On the TV they have been showing the highlights of the Chiefs game. Now they are switching to the Bengals. The cancer is spreading. Joe's body is losing the fight. He is sitting in a hospital bed now, attached to a heart rate monitor. It shows a heartbeat of 91. 91 has been the first time the Bills reached the SuperBowl and the closest they ever got to winning it. Lost against the Giants. It has been the beginning of the end of his father.
Now they are showing Josh Allen. Allen has been injured on the shoulder late in the win against the Jaguars last week. Shortly after Joe collapsed. Allen moves his arm around. He looks banged up. Joe's heart rate drops to 86. The Bills start the game with a solid drive though untypically relying mostly on the run game. They, like Joe's heart rate, go up by three points.
In their first drive, the Bengals score a touchdown. The Bills defense puts up a good fight, but Burrow, Chase and Higgins bring their A game. Buffalo answers with another field goal and the Bengals have to punt after an offensive holding creates a long third down. Joe's heart rate is at a stable 87 at the end of the first quarter.
But it gets downhill from here. Touchdowns by Boyd and Mixon are too much for Buffalo to keep up with. 80, 71. Joe feels tired. At half time the reporters bring up rumors about trading Stefon Diggs and Matt Milano to collect draft capital for a multi-year rebuild around Josh Allen.
"It probably would be best for Allen to sit out a year anyway in order to finally get healthy again."
Joe's heart rate is at 64. It gets hard to breathe. If only he could reach the window to open it.
Buffalo starts the second half with a fumble. Cincinnati doesn't manage to recover it, neither does Joe's heart rate from the frustration over it. Three plays later Dawson Knox gets injured on a botched play action attempt. When Joe's heart rate reaches 52, the monitor changes color. They might send a nurse and turn off the game. Joe has stopped caring.
Sean McDermott goes for it at 4th and 3. Allen gets the ball, pump fakes under pain and then side-arms the ball to Gabe Davis. But Cam Taylor-Britt is nearby and knocks the ball out before Davis can secure it. Joe closes his eyes. Everything seems distant now. A light appears in the distance. At least he will see his dad again. That brings a bitter smile on Joe's face as he moves towards the light. We tried to win one for you. And we had the team, too. He hopes his dad will understand.
Finally, he reaches the light as he hears a voice in the distance.
"Pass interference number 29 defense. The ball will be placed at the spot of the foul. First down Buffalo."
Joe opens his eyes in time to see Diggs catch the touchdown pass. Allen seems to have found a side-arm throwing technique that isn't affected by his shoulder injury and he unleashes onto the Bengals. Every drive the Bills score while the Bengals look flabbergasted. By the beginning of the 4th quarter there are no doubts about the outcome anymore. Not today dad. First we have to pick up that ring for you.
In the last divisional round game the 49ers eliminate the Eagles after Jaylen Hurts gets injured.
"See we told you, you have no chance with a level playing field," Deebo Samuel concludes.
