Bills issue perfect 'thank you' to Bengals after 18-year playoff drought ends
The Buffalo Bills are officially going to party like it’s 1999 after ending an 18-year playoff drought.
Going into Week 17, the Bills had no control over whether or not they would make the playoffs for the first time since 1999.
First and foremost, the Bills needed to win. They did just that.
The Bills beat their AFC East rival Miami Dolphins in a testy game 22-16.
It turned out to be a rather costly victory with superstar running back LeSean McCoy being carted off with an ankle injury. X-rays eventually turned up negative.
But a win was a win, and the Bills had accomplished the first step in making it back to the playoffs.
Next, the Bills would need some help. The team would need either the Los Angeles Chargers and Tennessee Titans to lose, or a loss by the Ravens to the Bengals..
It quickly became apparent that the first scenario wasn’t going to happen. The Chargers jumped all over the Oakland Raiders in the third quarter, and cruised to a 30-10 win. The Titans also went on to win their game over Jacksonville.
For the Bills, it all came down to the Ravens. Or more specifically, for Cincinnati Bengals to beat the Ravens.
🚨 PICK-SIX ALERT 🚨
@DDennard21 takes it 89 yds for the #Bengals TOUCHDOWN!#CINvsBAL #Bengals50 pic.twitter.com/DlPrMcWjI0
— Cincinnati Bengals (@Bengals) December 31, 2017
A pick-six from Darqueze Dennard put the Bengals up by two touchdowns in the third quarter, and the Bills had to be feeling good about their chances.
Of course, with the Ravens also fighting for their playoff lives, Baltimore wasn’t going to go down without a fight.
.@JoeFlacco to @Wallace17_daKid for his 200th career touchdown pass! pic.twitter.com/o1TGkwrjTI
— Baltimore Ravens (@Ravens) January 1, 2018
The Ravens stormed back in the fourth quarter to take a 27-24 lead.
But it was all for naught as the Bengals went ahead with less than a minute remaining.
THE @BENGALS!
TOUCHDOWNNNN!
WOW. #Bengals50 https://t.co/NB78jk9U2a
— NFL (@NFL) January 1, 2018
Just a few plays later, the Bills sealed their first playoff appearance since losing to the Titans in the “Music City Miracle” — or as some in Buffalo might call it, a forward lateral.
This meant that some thanks were in order for the Bengals. And the Bills obliged in just about the most perfect way.
Thank you, @Bengals. pic.twitter.com/HrJjuV5zWO
— Buffalo Bills (@BuffaloBills) January 1, 2018
If there’s one thing the city of Buffalo is known for, aside from perhaps Super Bowl ineptitude, it’s chicken wings.
Although, in fairness, the Bills should probably send some wings to the Ravens too. Just not with a “Thank You” card, but a “Feel Better” card. The loss to the Bengals knocked the Ravens from the playoff race.
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