Rochester Democrat and Chronicle

‘The 33-year-old wideout delivered a vintage highlight late in the third quarter against the Buffalo Bills on Sunday Night. Hopkins hauled in a one-handed touchdown late in the third quarter, stretching out his right arm to snag a deep ball from Lamar Jackson along the right sideline.’

‘Replay review put one second back on the clock, and Matt Prater drilled a 43-yard field goal as time officially expired in the second quarter, cutting Buffalo’s deficit to 20-13 in Sunday night’s opener at Highmark Stadium.’

‘“Our team didn’t quit,” Allen told NBC’s Melissa Stark after Buffalo’s 41–40 comeback win over the Baltimore Ravens on Sunday Night Football. “I mean, I think there’s people that left the stadium. That’s OK, we’ll be fine, but have some faith next time.”’

‘“When I was a kid I grew up watching the Steelers with the terrible towel and Myron Cope on the radio and watching my idol Terry Bradshaw,” Kelly told me years later. “Every time the Steelers were playing I was watching the game and I wanted to play for the Steelers. That was my dream as a kid. So that day we’re playing the Steelers in Orchard Park, my whole family was there, my friends from my hometown were there, and it turned out to be the best game of my career.”’

‘Sal’s prediction: Ravens 30, Bills 28.’

‘NBC knew what it was doing, working with the NFL to reel in this game for Week 1. As crazy as it sounds in the first week of September, this has a chance to be one of the most impactful games of the entire season because the winner will have the head-to-head tiebreaker advantage which could prove critical come January.’

‘When the final gun sounded on this momentous 17-7 victory, you would have thought the Bills had won the Super Bowl. Fans poured onto the field to celebrate and they tore down both goal posts which I’m almost certain was the first time that had ever happened in Week 1 of any NFL season.’

‘The $2.1 billion project included a record $850 million in public money, $600 million from New York State and $250 million from Erie County.’

‘However, he did reveal Friday morning during his weekly segment with WGR-550 radio in Buffalo that neither cornerback Tre’Davious White or kicker Tyler Bass will practice Friday, meaning they have missed the entire week and that obviously does not bode well for the availability.’

‘The first game I attended was on Oct. 4, 1970 at the old Rockpile downtown, War Memorial Stadium, a beautiful Sunday afternoon when the Bills were hosting Joe Namath and the Jets. If I wasn’t quite hooked before that day, I was by the time the Bills pulled off a thrilling 34-31 upset of the team that had shocked the world two seasons prior by winning the third Super Bowl, the first by an AFL team against the established NFL.’

‘Buffalo signed Prater to the practice squad Thursday as uncertainty lingered around starter Tyler Bass, who was placed on injured reserve with a hip/groin injury on Friday afternoon. The Bills could elevate Prater and hand him foot duties starting with Sunday Night Football.’

‘Bass had been a model of durability, playing in all 83 games since Buffalo drafted him in 2020. He has 657 career points and has made 131 of 155 field goal attempts (84.5%), with a franchise-record 16 of 50 yards or more.’

‘“I didn’t know what the mood of the fans and the city of Buffalo would be because I had said I wouldn’t be a Buffalo Bill,” Kelly said, “but the reception I had at the airport and coming down the Thruway with all the banners and the people lined up on the overpasses waving to me, it was very exciting, unbelievable. I never thought I’d get that kind of reception. It was nuts. I’d always heard Buffalo fans were crazy, but you can’t imagine what that day was like.”’

‘The festivities will kick off with DJ Naps from Breakthrough Entertainment at noon. At 1 p.m. fans can watch the Bills take on the New York Jets on two 144-square-foot outdoor digital screens with full sound. The 4 p.m. NFL games will be shown as well. East Avenue will be blocked off from Alexander to Lawrence Streets for the occasion.’

‘Over the past 50-plus years, Highmark Stadium, Rich Stadium, “The Ralph” — whatever you prefer to call it — has become a sanctuary for the millions of Bills fans that have walked through its gates.’