Watch: Bills' Harty returns punt 95 yards, shattering team record

Buffalo Bills wide receiver Deonte Harty. Jay Biggerstaff-USA TODAY Sports

Watch: Bills' Deonte Harty returns punt 95 yards, shattering franchise record

By Mike Santa Barbara | Last updated 1/7/24

Sometimes, even seemingly unbreakable records meet their demise.

On the final "Sunday Night Football" matchup of the regular season, Buffalo Bills wideout Deonte Harty stunned the Miami Dolphins, returning a punt an incredible 96 yards for a touchdown to shatter the franchise record.

With the Bills trailing 14-7 with 13:42 left, Harty fielded a Jake Bailey punt at the Buffalo four-yard line before bursting up the middle to paydirt, knotting things up at 14 apiece.

Deonte Harty wants that 2 seed

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Harty passes Keith Moody for the Bills' mark. Moody returned a punt 91 yards for a score against the Cleveland Browns in 1977 and probably thought his spot atop the team's record books was safe. However, Hardy had other ideas.

It's the second punt return touchdown of Harty's career and the first for Buffalo since Isaiah McKenzie (84 yards) during the 2020 campaign, per the team.

The enormous special teams' play also swung the momentum. Following Harty's TD, the Bills' defense forced a Dolphins' three-and-out before the offense notched the go-ahead score eight plays later when quarterback Josh Allen connected with tight end Dawson Knox from five yards out, making it 21-14.

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