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With 4:48 remaining in the fourth quarter, down by 15 and just a 0.9% chance of victory according to ESPN, it seemed all but sure the Buffalo Bills would start their season 0-1. Just moments later, the Bills pulled off the 13th most improbable comeback victory by any team over the last decade, per Next Gen Stats. With many impactful plays made all game, these are the three most important plays that earned Buffalo the 41-40 comeback win over the Baltimore Ravens.
Keon Coleman scores TD off deflection
With it being fourth down, it was do or die. If the Bills were unable to convert on this fourth down, the game was put away, and any slim chance that Buffalo had at coming back was dashed.
As per usual in a must-need short-down situation, Bills offensive coordinator Joe Brady calls a variation of a mesh concept. Elijah Moore comes in an orbit motion, while Dawson Knox, Khalil Shakir, and Keon Coleman all run across one another in an effort to get one another open. Baltimore initially covered the concept well, but the reigning MVP Josh Allen bought enough time, targeted Knox, and by some chance Keon Coleman caught a touchdown on the deflection.
Ed Oliver forces a Derrick Henry fumble
The most difficult challenge for the Bills in their comeback push was the clock and making a stop. Baltimore’s offense totaled 432 total yards, 238 of which were on the ground, and averaged 8.6 yards per play. Ravens running back Derrick Henry finished the night with 18 carries for 169 yards and two touchdowns.
The Ravens loved the I-formation last night and tried to run out of it again on this play. Baltimore brought in an extra lineman to pair with two tight ends (one playing fullback), and tried a power run with 6 ‘8 370-pound guard Daniel Faalele leading the way pulling. Ed Oliver shoots inside across Ravens tackle Roger Rosengarten and punches the ball out, with the Bills regaining possession.
Josh Palmer comes through in crunch time
With just under a minute left, the Bills regained possession down by two deep in their zone after Bills cornerback Christian Benford tackled Ravens wideout DeAndre Hopkins short of the sticks on third down.
Brady calls a bench concept (an out, followed by a deep corner), with a drive concept on the backside (drag followed by a 10-yard in, or also called a dig route). The Ravens disguise a two-high coverage, but ultimately play cover one-man, and Allen drops a ball on time, perfectly in the bucket to free-agent signing Josh Palmer. The 32-yard pickup was vital in setting up Matt Prater’s eventual game-winning field goal.
Although the Bills came out with a victory, there are still countless things to clean up. For now, though, the Bills and BillsMafia can enjoy the fourth-largest fourth-quarter comeback in franchise history and the first of that kind in the fourth quarter since they beat the New York Jets in 1967.