It's been a long time since Buffalo Bills fans have seen 20 points in a game on a regular basis. On this date in 1990, the Bills put up 20 points in 77 seconds during the fourth quarter on their way to an exciting 29-28 win.
The Denver Broncos led the Bills 14-0 in the second quarter, and by the start of the fourth, John Elway and the Broncos led 21-9. With David Treadwell lining up for an easy 24-yard field goal attempt to push the lead to 15, the kick was blocked into the waiting arms of Cornelius Bennett. Bennett plucked the ball out of the air and rumbled 80 yards for his first career touchdown with 10:27 remaining on the clock.
Video evidence and more after the jump.
Two plays later, a batted ball turned into a Buffalo interception return for a touchdown by Leonard Smith that put the Bills in the lead 22-21 after a blocked extra point. The Bills had scored two touchdowns in one minute, and 9:27 now remained in the game.
On the ensuing drive, the miscues by the Broncos continued as Elway fumbled a snap while backed up at his own four yard line. Bennett was the benefactor once again, falling on the ball. Kenneth Davis knifed into the end zone on the next play, and the Scott Norwood kick made it 29-21 with 9:10 left on the clock.
The Broncos went on to score a late TD with just under a minute and a half remaining, but since the two-point conversion wasn't a rule until 1994, they had to settle for an extra point and a 29-28 deficit. The onside kick was almost successful, bouncing high over the heads of the kick return team, but Pete Metzelaars jumped through the wall of Broncos to snatch the ball and seal the win.
On a day when the Bills were outgained 410 yards to 197 on offense and 208 to 64 in the rushing game, two big touchdowns by the defense and another huge fumble recovery turned the tide. Bruce Smith also added two sacks on his way to a team season record of 19 in 1990. Buffalo would go on to play in their first Super Bowl in January of 1991 after posting a 13-3 regular season record.
The Bills scoring flurry starts at the 4:35 mark: