Monday, December 3rd, 1995. Candlestick Park.
Originally from the Bay Area and the tickets were a gift for my 14th birthday, along with a sweet Bills parka.
We were completely outplaying the whiners, about to remove just about all doubt. Jim Kelly hands off to Darrick Holmes who dives over the pile toward the goal line. Gary Plummer hits him in mid flight, forcing a fumble. Ball picked up by Lee Woodall who returns it 96 yards for a touchdown. Momentum turned never to be regained.
For some reason, one of the plays I remember most is Jimbo pitching the ball to Thurman, then heading left as Thurman sets to throw... Jim turns the corner to look at nothing but green between him and the end zone only to slip on the waterlogged grass and fall. I guess that play is the Bills in a nutshell... so close, but derailed by dumb bad luck.
I was a barely 14 year old kid in the middle of nothing but SF season ticket holders wearing a Bills parka. Wouldn't have bothered me if it wasn't for the 40-50+ men trying to pick fights with me.
On a happier note, the Bills-fish game last weekend was my first Bills home game. Much better experience, can't wait to go back.
Living in Boston now and considering making the fish game an annual pilgramage to WNY.