Fun in the snow!
The Buffalo Bills’ 2024 season has been written. So let’s add some “illustrations!” If you’re new to Plays That Defined, this isn’t a highlight recap, but rather a cathartic retelling of the past season, chapter by chapter.
Don’t vote for your favorite play necessarily, vote for the one that best represents that game’s narrative. I’ll recap the game to refresh your memory, but don’t feel locked in by my narrative.
Chapter 13: San Francisco 49ers at Buffalo Bills
The San Francisco 49ers visited Orchard Park, NY on a snowy Sunday night to take on the Buffalo Bills. A perfect evening for a run game, the Niners lost Christian McCaffrey to injury. Pretty much nothing else went right either.
I know the description up above indicates this isn’t supposed to be a highlight recap, but in this case there’s really no choice. I believe I know which highlight will take this one home, but here are a few to peruse.
James Cook’s touchdown (Q2; 8:48)
If you’re looking for a good illustration of one team being overwhelmed by the other, this long touchdown from James Cook might be the way to go. Looking to extend a slim lead, this touchdown put Buffalo up by 11 points — an early start to the blowout.
Pass to Dawson Knox (Q2; 2:49)
Even in a rout, the other team has some solid play. After pinning Buffalo back, it looked like San Francisco had a shot to end the drive. Josh Allen found Dawson Knox for the first and Knox kept running for a total gain of 39 yards. This drive was another touchdown.
Christian Benford’s fumble recovery (Q3; 11:59)
Up by 18, the Bills had a commanding lead but not insurmountable. The 49ers had a great drive going with Kyle Juszczyk getting the ball for what looked like a touchdown. Matt Milano was credited for the tackle and resulting fumble that was picked up by Christian Benford to end any hope of a score and flipped the field
Josh Allen throws touchdown to himself, sorta kinda (Q3; 6:05)
For the purposes of the stat nerds on a passing touchdown, the NFL records who threw the pass (Josh Allen) and who wound up in the end zone (also Josh Allen), meaning the box score records that Josh Allen tossed a -2 yard pass to himself for a touchdown.
Play by play lists will also credit Amari Cooper for the catch and lateral, but this is a fun play no matter which source of info you use. Don’t forget that Allen became the first quarterback in NFL history to record a passing, rushing, and receiving touchdown in a single game.
Brandon Codrington’s near-touchdown (Q4; 8:12)
This score didn’t count, but the fun does. I was tempted to GIF Josh Allen and Sean McDermott making snow angels after the game but that’s not technically attached to a play. Though it was attached to celebrating winning the AFC East in Week 13, which is pretty fantastic. Sliding through the snow to close out a play like this is great too.