The Buffalo Bills are known more for their attack than for their defense in 2020, but it was the last unit that Saturday night’s heroics stole the show against visitor Baltimore Ravens. Leading by seven with less than a minute to play in the third quarter of arguably the most anticipated match of the Divisional Round, Bills thwarted a third and a goal when Taron Johnson intercepted Lamar Jackson and started running 101 yards for the pick-six. But that was not all they did. Johnson’s big lesson also made history in the NFL.
Specific to Saturday night’s game, Johnson’s pick six was monumental enough. Not only did he erase a potential Baltimore goalscorer and increase Bills ‘lead to 14 in the fourth period, but he gave Jackson the first choice of the red zone of his entire career by placing an unofficial nail in the Ravens’ coffin aspirations for an appearance in the AFC Championship.
Bills quarterback Josh Allen called Taron Johnson’s interception “a franchise change move” and said “he will be remembered for a long time here in Buffalo” during his post-game interview.
Overall, however, Johnson’s choice six was equally remarkable. As he raced past the Ravens – including Jackson – the 101-yard veteran Bills cornerback, he tied the NFL record for the highest post-season interception return ever recorded, matching the first record set by former Green Bay Packers security guard George Teague, in the 1993 playoffs.