Bills: The moment that culminated the team's intense year-long effort
One minute and four seconds is a heck of a lot more than just 13 seconds. That undeniable fact probably had more than one Buffalo Bills fan pacing around the living room in a nerve-wracking way. Some memories are tough to shake off. But Von Miller was very clear in that Week 1 hype video […]
One minute and four seconds is a heck of a lot more than just 13 seconds. That undeniable fact probably had more than one Buffalo Bills fan pacing around the living room in a nerve-wracking way.
Some memories are tough to shake off.
But Von Miller was very clear in that Week 1 hype video posted on social media. "F***k it. Burn it all," he said of the team's long history of heart-breaking losses.
This is 2022. This time, the Bills are the favorites. This time, they're the rival to beat.
Miller was able to turn his words into top-notch play on the field on Sunday.
He sacked Patrick Mahomes twice, had a tackle for loss, and multiple pressures to go with his performance. But all of that mattered very little when the Chiefs took possession of the ball for one last time with 1:04 remaining in the game.
After all, Miller wasn't brought to Buffalo on a $120 million deal only to put up stats. He was brought in – as romantic as it may sound – to show up in the biggest of moments. Specifically, to pressure Mahomes and not let what happened last January happen again.
Winning the AFC and maximizing Josh Allen has always been the priority for the Bills. But it would be arrogant to say winning the conference didn't involve being able to bring down Kansas City and matching up well against the elephant in the room.
That involved rushing the passer without blitzing. Mahomes is a certified defense assassin versus the blitz. With Miller in the lineup, the Bills have specialized in rushing four and getting pressure.
On the first play of the final Chiefs' drive, Miller tried to pull off the spin move after being chipped by JuJu Smith-Schuster and forced Mahomes out of the pocket. The offense forced a defensive holding call. First down. Memories incoming. Memories being shaken off.
First down again. Von Miller's moment. Again.
Facing a double team, the Bills' star pass rusher was able to blast through the tackle and guard, suddenly getting in Mahomes' face. Despite the team rushing three, Miller put his hands on Mahomes but the quarterback tried one of his signature side-arm throws looking for rookie WR Skyy Moore.
Side-arm throws are not easy, though. Even less so when Von Miller is after you. The throw went into the hands of Taron Johnson, who sealed the game with the interception.
It was a hell of a grab by Johnson, by the way. Without him, this play doesn't happen and who knows what the Chiefs do next.
But the Bills have built this team with the goal of bringing down the Chiefs. As I wrote before the game, this was about much more than the AFC's top seed. It was about culminating what Buffalo had been working toward (even though the season is young and in the grand scheme of things it means little).
Von Miller proved, beyond stats, that he can be what the Bills want him to be. This team's closer and a superhero after the NFL's finest quarterbacks.
Featured image via Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports
