DETROIT — Over the previous month, the Buffalo Payments have overwhelmed each of final 12 months’s Tremendous Bowl groups, the betting favourite to win every convention, snapped a 15-game win streak and one other staff’s 11-game win streak and gained the AFC East sooner than ever earlier than.
And what does that get them?
“It doesn’t imply nothing,” smiling Payments linebacker Terrel Bernard stated, grammar-policing himself to correctly execute the double destructive, “however it doesn’t imply something both.”
The Payments proved once more Sunday they will face up to any opponent and boast the NFL’s greatest participant at any place — who additionally occurs to play the game’s most vital place — by beating the mighty Detroit Lions 48-42 in Ford Area.
The sport wasn’t as shut because the gaudy rating signifies. Buffalo’s offense was so dominant that Detroit coach Dan Campbell felt compelled to strive a desperation onside kickoff simply three minutes into the fourth quarter. Buffalo receiver Mack Hollins recovered and returned it to the 5-yard line, sending followers to the exits.
Ford Area had been thumping earlier, the rabid crowd looking forward to the potential Tremendous Bowl preview between franchises that by no means have gained a Lombardi Trophy. In a uncommon prevalence for the Payments, their hosts had a real home-field benefit. Payments Mafia has grown accustomed to overtaking different stadiums and forcing the house staff’s offense to make use of a silent rely.
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Lions followers, nevertheless, weren’t keen to half with their tickets for this showdown. They tried to bust the decibel meter.
However they didn’t keep loud or revel for so long as they might’ve preferred.
Josh Allen possible cemented the MVP Award by passing for 362 yards and two touchdowns whereas dashing for 68 yards and two scores. He’s the primary participant for the reason that NFL-AFL merger to common a number of passing and a number of dashing TDs over a three-game span. He accomplished passes to 9 teammates, didn’t commit a turnover and wasn’t sacked.
“It’s the most effective I’ve seen him play and never shocked,” Payments coach Sean McDermott stated. “When he units a purpose for himself, for the staff, he’s exhausting to cease. Folks have tried. They’ll maintain making an attempt.”
The Payments gained 559 yards, essentially the most within the McDermott period and tied for the fifth most in membership historical past. James Cook dinner rushed for 105 yards and two touchdowns. Ty Johnson, with 5 catches for 114 yards, grew to become the primary Payments operating again in 15 seasons to hit triple-digit receiving yards.
HIMBO.
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— Buffalo Payments (@BuffaloBills) December 15, 2024
Though the Lions battled to the top and almost recovered one other onside try with 11 seconds left, the Payments’ dented protection — minus three-fifths of its beginning defensive backfield and linebacker Matt Milano to a second-half groin harm — did sufficient to outdistance the NFL’s highest-scoring offense. The Lions entered Sunday averaging 151.1 dashing yards whereas by no means gaining fewer than 105 in a recreation. The Payments saved them to fifteen carries for 48 yards.
“We received their greatest shot,” Bernard stated. “We began off fairly robust and thought we performed properly general, however that’s a extremely, actually good staff.
“We emphasised making an attempt to cease the run, and I really feel like we got here out and did that instantly. There’s stuff on the again finish we have to clear up as soon as they received into their two-minute offense, however a win is a win.”
Though principally to well mannered applause as a result of so many Lions followers had left, Jared Goff amassed prolific stats whereas working a hurry-up offense all through the second half. Now he’s the one quarterback in NFL historical past to throw for over a minimum of 400 yards and 5 TDs with out an interception and lose.
If that sounds acquainted, you keep in mind seven days prior, when the Payments grew to become the primary within the all-time historical past of ever to lose regardless of scoring a minimum of six touchdowns whereas committing zero turnovers. Groups are 319-1 with such numbers.
“We got here out with an angle and it confirmed,” Payments slot cornerback Taron Johnson stated. “We realized from final week. We tried to hold that chip on our shoulder, and we have to do that each week. We took it private.”
Buffalo ought to pull forward in most energy rankings after profitable in Ford Area with out safeties Taylor Rapp and Damar Hamlin (Sunday starter Cole Bishop departed with leg cramps early within the fourth quarter) and cornerback Rasul Douglas. Safeties on the finish of the sport had been Cam Lewis, with one earlier begin at that place in 2022, and Kareem Jackson, elevated from the observe squad for his first recreation this 12 months.
The Payments additionally had been unable to observe Thursday as a result of a winter storm made roads round Orchard Park impassable. They held distant conferences on one of many two busiest recreation preparation days. The Lions, in the meantime, had been taking part in with further time to relaxation and put together, with their earlier recreation Thursday night time in opposition to the Inexperienced Bay Packers.
“I wouldn’t name it assertion recreation,” Bernard stated, “however any time you get to play a great staff, you measure your self. We’d seen it on tape, what they’ve accomplished to different groups. So we simply noticed the place we’re at.”
Once more, that’s not nothing, but it’s additionally not something.
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Bernard and Johnson had been reluctant to contemplate Detroit greater than one other recreation on the schedule, with Johnson emphasizing it’s merely the common season.
McDermott, although, acknowledged, “you’re speaking about type of uncommon air up there” with regards to the groups Buffalo has conquered alongside the best way.
These Payments legitimately can win the Tremendous Bowl. Their offense is nice, scary good. They scored 40 factors in consecutive video games for less than the third season, becoming a member of their 1990 (first Tremendous Bowl) and 2021 (13 Seconds) editions. Additionally they grew to become the fifth staff to hit 30 factors in eight consecutive video games, becoming a member of the 2000 St. Louis Rams, 2007 and 2010 New England Patriots and 2013 Denver Broncos, all of whom had Tremendous Bowl-winning, future Corridor of Fame quarterbacks.
The Payments might be examined over their remaining three video games, extra by themselves than the groups on their schedule.
Kansas Metropolis Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes injured his ankle Sunday in opposition to the Cleveland Browns, probably giving the Payments a shot to make up their two-game deficit within the standings and wrest away the AFC’s high seed. The Payments end with two video games in opposition to the Patriots and one versus the New York Jets.
The Payments higher hope what occurred two weeks in the past in Los Angeles really was a wakeup name as a result of it in any other case is likely to be tough to get jazzed for 3 video games in opposition to long-ago postseason-eliminated division also-rans.
“There’s a whole lot of ball left to be performed,” Bernard stated. “Hopefully, we proceed to construct and get higher, however I believe it simply exhibits after we play our sort of ball and are available out prepared and targeted and ready, we will beat anyone at their greatest.”
(High photograph of Josh Allen: Nic Antaya / Getty Photos)