5 Reasons Why The Bills Pulled Off The Upset & Won!
4) Jerry Hughes
Going into the locker room the Bills found themselves trailing the Falcons 10-7. Jerry Hughes said after the game that going into the locker room defensive coordinator Leslie Frazier said that the defense needed to step up big and get a turnover if they wanted to consider themselves a playoff team.
"““Coach Frazier had just talked about it, coming out of the locker room at halftime hungry for some turnovers,” said Hughes. “If we wanted to be a playoff caliber team and be any type of defense, we need to force turnovers on the road. I was just happy that it worked out in our favor.”"
Well, a turnover is exactly what Hughes and the Bills got. Early in the third quarter Matt Ryan and the Falcons found themselves facing a 3rd and 9, Hughes got enough pressure on Ryan to force a strip sack and forced a fumble.
That fumble was then scooped up by rookie Tre’Davious White for a 52-yard fumble return touchdown.
This huge play in the game gave Buffalo an early 14-0 lead in the third quarter. On the ensuing drive Ryan unleashed a deep pass downfield intended for wide receiver Taylor Gabriel. But the third year safety out of Iowa, Micah Hyde, was there to intercept the pass and this later led to another Hauschka field goal.
The strip sack by Hughes was a game changer as it brought momentum for the Bills going forward in the game and is one of the reasons why the Bills pulled off the upset.