Well, that was awkward for everyone involved.
Following the Houston Texans’ 23-20 win over the Buffalo Bills, many began to wonder what would be the reaction to Josh Allen’s meeting with Stefon Diggs.
The meeting was brief. Very brief. In fact, in the days of the internet, perhaps it shouldn’t have happened at all.
Allen greeted Diggs with a quick, silent handshake and moved to the locker room. Diggs shook it and gave Allen two taps on his back.
These guys will never speak again lol. pic.twitter.com/eGAFGrzzxk
— Air Raid | Buffalo (@TheBillsGuys) October 6, 2024
Then they went their separate ways but not before the camera caught Diggs giving Allen one of the meanest side-eyes in recent memory.
It was a professional and unceremonious reunion, but the internet couldn’t stop talking about the awkward moment.
Stefon Diggs said it did mean a lot to get the win over the Bills.
He later added: “Playing my old team, I'm not gonna sit here &act like it was just regular. It meant a lot to me & it was reassuring that the guys around me knew that it meant a lot to me, even if I didn't say it” pic.twitter.com/Q29rZtpdCu— katherine fitzgerald (@kfitz134) October 6, 2024
“I can’t say I didn’t think about this game when I got traded,” Diggs said. “I held it in all week energy-wise. I just try to keep it professional but obviously in the back of my mind it meant a lot to me. I wanted to do more showing than telling.”
Much like in real-life breakups, the departure of Diggs from Buffalo was heartbreaking for fans. Someone had come out looking like a winner while the other remained down in the dumps in the first face-off.
the side eye is insane pic.twitter.com/Q3JpaMx1jF
— will, owens (@owenswill14) October 6, 2024
On Sunday, Diggs was the winner. He finished with six catches for 82 yards as Houston improved to 4-1. Meanwhile, Allen went 9 of 30 for 131 yards and a touchdown.
No Bills’ pass-catcher went for over 49 receiving yards, and it came with Keon Coleman’s score in the third quarter. Coleman, Mack Hollins, Marquez Valdes-Scantling and Curtis Samuel totaled four combined catches on 18 targets for 76 yards, six fewer than Diggs overall.
“He’s on their team and is a great player and made some good plays tonight for them,” Allen said postgame. “He was on the winning team.”
When traded to Buffalo in 2020, Diggs became the backbone of the Bills’ offense and the top weapon in Allen’s growth. Over his four Pro Bowl seasons, the duo combined for 445 completed, 5,372 yards, and 37 touchdown catches.
Allen and the Bills might have lost the battle but still could win the war en route to securing their sixth consecutive division title. Diggs, however, could be looking forward to a postseason rematch as he becomes the security blanket for another young passer in C.J. Stroud.
The Texans travel to Foxborough to take on the New England Patriots this Sunday at noon CT.