Eight months after throwing the touchdown that ended the Bills 17-year playoff drought, Andy Dalton sensed he would get a warm reaction in Buffalo. The Bengals QB then received a standing ovation from thousands of Bills fans.

“I didn’t know what the ovation was going to be, but for [the Bengals] to hold me back and be the last one to come out [on the field], I wasn’t expecting that,” said Dalton. “It’s a crazy story and its been fun to be on this side of it and be the one going through it. 

After throwing a game-winning touchdown to Tyler Boyd in Week 17 of last season, Bills fans gave thanks by donating over $450,000 to Andy Dalton’s charitable foundation.

“The best part is all the money that was raised and how many families and how many children we’re going to be able to help,” said Dalton.

The love was shortlived when on the Bengals first play from scrimmage, Dalton connected with John Ross on a 57-yard touchdown. Dalton finished the afternoon 11 of 16 passing for 180 yards and two touchdowns.

“We knew that was going to be the first play,” said Dalton. “I said in the huddle it was going to a touchdown, I said on the sideline before the game that it was going to be a touchdown. I’m glad it happened that way.”

Dalton says the best part of the entire day was helping cut the ribbon on a new technology wing at the Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center in Buffalo.

“For us to give back was amazing. There’s so much support in Buffalo,” said Dalton. “The game went well too.”