That one pass is one of my favorite Bills memories - and in a preseason game! But so full of promise and, finally, hope -- !!
The NY Times wrote up that single throw extensively the next day. Here is what they said:
The New Era Field crowd had given Allen a standing ovation when he was announced as Buffalo’s new quarterback to begin the second half. Then he showed off the arm that made him the seventh overall draft choice and has captured so many imaginations.
Redmond didn’t know exactly what would happen on Allen’s debut play, but it called for max protection.
“Usually that means we’re taking a shot,” Redmond said. Allen faked a handoff to running back Marcus Murphy, then dropped back even farther.
“The play call had some deep routes,” Murphy said, “and I think it was all up to him.”
As Redmond helped hold the Panthers at bay, his mental clock told him the ball should’ve been thrown already. “But it wasn’t,” he said. Redmond couldn’t help but wonder if they’d be scraping Allen off the artificial turf.
Panthers DB Gaulden was in the middle of the field and read Allen’s deep setup. Gaulden had two receivers to survey yet didn’t wonder for long who Allen’s target would be. Allen quickly patted the ball twice while locking on receiver Robert Foster, sprinting up the left sideline. “He’s staring one receiver down the whole time,” Gaulden said. “That’s what you expect from a rookie quarterback. He just let it loose.”
Rookie or not, Allen’s release could be compared to few others in recent NFL memory. “We heard the roar,” said Redmond, “when the ball went up.”
Allen’s majestic spiral whistled 60 yards through the humid, night air. This was why the Bills traded up to draft him. This was why fans stood and applauded when Allen simply entered the game.
Panthers cornerback Kevon Seymour wasn’t on the field, but the former Bill watched in awe from the sideline.
“When he got in there and showed that deep ball,” Seymour said, “I was, like, whooof!”