Matt Parrino | [email protected] Orchard Park, N.Y.
— The redemption story in sports has played out many times on the big screen. Fan favorites include the underdog story of “Rudy” or the team triumph in “Remember the Titans.” Many great moments in sports are born out of struggle.
Few Buffalo Bills players have struggled as much as kicker Tyler Bass in 2024. The missed field goal against the Kansas City Chiefs back in January was one of the reasons the Bills were bounced from last season’s playoffs. The doubt that missed kick created within the fan base hovered over Bass all offseason and into training camp.
Every missed kick in practice and then in the games once the season kicked off brought the ire of the Bills Mafia. Bills coach Sean McDermott has been asked about his confidence in Bass at least a half-dozen times since his team reported for camp. Every time he was asked, McDermott responded the same way - with confidence.
That belief was rewarded on Sunday when Bass drilled a perfectly placed ball to hit a 61-yard, game-winning field goal to lift the Bills to their fourth straight win. The scene after the kick was straight out of a movie. Teammates flooded the field to embrace Bass, who was emotional in the locker room after the game when McDermott handed him the game ball.
“It means everything,” Bass said. “Was just focused on right here, right now, the present and being patient with everything, man. You’re gonna go through ups and downs, but just co.
