Josh Allen executed a near-perfect Statue of Liberty play, throwing the fake pass with his right arm while handing the ball behind his back to Devin Singletary, who crossed the goal line, only to have the touchdown negated by a penalty.
It was the first of three consecutive flags against the Bills, a trio of miscues that set up first-and-goal at the 30-yard line.
They were just making things interesting.
Moments later, Allen whipped a 22-yard touchdown pass to Jake Kumerow, the NFL record-tying 13th player to catch a touchdown for the Bills this season, as Buffalo completed its march to the AFC East throne, clinching its first division championship in a quarter century by thrashing the Denver Broncos 48-19 on national television Saturday at Empower Field at Mile High.
The Bills last won the division title in 1995.
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Allen was born in 1996.
“It’s great that we’re able to do it for the first time in 25 years,” Allen said. “To be the team and to be the quarterback of the team that does it obviously feels really good. At the same time, that’s not our main goal. We set out to do this in order to give us the chance to do what we really want to do, and that’s to win Super Bowl championships.”
At least that was what Allen told reporters. In a video of the postgame locker room celebration posted by the Bills on social media, a more fiery Allen had his teammates around him, all wearing division championships shirts and hats, and yelled, "This hat and this shirt is fine and dandy, but I want the one that says (expletive) Super Bowl champions."
But this accomplishment, for this franchise, for this fanbase, is extraordinary.
The Bills (11-3) have started 22 different quarterbacks, including Jim Kelly, since last winning the division. And the kid from Firebaugh, Calif., finally led them out of the desert, in his third year as a pro, with two games remaining in the regular season.
Allen accounted for four touchdowns against the Broncos (5-9). He completed 28 of 40 passes for 359 yards and two touchdowns, hitting tight end Dawson Knox and Kumerow, the former practice squad receiver, in the end zone. He also rushed for 33 yards and two scores, delivering a division championship that this week felt like an inevitability.
The buildup mounted for days on social media, with #BillsMafia posting photos of small children wearing their parents’ Kelly jerseys, of vintage Starter jackets and Christmas ornaments, of family and friends who sadly didn’t live to see this day.
The Bills finished the 1995 regular season with a 10-6 record, edging the 9-7 Indianapolis Colts and 9-7 Miami Dolphins for the division title, years before realignment. They’ve already surpassed that win total on the way to a third playoff appearance in four seasons.
“This is just a blessing from God,” Bills coach Sean McDermott said. “Honestly, man, I’m just humbled to be a part of it. I think it’s so cool when the guys that are so young can tie into the past, and they know those early ‘90s (teams), they see the banners hanging in our facility every day that are there. … And even before those teams. And I should thank, also, the guys that have supported us in so many ways from those teams.
“Coach (Marv) Levy, Jim Kelly, Thurman (Thomas), Steve Tasker, Cornelius Bennett, Bruce Smith, Darryl Talley. All those guys, man. They live and die with us… I also feel a responsibility – I think all of our players do, as well – a responsibility to do things the right way for those guys, as well, because they started this years ago.”
Allen and Stefon Diggs are etching their names alongside those greats.
Diggs finished with 11 catches on 13 targets for 147 yards, all game highs. He leads the NFL with a franchise-record 111 catches and 1,314 receiving yards this season.
The fans’ fervor rose to a crescendo on social media as Allen put on a show, rewriting the Bills’ record book against a Broncos secondary ravaged by injuries and suspension.
Allen’s touchdown pass to Kumerow was his 30th of the season, passing a milestone previously attained only by Kelly, who tossed 33 scores in 1991. That record could fall next week, when the Bills try to sweep the New England Patriots for the first time since 1999, on Monday Night Football.
Allen has thrown for at least 300 yards in seven games this season, tying a franchise record set by Drew Bledsoe in 2002. He also joined Bledsoe as the only quarterbacks in franchise history to pass for 4,000 yards in a season. He also finished with with a passer rating above 100 for the seventh time this season, another franchise record.
And the fireworks weren’t limited to the air.
Allen’s second rushing touchdown of the game was the 25th of his career, tying the franchise record set by Jack Kemp.
He’s the second player in NFL history with at least eight rushing touchdowns and 30 passing touchdowns in a season, joining Cam Newton in 2015.
“It’s hard to even be impressed now,” wide receiver Cole Beasley said, shrugging off Allen’s dominant performance. “It’s expected.”
McDermott laughed and agreed.
“He just continues to get better, and I think that’s the cool part about it,” McDermott said. “He’s so humble. He’s a great teammate. And I’m extremely proud of him. I don’t take it for granted. Quarterbacks that can play at that level are hard to find, and (general manager) Brandon (Beane) did a phenomenal job. Give Coach (Brian) Daboll, the offensive staff (credit). And again we’re coming together as a team, now, too.”
Bills offensive lineman Jon Feliciano said this game was personal for Allen, who played his college ball in Laramie, Wyoming, just 130 miles north of Denver, considering the Broncos didn’t select him with the fifth pick in the 2018 draft.
“He might not say it, but he definitely still remembers that,” Feliciano said.
Allen, drafted seventh overall, took a moment to consider a similar question.
“I’m where I’m supposed to be,” he said.
Allen’s 55-yard pass to Diggs in the third quarter was the longest of the season.
There is no debate about whether the Bills or Minnesota Vikings won the trade.
Diggs and Beasley, who had eight catches for 112 yards, became the first Bills duo to surpass 100 receiving yards in a game since 2010.
Allen, Singletary and Zack Moss combined to roll up 182 rushing yards and three touchdowns on 24 carries, an average of 7.6 yards per touch.
And even the defense scored, with Jerry Hughes, the longest-tenured member of the Bills, scooping a fumble caused by Tre’Davious White and dancing 21 yards into the end zone.
The Bills were plagued by a late spate of injuries, an obvious concern. Diggs was taken to the locker room with a foot issue in the fourth quarter, but returned to the sideline. White suffered a stinger. Levi Wallace hurt an ankle. A.J. Epenesa was evaluated for a head injury. Andre Roberts hurt his back. McDermott was unable to provide status updates immediately after the contest.
But there are three weeks to heal and prepare to host a playoff game.
“Our shirts say, ‘WON NOT DONE,’” Allen said, “so everything’s still in front of us and this just gives us an opportunity to give us a shot, and that’s all we can ask for.”
Matt Barkley replaced Allen with 1:51 remaining in the fourth quarter, with no need to subject the franchise quarterback to further risk. He handed off to Singletary, who raced 51 yards for a touchdown, the longest of his career.
This time, it counted.
