Josh Allen sent quite the message to Bills Mafia on Sunday after some fans retreated to the parking lots early before Buffalo orchestrated a wild comeback win over the Ravens.
When recapping the thrilling 41-40 victory, Allen — who authored a brilliant 394-yard performance that included two touchdowns in the air and another pair on the ground — called out the spectators who left Highmark Stadium ahead of Matt Prater’s game-winning field goal that gave the Bills a 1-0 start to the season.
“Our team didn’t quit. I mean, I think there’s people that left the stadium, that’s OK, we’ll be fine but have some faith next time,” the reigning league MVP said on the “Sunday Night Football” broadcast.
Down 40-25 late in the fourth quarter, Allen found wide receiver Keon Coleman — after the ball was tipped — in the end zone to trim Baltimore’s lead to 40-32.
A critical Derrick Henry fumble paved the way for another Bills possession, as Allen rushed for a touchdown with less than two minutes remaining to make it 40-38.
The Bills sealed the season-opening victory with a 32-yard field goal from Prater as time expired — days after the 41-year-old kicker joined the team.
“When we got down early by two scores, no one blinked at all, no one skipped a beat, they just kept going,” said Prater, who signed with the Bills’ practice squad Thursday after kicker Tyler Bass was moved to injured reserve due to hip and groin troubles.
“Then at the end, when we had gotten the ball back with [1:26 remaining], I knew we were going to get a shot.”
Sunday’s AFC clash was quite the way to open Highmark Stadium’s farewell season, as the Bills will move to a new home — the new Highmark Stadium — next year.
The Bills will visit the Jets in Week 2 before returning to Western New York on Sept. 21 for another AFC East showdown against the Dolphins.
Perhaps the fans who darted early will stick around for the game’s entirety in Week 3.