It seems that in recent weeks, there's one play early in a Buffalo Bills game that lets you know that a game is already over. In a Week 10 loss to the Dallas Cowboys, that play was Dez Bryant out-jumping Leodis McKelvin for the game's first touchdown. In Sunday's debacle against the Miami Dolphins, that play was a huge gainer from a guy most people probably haven't heard of.
That's not to say that Charles Clay isn't a talented player, of course. The rookie sixth-round pick was a force as a runner and receiver at Tulsa, where in four years he caught 189 passes, ran the ball 179 times, and scored 20 touchdowns. Still, the 6'3", 245-pound Clay didn't have a true pro position entering the NFL. He's been a fullback in Miami, and going into Week 11, he had eight receptions for 133 yards on the year.
With Buffalo trailing 7-3 late in the first quarter, the little-known and little-utilized Clay torched Buffalo's beleaguered defense on a 46-yard fly route. He beat venerable safety Jairus Byrd to the spot. The gain was an early dagger, and two plays later, Miami's lead was 14-3. The game was over - and Clay would later rub it in with a touchdown grab of his own.