Photo via Associated Press

On Jan. 8, 2000, the Buffalo Bills lost to the Tennessee Titans in what became the "Music City Miracle," as Titans tight end Frank Wycheck threw a cross-field lateral on a kickoff return to wide receiver Kevin Dyson, who sped to the end zone for the go-ahead score in the closing seconds.

After eight playoff trips in the 1990s, including four Super Bowls, that crushing defeat led to a nearly two-decade shroud of despair, which finally lifted following Sunday's 22-16 road win over the Miami Dolphins. The Bills will visit the Jacksonville Jaguars on Sunday, in search of their first playoff win since Dec. 30, 1995.

In addition to the Miami victory, Buffalo needed the Cincinnati Bengals to upset the Baltimore Ravens to make the postseason. The team and Bills fans everywhere were glued to the TV when that result unfolded, as Bengals quarterback Andy Dalton hit wideout Tyler Boyd for the game-winner on fourth-and-long:

From Miami, to Buffalo, to New York City...

That playoff moment! #GoBills pic.twitter.com/67p8tn0XEe

— Buffalo Bills (@buffalobills) January 1, 2018

 

The moment overwhelmed many in the Bills locker room ...

Retweet if you cried last night. #GoBills pic.twitter.com/z6Pru44Yfz

— Buffalo Bills (@buffalobills) January 1, 2018

 ... and across the country:

17 seasons.

We could hear Bills fans celebrating around the world on Sunday. #GoBills pic.twitter.com/wOIu1ruSuL

— Buffalo Bills (@buffalobills) January 2, 2018

 

In the days since, as a "thank you," Bills supporters have contributed money to Dalton's Andy & Jordan Dalton Foundation, which provides support, opportunities, resources and life-changing experiences to seriously ill and physically challenged children and their families in Cincinnati and Fort Worth, Texas, where Dalton attended college at TCU.

In the 24 hours since the 1st donation came in, over 2500 donors and just over $57,000 and counting! Last update for the night! I will update tomorrow. We can’t thank y’all enough!

— Andy Dalton (@andydalton14) January 2, 2018

Dalton thanked donors on Tuesday:

Thank you to everybody who is donating to the @ajdfoundation! We are blown away by the support! pic.twitter.com/KPyd5X0CFR

— Andy Dalton (@andydalton14) January 2, 2018

The outpouring of generosity inspired a new fundraising goal:

We are blown away and so grateful for the amount of generosity we have been receiving! Keep it up and help us get to $150K! #BillsMafia @buffalobills pic.twitter.com/d7tYsTZv2L

— AJD Foundation (@ajdfoundation) January 2, 2018