Bills robbed fans of a perfect sendoff moment at Highmark Stadium

In nearly every category, Buffalo Bills fans got the sendoff for Highmark Stadium they hoped for. The Bills enjoyed the best of both worlds, giving their key starters rest ahead of their postseason run while also sticking the rival New York Jets with a 35-8 shellacking to close the regular season.

Several reserves got in on the action and rose to the occasion, closing out The Ralph’s 50+ year tenure with some special moments. Ray Davis uncorked for 151 yards on the ground, home-grown product Joe Andreesen played lights-out at linebacker, and Mitchell Trubisky tossed four touchdowns.

All of those efforts were well appreciated by Bills Mafia, but there was one moment Bills fans felt they were robbed of.

Buffalo Bills fans wanted FB Reggie Gilliam to get one of Highmark Stadium's final scores

The cheers filling Highmark Stadium grew louder in the red zone when Trubisky turned to give a handoff to fullback Reggie Gilliam. Like most fullbacks in the modern game, Gilliam is an unsung hero on his roster who doesn’t get the opportunity to add to his stat sheet often. Gilliam lost a yard on that first and goal carry at the 1-yard line and was brought off the field for the next play.

Gilliam said after the game he heard the chants of “Reggie” calling for him to get another shot at the end zone, saying, “It was like a movie.” 

That was Gilliam’s second carry of the game, gaining five earlier in the drive. Unfortunately, falling short on that carry, Gilliam’s career rushing touchdown total remains at zero. He has just eight carries for 14 yards in his five-year career, though he does have two receiving touchdowns, his most recent in 2022.

The following drive, the Bills ran three plays inside the Jets’ 5-yard line, each a handoff for Ty Johnson, who needed two touchdowns in the game to unlock a $250k contract incentive. He later caught a 6-yard touchdown pass, likely the final Bills touchdown at The Ralph, to get the bonus. Unfortunately, that meant there were no more opportunities for Gilliam after the fact.

READ MORE: McDermott, Bills give fans the final Highmark Stadium memory they hoped for

To Bills Mafia, Gilliam is a highly respected player who deserves more recognition than he receives. Having him score one of the final touchdowns at Highmark Stadium would have been an extra special moment on top of many in the storied history of the Bills' now former home. It’s a bit of a shame Gilliam didn’t get any extra shots, but it’s certainly sweetened by Johnson getting his contract incentive.

Touchdown or no, Gilliam will continue to lead the way for James Cook in the postseason and make underappreciated plays on special teams, just like he always does.