BUFFALO, NY. (WKBW) — The Buffalo Bills beat the Miami Dolphins 21-14 on Sunday night to secure the team's fourth straight AFC East title.
But there was a point in the third quarter when quarterback Josh Allen was strip-sacked by Christian Wilkins while the Bills were trailing 14-7 where I bet a lot of you thought, "These guys have no juice."
Well, admittedly I thought the same thing. So I tweeted this.
#Bills defense is going to need a takeaway...don't know how this offense gets a spark without one right now
— Dom Tibbetts (@DomTibbettsTV) January 8, 2024
I should've left it open to "special teams" as well. A unit that has had its fair share of issues this year came up huge. With 14 minutes left in the game, down seven, Deonte Harty picked the perfect time to set a new record for the longest punt return touchdown in franchise history.
LET'S GO, @tayynation1‼️📺: @SNFonNBC pic.twitter.com/DBOCwnG1ey
— Buffalo Bills (@BuffaloBills) January 8, 2024
96 yards to the house. Harty sparked this Bills team like no other tonight. It was such a monumental shift of momentum that after the game, Harty had a hard time recalling his emotions during the play.
"I blacked out," Harty told reporters.
Yeah Deonte, I think Bills Mafia kind of did too. But it wasn't just Harty who stepped up tonight.
We also have to talk about Taylor Rapp who sealed the win with this late interception in the fourth quarter on the Dolphins final drive.
TAYLOR RAPP ARE YOU SERIOUS?!?! pic.twitter.com/xP0zgrP20m
— Buffalo Bills (@BuffaloBills) January 8, 2024
Rapp was greeted with a big hug from Buffalo Bills general manager Brandon Beane following the game after he made what is undoubtedly the biggest play of his short Bills career thus far.
Brandon Beane meets Taylor Rapp in the tunnel. Easily the biggest play of his Bills career. Sealed the win. pic.twitter.com/qdoHvRYaGR
— Matthew Bové (@Matt_Bove) January 8, 2024
Another unusual suspect was Trent Sherfield, his touchdown grab in the second quarter off a tipped ball gave Buffalo its first points. What a time for your first touchdown as a Bill.
LET'S GO, @tayynation1‼️📺: @SNFonNBC pic.twitter.com/DBOCwnG1ey
— Buffalo Bills (@BuffaloBills) January 8, 2024
With injuries to Gabe Davis, Rasul Douglas, and Tyrel Dodson to name a few. The Bills found a bunch of guys to step up in their place. Dane Jackson, and Khalil Shakir are very deserving of some post-game flowers, as well as many others.
Survive and advance. That has been all this Bills team needed to do ever since that loss in late November to the Philadelphia Eagles. Sitting 6-6 overall after that game, this team rattled off five straight wins grabbing their fourth straight AFC East division title in the process.
They will host the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday at 1 p.m. in the AFC Wild Card round.
You can watch Harty's post-game press conference in the video player above.
You can watch McDermott and Allen speak below.
Bills head coach Sean McDermott
Bills quarterback Josh Allen
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