to flex their muscles.
The Bills’ defense was rock solid and after the half the offense scored at will, including a long touchdown from Mitchell Trubisky to Tyrell Shavers that put Buffalo up 40-0. Two late garbage-time scores from Tyrod Taylor don’t make the score seem closer than a shutout, and instead serve as more of a reminder of how meaningless the fourth quarter was.
Objectively, most scoring plays are better than a safety. After all, they generally put equal or more points on the board. There’s just something about seeing a safety though. A.J. Epenesa came in off the edge and made a clean tackle for the second score of the game to put Buffalo up by nine.
Can you believe this was so far into the second half? Even after Buffalo scored a field goal following this play it was only a two-score game going into the break. Anyway, this play helps demonstrate the great day the defense had.
Another way to demonstrate how well the defense played in this game is to show one of the three turnovers. Why the interception by Christian Benford? I mean, we also have a big-man interception courtesy of Jordan Phillips to choose from.
At the end of the play, Aaron Rodgers got in a late hit for an extra chunk of yardage. With 16 assessed and 18 total penalties, flags were a big part of the Jets’ narrative. So this play counts for two trends.
Similarly, this play also pulls double duty with an unnecessary roughness call for roughing the passer. And yes, at this point Josh Allen should be considered “THE” passer.
Keon Coleman caught this with style too, which helps as a selection. Back to the double duty, of those 16 penalties that counted, five of them were unnecessary roughness ones — which is pretty insane.
Though I suppose a second touchdown might be in order. Nothing says “blowout” better than a superfluous touchdown like this 69-yard catch and run by Tyrell Shavers from a Mitchell Trubisky pass.
