Buffalo's clever trick play is overshadowed by a swift shift from elation to despair

Billy Heyen

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Bills' brilliant trick play becomes a footnote as magic turns to misery for Buffalo image

TL;DR

  • Bills attempted a hook-and-ladder play on fourth-and-27 against the Houston Texans.
  • Khalil Shakir advanced past the first-down marker on the successful trick play.
  • Buffalo failed to score a touchdown and later threw an interception, losing the game.
  • The impressive lateral play became a reminder of a missed opportunity for the Bills.

This play had the potential to be the one featured on all the highlight reels, the specific moment that could have transformed the Bills' season into an extraordinary, destiny-driven path to victory.

Instead, it becomes a footnote.

On Thursday night, with the game on the line and trailing by four to the Houston Texans, the Bills found themselves in a fourth-and-27 situation. They opted for a bit of deception.

Joshua Palmer caught a pass from Josh Allen, thrown roughly to the midpoint of the field, moving from right to left.

Crossing just in front of Palmer, left to right, was Khalil Shakir.

Palmer passed the ball to Shakir, a backward lateral, resembling a hook-and-ladder play, and Shakir then ran.

Shakir raced past the first-down marker, Buffalo still in business.

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But then the Bills couldn't score the touchdown.

Gabe Davis got one foot down, not two, on a jump ball, and that was as close as Buffalo got.

The game was effectively decided when Allen tossed an interception shortly after, with Three Bills receivers simultaneously down on the field, having all fallen in the span of a moment or two.

The lateral play will still be a cool one to look back on.

However, it will also serve as a reminder of missed opportunities. The Bills hold a 7-4 record, remaining strong contenders for the playoffs. Nevertheless, that particular play was intended to make a significant impact, to surprise everyone, and to create something extraordinary.

And it was successful. That's the most disappointing aspect. The surprise play succeeded. However, the conventional methods the Bills employed to attempt scoring were ineffective.

And so Buffalo flew home with a loss, having pulled out the specialty play, seen it come through and then not finished the job.

It would've been a heck of a lot more fun for Bills Mafia if that magical moment meant a win.

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Senior Editor