Jim Nantz defends Josh Allen's TD run as NFL's play of the year: 'This is as big as it gets'

Throughout the NFL season, highlight reel plays are bound to happen. Jayden Daniels finding a wide receiver on a Hail Mary against the Chicago Bears comes to mind, as does Garrett Wilson's one-handed touchdown snag. For NFL announcer Jim Nantz, neither of those plays are deserving of moniker of "Play of the Year" for 2024. 

Nantz was quick to call a touchdown in the Week 11 matchup between the Buffalo Bills and Kansas City Chiefs the play of the year. Buffalo quarterback Josh Allen scrambled 27 yards for a touchdown with just over two minutes left in the game. The score sealed the win for the Bills and ended the Chiefs' undefeated season at nine wins. 

Nantz called Allen's TD the play of the year, and after the extra point made sure to defend what his call. Here's what the broadcaster said. 

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Jim Nantz defends Josh Allen's TD call

Allen's play shouldn't be discounted. It was a big score for Buffalo, one that prevented an unbeaten season by the Chiefs. Kansas City is still 9-1 after the loss, however, and while a win in the regular season is big, the Chiefs have the Bills' number in the postseason. Was it a great play? Yes. Does it overtake the Hail Mary or Wilson's catch? Nantz believed that was the case.

Here's how the announcer defended his call after Buffalo kicked the extra point.

"Given all the stakes here, that's why I called it the play of the year. We happen to see that other little one down in Washington a couple of weeks ago [the Hail Mary], but all of this, the undefeated champs having a, what could be the knockout punch, for the first time this year, this is about as big as it gets. 

All on Allen."

Nantz clearly laid out his opinion. Stopping an undefeated season in Week 11 is big, and that certainly matters here. But will the Bills' win have staying power? Whenever long unbeaten streaks end, players and coaches always downplay the loss, which is exactly what the Chiefs did after the game. Patrick Mahomes didn't seem fazed, saying the team's goal was never to go undefeated, it was to win another Super Bowl.

Some could argue the Hail Mary was more impressive because it happened as time expired, and a rookie quarterback threw the pass. Nantz was likely caught up in the moment during Allen's touchdown run. Unless the Chiefs lose-out and miss the playoffs because of this game, there wasn't really a reason to refer to the play in Washington as "the other little one." The Bears, who were on the other end of that Hail Mary, haven't won a game since that last-second loss.

Allen gave the Bills a great win over a tough opponent. Whether that win will have a long-term impact on the season remains to be seen. Even after the loss, Kansas City is still the No. 1 seed in the AFC. Buffalo would be the No. 2 seed if the playoffs were to start today.