Orchard Park, NY — In what might go down as the miracle at Orchard Park, the Buffalo Bills stunned the New Orleans Saints with a controversial 15-16 win. The game was a close one throughout the sixty minutes of play. The Saints opened up the scoring in the first quarter with a 14 play drive that led to a field goal by kicker Wil Lutz. Things stayed that way for much of the second quarter, until the Bills scored a field goal of their own following a 15 play drive to tie the game 3-3.
Heading into the 4th quarter the Saints lead 9-3, but thanks to a 39 yard rush by the Bills wide receiver Jordan Matthews in the last seconds of the 3rd quarter, the Bills began the 4th quarter at the 5 yard line. The Bills wasted no time and handed the ball off to their star running back LeSean McCoy, who took it in to the end zone for his fourth touchdown of the year and following the extra point, gave his team a 9-10 lead.
With his team trailing now, Drew Brees did what he always does, put on a clutch performance. Brees managed to get the Saints down to the 9 yard line with 3:48 remaining in the game, but thanks to a strong performance by the Bills defense the Saints had to settle for a field goal.
Trailing 12-10 now, the Bills began their drive on their own 31 yard line with 3:44 remaining in the game. The Bills mixed up their plays with some runs, which helped quarterback Tyrod Taylor move the ball through the air. Eight plays later the Bills were able to get to the 19 yard line and brought out kicker Steven Hauschka to kick his 3rd field goal of the game, which gave the Bills a 12-13 point lead with 48 seconds remaining.
With Brees leading the Saints, 48 seconds and two time outs, everyone knows that is more than enough time for him to get his team up the field to try and win the game. And just as predicted, on the 4th play of the drive Brees threw a perfect pass to his wide receiver Willie Snead IV, who was open on the right side of the field, and was brought down at the Bills 21 yard line. The Saints immediately used their time out to stop the clock with 11 seconds remaining. The Saints then brought out Lutz to kick a season high 5th field goal of the game. The kick went up and it was good. Saints looked to be on their way to a 15-13 and a 4th straight win.
As we found out last Friday, it’s not over till it’s over. On the ensuing kickoff, Bills corner back Tre’Davious White ran the ball out to the 32 yard line with just 4 seconds remaining. Only a miracle play could save the Bills, who were about to lose their second game in the past three weeks. So, with one last shot remaining, the Bills lined up in the shotgun formation. Taylor dropped back as the final seconds ticked away…3…2…1….desperation pass deep downfield, headed towards Matthews and it’s incomplete, and just as the Saints were about to celebrate the official on the side of the field threw a flag for pass interference against the Saints corner back P.J. Williams. Unbelievably, the call not only gave the Bills another shot, but because of where it happen, the penalty moved the ball 43 yards up into the Saints 25 yard line. All the pressure was now on Bills kicker Haushka. Haushka lined up for the 42 yard kick and with 9 MPH winds are his back, his kick went up and through the middle of the posts to shock the Saints and give the Bills a one point win.
Next up
This loss is sure to sting for a while, as the Saints will drop to 5-4. They will be back home next week to take on the Washington Redskins. For the Bills, the win gets them back up over .500 with a record of 5-4 and they’ll be hitting the road next week to take on the Los Angeles Chargers.
