You never know when it’s your turn to be the hero, your turn to set fire to a starving football town.
But everyone can dream, everyone can see themselves making a David Tire Helmet Catch, or a Malcolm Butler end-zone interception.
And on a frigid, windy night in Buffalo, it was Taron Johnson who lived his dream and helped Josh Allen one step closer to the start of his Jim Kelly legacy.
It was Taron Johnson who intercepted Lamar Jackson for a 101-yard pick-six that sent the bills to their first AFC championship in 27 years with a 17-3 win over the Ravens.
It was Taron Johnson who made 6,700 Bill’s Mafia fans, some of them bare-chested, sounded more like 67,000 fans.
It was Taron Johnson, a third year in the corner of Weber State whose young career was tainted by injuries, who played the biggest game of his life in the biggest game of his life.
“They always tell us, ‘Look at the quarterback’s vision, he’ll take you where the ball is, especially in the zone,’” said Johnson.
Jackson stared at Mark Andrews. He ended up in vain on Taron Johnson.
“I caught the ball and I looked down a little bit, but then I looked up and I just saw a bunch of green grass on the right side,” Johnson said.
So he had to make an important decision. “After I caught it, I thought for a second that maybe I should kneel it,” Johnson said. “At that point I thought, ‘Okay, it’s a person I have to beat, and that’s number 8 on the other side.’ “
Johnson immediately headed for the AFC Championship game.
‘I saw Lamar coming, I slowed down a bit to let Tre [White] stand in front of me just to help me, ”said Johnson.
Marv Levy, who watched everything from his home in Chicago, was most impressed with Allen’s rise to the elite in his third season.
“Just his behavior I think is just as good as anything,” Levy told The Post. “He listens well, he learns, he stays cool, even when things are not going well.”
For a while, halfway through, not much went to Allen on Saturday night.
Then, on the opening second half possession, he found Stefon Diggs with a 3 yard touchdown pass that made it Bills 10, Ravens 3.
Then here came Lamar Jackson.
And in an instant, Lamar Jackson went.
Jackson had converted a third-and-13 in midfield with a 15-yard scramble before Jerry Hughes, with Marquise “Hollywood” Brown wide open for what would have been the tying touchdown, pressured Jackson to a low pitch.
Then here came Taron Johnson.
Lamar Jackson, third and goal in 9, threw a dart for Andrews in the end zone and the next thing he knew was he was chasing Johnson in vain on his dramatic 101-yard pick-six.
All of Buffalo exploded.
It was Jackson’s first interception in the red zone after throwing 49 career TDs.
It was Johnson’s second career interception and pick-six.
Sometimes it’s a night for the Bruce Smiths and the Ray Lewises.
Or a Taron Johnson.
A snappy 5-foot-11, 192-pound corner that plays bigger than it is.
And then and there it was over.
Jackson was in his end zone after a bad fall and went to the locker room at the end of the third quarter with a concussion after landing on his head.
Tyler Huntley, an undeveloped free agent from Utah who had thrown five career steps, didn’t quite bring the Ravens back. Instead, he toppled a wide-open Hollywood Brown deep below the field.
There were nights when Jim Kelly didn’t do it alone either, and all the city cares about is that the Chiefs-Browns winner is next.
Allen wasn’t intercepted, didn’t throw a pickax, pretended to be here before.
Neither quarterback had affected play with his amazing legs, and a tough wind had endangered the passing and kicking matches.
Josh Allen is 60 minutes from a Super Bowl. All of Buffalo will believe he can take their accounts there. Thanks in large part to Taron Johnson, he can be Jim Kelly.