Why the Hail Murray Was the Turning Point of the Buffalo Bills Season
The 2020 Buffalo Bills were a great team. They accomplished so many things this year, including a division title and finishing second in the AFC. Even though it was a season to remember, there was a moment in time where this team was left in heartbreak. In this article, I’m going to tell you why the picture below changed the 2020 Buffalo Bills regular season.
The play
Let’s go back to Week 10. Buffalo traveled to Arizona for meeting with the Cardinals. Late in the fourth quarter, Buffalo just took the lead when quarterback Josh Allen threw a touchdown pass to wide receiver Stefon Diggs. The Cardinals needed a miracle and unfortunately for Bills fans, they did just that. With just a few seconds remaining, Arizona quarterback Kyler Murray was scrambling when he threw a Hail Mary to wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins. With three Bills defenders surrounding him, Hopkins somehow caught the ball and got the touchdown, leading to Arizona winning the game.
Even though that game was a tough pill to swallow, it changed the Bills. In this section, I’m going to give you a couple of reasons why this was the turning point.
Winning streak
After that devastating loss, Buffalo would not lose another regular season game. The team went on six game winning streak to conclude the regular season, including winning the AFC East and finishing second best in the AFC. Four of those games, Buffalo scored 30 points or more. It felt like that Arizona game light a fire under them and they wanted to show the world they weren’t going to let a Hail Mary derail their season.
Improved the defense
Another reason why that loss was the turning point for Buffalo is because it made the defensive unit better. During the first few weeks of the season, Buffalo’s defense was struggling. With no preseason, the defensive unit was trying to gel together and in Week 10 they hit a new low. However, after that moment they improved. They had some good moments after the Cardinals game and I feel like the Arizona game brought them closer together.
Third time is always a charm
The last reason is because it prepared them for the future. In fact, they had to face another Hail Mary the very next game after the bye week against the Chargers. Even though it was successful, it didn’t result in a touchdown. Ever heard of the phrase, “Third time’s a charm”? Well it was accurate in the wild card game against Indianapolis. The Colts were down by three but needed a touchdown. Colts quarterback Philip Rivers was trying to do what Murray did but Bills safety Micah Hyde, who was involved in the Hail Murray, would not let it happen again. He knocked the ball down and Buffalo would win their first playoff game in 25 years.
Even though that Arizona game was heartbreaking, it made this team better. Sometimes the best teams need to go through some kind of adversity or heartbreak.
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-Zach Jezioro (@Zach_Jezioro13)