The Buffalo Payments proceed to search out extra excruciating methods to interrupt their followers’ hearts by dropping. This time they did it within the closing seconds and time beyond regulation of their Week 10 matchup towards the Minnesota Vikings.
With lower than a minute left in regulation, Buffalo had stopped the Vikings on a 4th down purpose line quarterback sneak, just for the Payments to show round and fumble, permitting Minnesota to get better in the long run zone to take the lead and what felt like the sport at the moment.
The roar of the Buffalo crowd after that fourth-and-goal cease was that of a fanbase whose workforce had simply secured its largest win of the season. However in a matter of some minutes, the house crowd fell from its perch on cloud 9, down into the depths of torment which have plagued this franchise for years.
A recreation the Payments led 27-10 late within the third quarter was then allowed to change into a rollercoaster trip of emotion for Buffalo followers, by which they got here out on the dropping finish once more. Sadly, in case you stay in Buffalo, you’re all too acquainted with how rapidly issues can go south when main with seconds remaining on the sport clock.
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Final postseason within the AFC Divisional spherical, everybody remembers the 13-second miracle Patrick Mahomes, and the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs orchestrated to ship that recreation to time beyond regulation towards the Payments. KC went on to win that showdown, 42-36. Clearly, the finality of that one meant the top of Buffalo’s season, however in case you’re a participant, coach, or fan of the Payments, this loss to the Vikings doubtless brings again recollections of that playoff loss.
These heartbreaking losses have at all times appeared to search out the Payments for no matter purpose. Bear in mind the “Music Metropolis Miracle” recreation? Buffalo additionally got here out on the dropping finish of that wildcard recreation throughout the 1999 playoffs towards the Tennessee Titans. The sport’s closing scoring play continues to be controversial to today due to how shut that “lateral cross” was to being a ahead cross by the Titans. However the referees upheld the decision, and Tennessee beat Buffalo, 22-16.
If you wish to go even additional again, there are the 4 consecutive Tremendous Bowl losses for the early 90s Payments led by Jim Kelly, Thurman Thomas, and Andre Reed. Three of the 4 Tremendous Bowl appearances weren’t shut. However the first recreation, which closed out the ‘90-91 marketing campaign, was probably the most gut-wrenching, as Buffalo misplaced on the foot of kicker Scott Norwood, who missed a 47-yard area purpose try that might’ve gained the sport.
Enjoyable reality: The Payments and Vikings are the one two organizations which have misplaced 4 Tremendous Bowls inside a decade. As talked about above the Payments of the early ’90s misplaced 4 consecutive and the Vikings misplaced 4 within the ‘70s. The one different workforce to lose 4 Tremendous Bowls, generally, is the Denver Broncos. They have been overwhelmed as soon as within the 70s and thrice within the 80s.
Nonetheless, these Payments followers may know higher than many the way it feels to have victory inside their clutches solely to see it snatched away on the final second. The final couple minutes of the fourth quarter and time beyond regulation for the Payments and Vikings in Week 10 have been among the many most fun we’ve seen this yr. Some are already calling this the sport of the yr.
Buffalo got here into the season as a Tremendous Bowl favourite, but when they’re to satisfy this prophecy, they’ll want to determine learn how to higher shut groups out in tight video games. Late-game execution will likely be important for the Payments heading down the stretch of the season and into the playoffs. The run protection was leaking a bit this week as Buffalo allowed Dalvin Cook dinner to hurry for extra yards than their protection usually provides up. Buffalo provides up just below 110 dashing yards per recreation, and Cook dinner gained 119. He even bought free for a 67-yard TD run late within the third quarter that bought Minnesota again on this recreation.
Whereas this was an everyday season loss, the sting of it should doubtless take some time to subside.
