Bills’ rising star had unforgettable message for Josh Allen after thrilling comeback victory against the Baltimore Ravens

A moment he won’t soon forget.

Adam Zientek — NFL News Writer
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Buffalo Bills rookie cornerback Dorian Strong opens up about his first NFL start and what it was like to watch Josh Allen play
Ian Mills on X (@IanMillsTV)

The Buffalo Bills pulled off an improbable comeback against the Baltimore Ravens in Week 1. Josh Allen put on his Superman cape and led the team to victory, totaling more than 400 yards of offense and earning AFC Offensive Player of the Week honors. It wasn’t just Allen, though, as the defense, while giving up 40 points, stopped Lamar Jackson and the Ravens, giving Allen and the offense a chance.

One of the players who had to step up in a big way was Dorian Strong, a rookie cornerback who was forced into the contest after an injury sustained by Tre’Davious White.

Strong, in his first NFL action, had an unforgettable message about the win, even giving Allen his flowers in a big way. The message was both about, and for Allen. The team rallies around their quarterback. Ian Mills, News 10 NBC reporter covering the Bills, shared the interview on X.

“That was crazy, just to be a part of it and not be on your couch sitting back home and watching it,” Strong said. “Really, just being a part of that type of win, I was ecstatic. Very happy, very grateful, very blessed to be part of this team and have a quarterback like Josh Allen and an offense like ours and be a part of a defense like ours too, so it was fun.”

Dorian Strong makes an impact in his first NFL game

The Buffalo Bills drafted Strong in the sixth round of the 2025 NFL Draft with the No. 177 overall pick. He spent his entire collegiate career with Virginia Tech and amassed 112 combined tackles (83 solo, 29 assisted), with two tackles for loss, seven interceptions, 28 passes defended and one forced fumble. His efforts earned him Action Network Second-Team All-American honors (2023), Third-Team All-ACC (2023), and an All-ACC honorable mention (2024).

Perhaps general manager Brandon Beane has found another diamond in the rough. In just one start for Buffalo, according to Pro Football Focus, Strong finished the contest playing in 51 total snaps (28 in rush defense and 23 in coverage), which resulted in two tackles. When dropping back in coverage, he allowed one reception on two targets for 36 yards. His PFF grades were a 45.3 for defense, 69.9 for run defense, 75.4 in tackling, and a 37.1 in coverage.

The biggest moment of his young NFL career was tackling and bringing down Derrick Henry in open space, not an easy feat for anyone, let alone a rookie getting his first start in the league.

Tre’Davious White may replace Strong in Week 2

While Strong performed well, and Bills Mafia is excited to see more of what he can bring to the table, the team did share some positive injury news. Strong was forced into the contest due to White’s injury, but it’s looking like the team may get White back in Week 2.

Despite being limited, White is trending in the right direction in hopes of playing in Week 2 against the New York Jets. For now, we’ll just gush over Strong and his impressive Week 1 performance. There’s a lot of football left in the season, with plenty of opportunities for Strong to get some meaningful action.

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