Bills fans pay thanks to Dalton

Bills fans are opening their wallets to show their appreciation for one guy responsible for their longawaited playoff payoff.

Grateful supporters of the Bills have overwhelmed Andy Dalton’s foundation as a way of thanking the Bengals quarterback for his role in snapping the team’s 17- year NFL post season drought.

Dalton capped a stunning comeback over Baltimore on Sunday with a last-minute, 49-ya rd touchdown pass on fourth-and-12. The Ravens’ loss, coupled with a Bills’ win minutes earlier, ended what had been the longest active playoff drought in North American professional sports.

The quarterback’s foundation said Tuesday it had received more than $100,000 in donations since Sunday’s 31-27 victory that gave Buffalo the final AFC wild-card berth in the playoffs.

“I think I’m the hottest guy in Buffalo right now,” Dalton told reporters Monday. “According to my Twitter, I think everybody’s loving us right now. Obviously that’s a crazy fan base, and they’re all pretty excited.”

Dalton also posted a video on his Twitter account on Tuesday to express his gratitude and encourage more donations.

“We h ave ove r 4, 500 donors right now. We’ve raised over $100,000 and it continues to go up,” Dalton said in the video. “We cannot thank you enough. Let’s keep it going.”

The majority of the donations, Dalton pointed out, came in the form of $17, in reference to the 17 seasons between playoff appearances for the Bills.

Dalton created the foundation with his wife shortly after the Bengals drafted him in 2011. It provides support, resources, opportunities and life-changing experiences for seriously ill and disabled children and their families.

The monetary gifts followed the Bills’ promise to deliver wings to the Bengals in a letter of gratitude Sunday night.

— WithReuters