Gabriel Davis Set an NFL Playoff Record

During the NFL Divisional playoff game between the Buffalo Bills and Kansas City Chiefs, Bills wide receiver and former UCF Knights star Gabriel Davis did what was never done: He caught four touchdown passes during a playoff game.

Relive every one of his eight catches for 201 yards here. We’d normally embed this but the NFL sucks.

His best was a UCF on UCF crime, as he completely lost Mike Hughes for his third TD of the night:

This was a breakout game for Davis, who played for the UCF Knights from 2017-2019 before being drafted in the fourth round of the NFL draft by Buffalo. His 8 catches for 201 yards and 4 touchdowns were all career highs.

During his time in Buffalo, his snap count and utilization has been inconsistent. In 2021, he didn’t start to be on the field the majority of the snaps until a late season loss in Tampa, where he became a fixture of the offense instead of splitting between the offense and special teams. The week after the game in Tampa, Davis recorded his first multi-touchdown game with two in a home win against Carolina. This was also his first start since week one of the season.

On the surface, I always believed someone had to have done this before, but no. Three touchdown catches have been done many times in the past. I’m sure there is one that sticks out to you. The one that sticks out to me the most is Gary Collins catching three touchdown passes from Frank Ryan as the Cleveland Browns won the NFL championship over the Baltimore Colts in 1964, their last title and a game my dad was able to watch in person.

What diminishes the accomplishment is the part that Davis couldn’t control: The Bills lost. The accomplishment, while important to Bills and Knights fans, gets swept to the side because Buffalo’s season ended on such an improbable comeback. In most games, scoring the go-ahead touchdown with 13 seconds all but seals victory, but not this time. Kansas City managed to get into field goal range to tie the game and then win it in overtime.

Much like defenders tend to be forgotten, so does the losing side. That will benefit Davis’ 2017 UCF teammate and current Chiefs cornerback Mike Hughes, who was absolutely humiliated by Davis. Davis breaking his ankles on touchdown number three will end up buried in the archives of the 2021 season. Had the Bills won, Hughes would have become the poster child of this single-handed beatdown and it would be a highlight play of the season.

The record book will have Davis’ name etched in there until the day comes when someone catches five. It could be next week or twenty years from now. Who knows? Kicker and Knight alum Matt Prater was the record holder for the longest field goal from 2013 until it was broken in 2021. The record of 63 yards lasted for 43 years before Prater broke it.

Records are made to be broken, but until they are, enjoy them.