Sorry to keep repeating myself, but man that Buffalo Bills game was so much fun.
Actually, I’m not sorry I keep repeating myself.
This has been one of the most enjoyable Bills seasons I have ever experienced, and what a way to cap-off the best regular season by any Bills team in 29 years. Clinching the No. 2 seed by absolutely destroying the Miami Dolphins (I will never forget the 1970’s), and doing it with the air show known as Josh Allen and company.
Someone will need to come up with a nickname for the Bills offense. The St. Louis Rams had the "greatest show on turf" and the San Diego Chargers had “Air Coryell”, so there’s your homework assignment. Email me your ideas.
If it were up to me, Allen never would have seen the field for this game. However, Sean McDermott has had the magic touch this season ,and the call from the Bills coach paid off.
Allen and the Bills offense toyed with, what was, the NFL’s No. 1 scoring defense coming in to the game. It took a few drives, though. Allen was picked off once, and the Bills punted twice out of their first three drives.
Allen said offensive coordinator Brian Daboll then started to call some of Allen’s favorite plays, and the Bills were on fire. On the next three drives, Allen completed 14-of-17 passes for 192 yards and three touchdowns. Allen made some pinpoint throws and was very effective when climbing the pocket. Throw in an 84-yard punt return for a touchdown by Isaiah McKenzie and this game was over at halftime when the Bills led 28-6.
Allen stayed in longer than I thought he would, but McDermott probably wanted to make sure they had enough points to close out the game, while playing backups on offense in the second half.
Leading 21-3, McDermott sent Allen back on the field with just 1:44 left in the second quarter. For a little icing on the cake, Allen led a 75-yard touchdown drive in 44 seconds.
His 32-yard touchdown toss to John Brown was a thing of beauty. Brown got separation against Miami cornerback Byron Jones, and Allen threw a perfect ball hitting Brown in stride.
Brown looked good in his first game since Nov. 15, bringing four catches for 72 yards and that touchdown.
Allen, who has re-written the Bills' passing records book this season, grabbed another record in that first half. He passed Drew Bledsoe for the most passing yards in a single season, and closed his third year in Bills blue and red with 4,544 yards.
Never in my wildest dreams could I have imagined Allen would do what he’s done this season. His final regular season numbers show a 69.2% completion rate, 4,977 total yards and 46 total touchdowns. Allen set franchise records for completions, completion percentage, passing touchdowns, total touchdowns and total yards.
I don’t think he will win the Most Valuable Player award, but he is firmly in the discussion with Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers and Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes.
Heck of a world we are living in, huh, Bills fans?
You want some more eye-opening numbers? Check these out:
- Bills set a franchise record by scoring 501 points, which broke the record of 458 set by the 1991 team.
- 30 or more points scored in nine of the 16 games this season. That ties the franchise record set in 1991.
- 24 or more points for the 10th-straight game, which is the longest active streak in the NFL.
- Bills joined the 2012 New England Patriots as the only teams ever to get at least 20 first downs in all 16 games
- 56 points were the second-most in franchise history. Oddly enough, the record is 58 against Miami in 1966
- Miami gave up just 21 passing touchdowns this season, and seven came from Allen
Allen couldn’t have done all of this without a lot of help, including the contributions from his new No. 1 receiver, Stefon Diggs. Diggs had already broken the Bills' single season records for both catches and yards, and he ended the regular season with 127 catches, which is the sixth-highest total for anyone in NFL history.
For the third straight game, Bills fans were able to just sit back, relax and enjoy the second half of a blowout victory.
You want to talk about closing out a season strong? The Bills obliterated the Denver Broncos, New England and Miami by a combined score of 142-54.
Here are some other accomplishments from the 2020 Bills:
- 7-1 home record, best since 1996
- 6-0 versus AFC East, first time the Bills have gone unbeaten in the division
- Six-game win streak, longest since 2004
Now we get to see if this team can make this a truly unforgettable season.
The Bills are playing the best of any team in the AFC right now, and as good as any team in the NFC. They have one of the best, most dangerous offenses in the league, to go along with an improving defense and strong special teams.
There isn’t a team in the league they should be worried about facing.
What a great time to be a Bills fan. Yes, I’m repeating myself again.