Plays That Defined the 2020 Buffalo Bills Tournament: “Conference” Championships

We’re nearing the finish line in our annual quest to crown a single play to define the entire season. Think hard Rumblers as the stakes are only getting higher. You get one play to illustrate the story that was the 2020 season. Which play is the best stand-in for 19 games over the course of more than four months? It’s not an easy decision, but at least we’ve whittled down the field.

Editor’s note: In order to vote in the polls, you will need to use a browser on your device. If you’re in a news app, you won’t be able to see the polls.

Updated Bracket: Play That Defined 2020 Bracket - Conference finals.pdf

Home Games Conference Finals

Baltimore Ravens—Taron Johnson interception

vs.

New England Patriots—Justin Zimmer forced fumble

It’s like the old saying goes, “home is where the heart defense is.” No matter the outcome of this contest, our home game conference will be represented by two standout defensive plays. Taron Johnson tied an NFL playoff record for longest pick-six with his 101-yard return against Baltimore in the Divisional Round. This play entered the tournament as the number-one seed in the “conference” and has steamrolled its way to take on...

The second-seeded Justin Zimmer forced fumble representing the final nail in the Patriots’ coffin. A tight game against the reigning AFC East Champions was a nailbiter. Were the 2020 Bills for real? Or would they stumble yet again? Justin Zimmer’s heads-up play created a collective sigh of relief, singlehandedly creating enough air-pressure change to alter the weather in WNY for a week. Probably.

Away Games Conference Finals

Miami Dolphins—Josh Allen to John Brown pushed Allen over 400 yards

vs.

New England Patriots—Stefon Diggs touchdown

In the away games, offense reigns supreme with the fifth and seventh seeds squaring up. It was a year of milestones and proving the doubters wrong. After starting off hot and hitting his first 300-yard game, the obvious thing to do for Josh Allen was to hit 400 yards. Team records fell and the Bills became the hottest new offense in the league. The Bills and Allen were cooking, and crow was on the menu.

How can you compete against a milestone like that? Well maybe a touchdown to Stefon Diggs will do it. A major catalyst in the offensive change, Diggs proved time and time again that general manager Brandon Beane was wise to make the trade that brought him to Orchard Park. If you’re looking for an iconic way to show it, why not versus the Patriots? If Zimmer’s forced fumble felt like the final nail in the coffin, the dominance of the Bills in their second meeting (and Diggs specifically) was a cheerful jig on the freshly added dirt.