Watching these wild Buffalo Bills games at home can be very stressful - especially if you're alone. Yesterday, I was with 73,000 Bills fans at Orchard Park, and, in particular, the group of long time season ticket holders in my section. Being at the game - even a roller coaster game like yesterday's - gives fans a sense of community and sharing and is really much less nerve racking than pacing around at home, waiting through the endless TV commercials and hoping for good things to happen on the field. That's why we go to these games. That's why we invest 12 hours in the experience. As Marv Levy used to say to his team before kick-off: "Where else would you rather be than right here, right now?"
Yesterday's big win over the Patriots was truly something to behold. Down 21-0 in the second quarter, the Bills, with the help of 4 interceptions of Tom Brady, some crucial favourable penalty calls, good luck and a loss of composure on the part of the Patriots and their coaching staff, Buffalo fans got the monkey off their back and shook off 15 straight losses as their team finally beat New England. In so doing, the Bills became the first team in NFL history to overcome 18 point deficits in 2 consecutive weeks. The Jets also lost to Oakland and the Bills, at 3-0, now find themselves alone atop the AFC East.
All of last season, Tom Brady was intercepted 4 times, equalling yesterday's total. The Bills produced 24 points from those turnovers, making all of the difference in this game. For the first quarter and a half, it looked like we would we would be heading for the exits after the third quarter, getting a jump on the traffic and getting home in time to watch the second half of the 4pm games. The Patriots took the opening kick-off and scored what looked like an easy touchdown. They intercepted Fitzpatrick on the Bills first drive and scored again. Then again. The Bills did not look ready to answer last week's Jim Rome challenge: "Buffalo, we know you're better but are you ready now to be good? Are you ready to make a statement and beat the Patriots?" I guess they had to think about it before answering but, as Fitzpatrick kneeled down allowing the last seconds of the 4th quarter to tick away before Rian Lindell's game winning kick, the answer was clear: Just barely, but "yes".
After the game, Chan Gailey said that the team's next challenge is going to be how they handle prosperity. Next week, the Bills travel to Cincinnati, a place where they have done well in recent years. Let's see if they can keep it going and move to 4-0 before returning home to play the Eagles.
We saw quite a few Tim Hudak billboards around the Niagara area yesterday. He is from Fort Erie and it did occur to me that he could be - and probably is - a Bills fan. There had to something to like about him and, for me, that would be it.
The Bills and Dolphins were anticipated to be bottom dwelers this season. As a Dolphins fan, I can say, it's quite lonely here without you!
ReplyDeleteAs I find myself hanging off every word you write... can I just say that your last sentence is missing a word... likely only two letters... one syllable... but a word nonetheless. ;) DL
As an avid non-fan of any organized sporting or non-sporting activity, I can state unequivocably that your blog posts are probably the most enjoyable and interesting I have read. Your picturesque prose paints a vivid visual sound scape of what it must be like to be sitting in the stadium, the game about to start and what not. All very dramatic and hush-hush. And then when you stab Tim Hudak using a reverse/transverse metaphor the editor in me reached for the ATL + CTRL keys knowing full well that even though I wanted to, I could never edit your post. So, I remain.
ReplyDelete