Missing Rings: The 1990 Buffalo Bills

[sven233]

They just showed this again on NFL Network. I swear.....it is 20 years later and this eats at me EVERY DAY.......

 

Just seeing it, looking at it.....remembering it......feeling it. No words can describe it.

 

It is still as painful now as it was back then, maybe even more. It is so hard.......I guess that is why I am a Bills fan. I BLEED RED, WHITE, AND BLUE!!!!

 

JUST 1.....I JUST WANT 1. There is no city that deserves it more. There is no fan base that deserves a Super Bowl win more.

 

 

 

 

JUST 1

 

 

LET'S GO BILLS!!!!!!!

[bills2683]

I started to cry watching it tonight, those were the best years of my life in the sporting world. The way the Bills season goes and the decisions they make really plays with my emotions haha. The good thing is there is nowhere to go but up, just wish we had those players suiting up. Nothing like watching Andre break those tackles and Talley and Bruce on the sideline dancing.

[sven233]

I started to cry watching it tonight, those were the best years of my life in the sporting world. The way the Bills season goes and the decisions they make really plays with my emotions haha. The good thing is there is nowhere to go but up, just wish we had those players suiting up. Nothing like watching Andre break those tackles and Talley and Bruce on the sideline dancing.

 

I know exactly how you feel. It's really hard to explain. I love this team so much.....with a passion. This team generates so many emotions and feelings. It really can't be explained. It can only be experienced. It is impossible not to get choked up. Shortness of breath.....It is a feeling that only this team (the Sabres do it for me as well) can bring out. Like I said, it can't be explained. It can't be put into words. It is experienced.

 

People always ask me how I stick with this team. I really can't answer them because if you don't feel it, there is no way of knowing what this is all about. I always tell people that it will mean that much more to us WHEN we win a Championship. I may physically break down when it happens. It will be a feeling like no other.

 

The Bills are special. They are a part of me. They mean more than words could justify. JUST 1.........I just want 1.

[BillsFanM.D.]

I know exactly how you feel. It's really hard to explain. I love this team so much.....with a passion.

 

that's what makes it nauseating. I second the sentiments. Every time I see clips of those teams I get sick to my stomach. My entire childhood (save the brief run of Joe Ferguson's gang) was a disaster. I was ridiculed as a Bills fan. In my college years, they 'arrived' four years in a row..... I was convinced before they even played the Giants that they were destined not only to win...but to be the 'team of the 90's.' i.e. multiple super bowl wins. To lose four in a row is epic....unfortunately.

 

having said that....I'm jacked up for the draft.

[thewildrabbit]

I watched it once last year, even recorded it and then deleted it as its just to painful to watch more then once.

 

I get the feeling that Bills fans are more desperate for a ring then the owner is...

[sven233]

I watched it once last year, even recorded it and then deleted it as its just to painful to watch more then once.

 

I get the feeling that Bills fans are more desperate for a ring then the owner is...

 

I guarantee you that many Bills fans want the Super Bowl win more than the owner does. In a way it's sad....in a way it is a true testament to what makes Bills fans the best in the league. Bills fans are a different breed and that is what sets us apart. There is no fanbase that would appreciate a Championship more than Bills fans would.

[buffalo_bills]

" Americas game" on NFL network, and they showed the bills 1990 season. I still get shivers from watching the super bowl against the giants, and the " wide right" kick. Wow, how much do we want that team back now!?

[Mr. ChumChums]

I've been trying to find a place to watch this online, or for download...but can't find anything anywhere. Anyone have a link/resource? I don't care how painful it is to watch...it's still one of the most wonderful things, watching the ascent of a Bills team on the verge of greatness.

[thebug]

Looks like the beers are going down good tonight.

[Celtic_soulja]

I love it...my kids were all too young to see the Bills in thier prime...they think of me as a lunatic rooting for them as bad as they've been...they don't believe my stories of the glory days of the team...then I got the replay of the Bills Houston come back game...all three boys are now Bills fans hehehehehe...talking just like thier old man...this year we're gonna be good again...

[Astrobot]

I started to cry watching it tonight, those were the best years of my life in the sporting world. The way the Bills season goes and the decisions they make really plays with my emotions haha. The good thing is there is nowhere to go but up, just wish we had those players suiting up. Nothing like watching Andre break those tackles and Talley and Bruce on the sideline dancing.

 

Best years so far, you mean.

 

Bruce=Brandon Graham RD1

Talley=Brandon Spikes RD2

Andre=Blair White RD4

[Chandler#81]

This may be impossible for many of us here, but try to remove the final play of that season and take the team that year -and for the next 3 years- for what it was: a truely great team! What that '90 team did the entire season is lasting longer for me than 'wide right'.

