Stop worrying Bills fans, this team will be FINE
|
Monday, September 21, 2015 | BataviasBest.org
For the first time in my short life, yesterday’s sports world was ALL about the Buffalo Bills. Until they got smoked by the Patriots…
After taking in the entirety of ESPN’s morning Sports Center with Hannah Storm – which was LIVE from The Ralph – I made the drive to Orchard Park and arrived at One Bills Drive at about 11:50 am yesterday to a parade of red, white, and blue which was streaming for miles down Route 20. Prior to my arrival in Bills Country, however, the morning Sports Center proved to be filled with excitement, including a College Gameday-like atmosphere that surrounded the ESPN set, interviews with Bills legends, as well as a Sunday conversation between head coach Rex Ryan and Storm. All in all, it was a great display put on by Bills fans for the world to see.
After pulling across Abbott Rd I continued to my parking spot, paid the lot attendant, parked my car, and upon exiting the vehicle the familiar scents that come with every big Bills game in Buffalo also greeted me upon my arrival. The sweet aroma of discarded cigarettes, stale beer, and cased meat filled the air as I opened my car door and headed towards the main lot, which in a weird way made me extremely hungry – but I digress.
As I approached the ticket line at Gate 6, more familiar sights, sounds and smells filled the air as fireworks began to ring out from inside the stadium – signaling the beginning of team introductions. Another Buffalo Bills Sunday was officially upon us – and we were ready.
Now as far as the game is concerned – from my perspective – the performance that the Bills put forth on Sunday was not quite as bad as it may have seemed to those in attendance, as well as watching at home. I acknowledge the fact that a plethora of penalties, and countless displays of mismanagement both tactically and emotionally killed Buffalo for the better part of this game. That being said, what this group showed during the very beginning, as well as the very end of the contest, proved to me that the Bills can be a contender in the AFC East this season.
Beginning with Karlos Williams’ touchdown, the Bills got off to an incredible start to open this game – much like they had in Week 1 vs the Indianapolis Colts. The crowd was lit, the building was jumping, and I thought for sure we were about to make Tom Brady cry in his milk following the game, but what happened next wasn’t exactly what I saw coming.
In spite of all of the promise that came with the Bills’ first touchdown drive vs New England, all hope and positivity within the confines of the stadium quickly faded away just minutes later – as the Patriots’ Hall of Fame quarterback took matters into his own hands.
Suddenly, the Pats were moving the ball down the field at will, stopping the Bills at every turn, and also instigating Buffalo into countless mental errors which came in the form of 5 personal foul penalties. Before you knew it, the game was all but over – and the third quarter was not even quite finished. Bills’ fans worst fear had been realized as we were getting blown out by the Patriots.
However, as bleak as things may have seemed for a good portion of the ball game yesterday afternoon, our boys in red, white, and blue battled back, brought the deficit to a respectable margin, and showed us the relentless fight that they have inside of them on each gameday.
It is primarily for this reason that, despite the insufferable negativity I experienced on part of Bills fans upon leaving the stadium, I see our team getting right back on track next week vs another divisional opponent in the Miami Dolphins. To win football games you need to be able to overcome adversity, even of such steep proportions as we saw yesterday, and the Bills have shown their propensity to do just that which has given me hope for the immediate, as well as extended future.
A quick side note, those of you who were a part of the negative mass exiting The Ralph yesterday, if you are walking around today blaming Rex Ryan for every little thing that went wrong yesterday – stop it. Where were you Week 1 after a crushing victory over the other 2014 AFC Championship participant? Was Rex’s bravado a negative then?
I think not.
As Bills fans, many have the tendency to overreact to every negative thing that happens with this team – and rightfully so due to the team’s futility over the years. But it is time to change the culture in Buffalo – and it all starts with us as fans.
Going forward, we must fight off the urge to view every bump in the road for the Bills as some sort of Star War-like bottomless pit that leads into the depths of despair. Instead, trust in what your organization has been building over the past several years, and trust the fact that the players on the field will get the job done. Good teams, good organizations, and good fan bases hold a strong sense of belief and trust in one another, no matter the circumstances. It is time that Bills fans take note of this, and change the negativity that surrounds every mistake that the team makes.
Support your team with positivity. Billieve in Buffalo.
Go Bills.
Other articles you may like:
Buffalo Bills Bulletin: Gameday, Week 1
Rex Ryan says Buffalo Bills are his last stop in coaching
Poll of the Day: What record will the Buffalo Bills finish with following the 2015 regular season
