Buffalo Bills punter Sam Martin. Gregory Fisher-USA TODAY Sports

Bills punter raked over the coals after allowing game-winning TD

By Michael Gallagher | Last updated 9/12/23

Before Monday night’s 22-16 overtime loss to the New York Jets, few likely knew who Buffalo Bills punter Sam Martin was.

That’s no longer the case after he allowed the game-winning touchdown to Jets rookie receiver Xavier Gipson on a punt return in overtime — a play in which the 33-year-old punter attempted to tackle the speedy returner in a fashion that would only be acceptable if the NFL was a two-hand touch league.

Following the play, Martin was promptly roasted on social media for essentially handing the Jets a win.

I can’t believe for a fleeting moment I literally told myself “maybe Sam Martin I’d gonna punch this out” on that final return. I should be institutionalized
— Brother Bill (@BrotherBill716) September 13, 2023

Sam Martin has an awful punt and proceeds to patty cake the returner. Embarrassing for the brand.
— Ryan Donahue (@pkryan19) September 12, 2023

Brutal by Sam Martin here.
1st the punt is a right punt, from the right hash, all the coverage team is running that way and he pulls it short and left- that throws off the coverage big time, then a terrible effort to make the tackle at the end of the return https://t.co/Y1zJknEcR0
— Jay Feely (@jayfeely) September 12, 2023

Sam Martin just jumped out of the way with the game on the line pic.twitter.com/FzAsGWI1Lr https://t.co/oFK4Y8RdOT
— (@dreamzz_kidd) September 12, 2023

Sam Martin sets back the "kickers are real players" argument 100 years pic.twitter.com/2GAnM8pjRu
— Dustin Schott (@DustinSchottNYU) September 12, 2023

Many argued that instead of standing in Gipson’s way and trying to shove him to the ground, Martin, who was the last line of defense between Gipson and scoring, should have dove in front of the undrafted rookie to either impede his path to the end zone or to slow him down long enough for another defender to chase him down.

Martin was having a solid game up until the overtime period. He averaged 49.5 yards per punt on his first two kicks before Gipson returned his third one for a 65-yard touchdown. It was only Gipson’s second punt return of the game. His other one netted just one yard.

Martin signed a three-year, $7.5M contract extension with the Bills in March. He’s averaged 46.2 yards per punt during his 10-year career with the Bills, Detroit Lions and Denver Broncos. He’s recorded just five tackles over that span as well.

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