 

Opening day vs. Colts , starting right off with the no-huddle

suffering a beatdown @ Miami

3 thrilling come from behind wins at home vs. Denver, Raiders & Jets

'The Daryl Talley Show' @ Cleveland

MNF @ Houston

Wild weather game vs. Cardinals

Sterling performance Vs. Randall and the Eagles

the battle in New jersey where both eventual SB teams lost their starting QB's

'The Frank Reich Show' vs. Miamim for the AFC East and conference #1 seed

Playoff game in the snow Vs. Miami

51-3!!

 

It's a damn shame a missed kick seems to make the whole fabulous season seem fruitless. I have far more wonderful memories of that season that will stay with me throughout my life than just

...Wide Right

[BuffaloBud]

Interesting to see how emotional D Talley still is. Looking back I think that DT might have been the true heart of that team.

 

The quote that Marv uses at the end tore me up. I had not heard that before.

 

"'Fight on my men,' Sir Andrew said, 'a little I'm hurt, but not yet slain. I'll just lie down and bleed a while and tomorrow I'll rise to fight again.'"

[dailar]

Guys please will you give it a rest. I am sat in work and my boss wants to know why i have suddenly become a blubbering idiot.

 

instead of just an idiot (I'll get it in before anyone else does).

[mrags]

It was good to see it on again last night. They also had an addvertisement for SB 25 which will be airing on Sat at 8pm if anyone is interested in watching again (deep down you know you will watch and just think the kick might go in this time). Last year when I went to the HOF I was glad to see they had the Greatest Comeback game on DVD. So of course I bought it. I havent watched it yet. All of these highlights make me severely happy and depressed at the same time.

 

I had a buddy that moved here from Australia, he said where hes from the Bills are by far the fan favorite, and one of the reasons why he moved to Buffalo. I was hanging out with him during a game last season and remember him saying that he was forced to watch all 4 SB's in order to be a true Bills fan. Said that it was like a right of passage or something. Weird, I know, but kind of makes sense.

 

We all think that Bills fans are the best in the NFL. Where else can your team be out of the playoffs for 10 years and still sell out every game. It hurts what we have been through but its part of what defines me as a Bills fan and as a person.

 

I just cant wait until this team circles the wagons again.

[Chandler#81]

It was good to see it on again last night. They also had an addvertisement for SB 25 which will be airing on Sat at 8pm if anyone is interested in watching again I just cant wait until this team circles the wagons again.

 

 

Thanks for the programming tip! I have the 30 minute show but I'm glad to be able to record Whitney Houston's National Anthem!

[DarthICE]

The team that went to 4 superbowls, THAT was a team. This **** we see on the field since then....

[ceeroc1]

They just showed this again on NFL Network. I swear.....it is 20 years later and this eats at me EVERY DAY.......

 

Just seeing it, looking at it.....remembering it......feeling it. No words can describe it.

 

It is still as painful now as it was back then, maybe even more. It is so hard.......I guess that is why I am a Bills fan. I BLEED RED, WHITE, AND BLUE!!!!

 

JUST 1.....I JUST WANT 1. There is no city that deserves it more. There is no fan base that deserves a Super Bowl win more.

 

 

 

 

JUST 1

 

 

LET'S GO BILLS!!!!!!!

- one thing i know in this mean. racist world is......i love dem bills

[Never NEVER Give-up]

Admiral Sir Andrew Barton was quite famous. Following his death, an English writer wrote the following poem (which also became a folk ballad):

 

 

Sir Andrew Barton

 

As it befell in midsummer-time

When birds sing sweetly on every tree,

Our noble king, King Henry the Eighth,

Over the river of Thames past he.

 

He was no sooner over the river,

Down in the forest to take the air,

But eighty merchants of London city

Came kneeling before King Henry there.

 

"O ye are welcome, rich merchants,

Good sailors, welcome unto me!"

They swore by the rood they were sailors good

But rich merchants they could not be.

 

"To France nor Flanders dare we not pass,

Nor Bordeaux voyage we dare not fare,

And all for a false robber that lies on the seas,

And robs us of our merchantsware."

 

King Henry was stout, and he turned him about,

And swore by the Lord that was mickle of might,

"I thought he had not been in the world throughout

That durst have wrought England such unright."

 

But ever they sighed, and said, alas!

Unto King Harry this answer again:

"He is a proud Scot that will rob us all

If we were twenty ships and he but one."

 

The king looked over his left shoulder,

Amongst his lords and barons so free:

"Have I never lord in all my realm

Will fetch yond traitor unto me?"

 

"Yes, that dare I!" says my lord Charles Howard,

Near to the king whereas he did stand;

"If that Your Grace will give me leave,

My self will be the only man."

 

"Thou shalt have six hundred men," saith our king,

"And choose them out of my realm so free;

Besides mariners and boys,

To guide the great ship on the sea."

 

"I'll go speak with Sir Andrew," says Charles, my lord Howard;

"Upon the sea, if he be there;

I will bring him and his ship to shore,

Or before my prince I will never come near."

 

The first of all my lord did call,

A noble gunner he was one;

This man was three score years and ten,

And Peter Simon was his name.

 

"Peter," says he, "I must sail to the sea,

To seek out an enemy; God be my speed!

Before all others I have chosen thee;

Of a hundred gunners thou'st be my head."

 

"My lord," says he, "if you have chosen me

Of a hundred gunners to be the head,

Hang me at your main-mast tree

If I miss my mark past three pence bread."

 

The next of all my lord he did call,

A noble bowman he was one;

In Yorkshire was this gentleman born,

And William Horsely was his name.

 

"Horsely," says he, "I must sail to the sea,

To seek out an enemy; God be my speed!

Before all others I have chosen thee;

Of a hundred bowmen thou'st be my head."

 

"My lord," says he, "if you have chosen me

Of a hundred bowmen to be the head,

Hang me at your mainmast-tree

If I miss my mark past twelve pence bread,"

 

With pikes, and guns, and bowmen bold,

This noble Howard is gone to the sea

On the day before midsummer-even,

And out at Thames' mouth sailed they.

 

They had not sailed days three

Upon their journey they took in hand,

But there they met with a noble ship,

And stoutly made it both stay and stand.

 

"Thou must tell me thy name," said Charles, my lord Howard,

"Or who thou art, or from whence thou came,

Yea, and where thy dwelling is,

To whom and where thy ship does belong.

 

"My name," says he, "is Henry Hunt,

With a pure heart and a penitent mind;

I and my ship they do belong

Unto the Newcastle that stands upon Tyne."

 

"Now thou must tell me, Harry Hunt,

As thou hast sailed by day and by night,

Hast thou not heard of a stout robber?

Men calls him Sir Andrew Barton, knight."

 

But ever he sighed, and said, Alas!

Full well, my lord, I know that wight;

He robbed me of my merchantsware,

And I was his prisoner but yesternight.

 

As I was sailing upon the sea,

And a Bordeaux voyage as I did fare,

He clasped me to his archboard,

And robbed me of all my merchantsware.

 

And I am a man both poor and bare

And every man will have his owner of me,

And I am bound towards London to fare,

To complain to my prince Henry.

 

"That shall not need," says my Lord Howard;

"If thou canst let me this robber see,

For every penny he hath taken thee from,

Thou shalt be rewarded a shilling," quoth he.

 

"Now God forefend," says Henry Hunt,

"My lord, you should work so far amiss!

God keep you out of that traitor's hands!

For you wott full little what a man he is.

 

"He is brass within, and steel without,

And beams he bears in his topcastle strong;

His ship hath ordinance clean round about;

Beside, my lord, he is very well manned.

 

"He hath a pinnace, is dearly dight,

Saint Andrew's cross that is his guide;

His pinnace bears nine score men and more,

Besides fifteen cannons on every side.

 

"If you were twenty ships, and he but one,

Either in archboard or in hall,

He would overcome you every one,

And if his beams they do down fall."

 

"This is cold comfort," says my Lord Howard,

"To welcome a stranger thus to the sea;

I'll bring him and his ship to shore,

Or else into Scotland he shall carry me."

 

"Then you must get a noble gunner, my lord,

That can set well with his eye,

And sink his pinnace into the sea,

And soon then overcome he be.

 

"And when that you have done this,

If you chance Sir Andrew for to board,

Let no man to his topcastle go;

And I will give a glass, my lord,

 

"And then you need to fear no Scot,

Whether you sail by day or by night;

And tomorrowe'en, by seven of the clock,

You shall meet with Sir Andrew Barton, knight.

 

"I was his prisoner but yester night,

And he hath taken me sworn," quoth he;

"I trust my Lord God will be forgive

And if that oath then broken be."

 

"You must lend me six pieces, my lord," quoth he,

"Into my ship, to sail the sea,

And tomorrow, by nine of the clock,

Your Honor again then will I see."

 

* * * * *

 

And the hatch-board where Sir Andrew lay

Is hatched with gold dearly dight:

"Now by my faith," say Charles, my lord Howard,

"Then yonder Scot is a worthy wight!

 

"Take in your ancients and your standards,

Yea that no man shall them see,

And put me forth a white willow wand,

As merchants use to sail the sea."

 

"But they stirred neither top nor mast,

But Sir Andrew they passed by:

"What English are yonder," said Sir Andrew,

"That can so little courtesy?"

 

I have been admiral over the sea

More than these years three;

There is never an English dog, nor Portingall,

Can pass this way without leave of me.

 

"But now yonder peddlers, they are past,

Which is no little grief to me:

Fetch them back," says Sir Andrew Barton,

"They shall all hang at my main-mast tree."

 

With that the pinnace it shot off,

That my Lord Howard might it well ken;

It stroke down my lord's foremast,

And killed fourteen of my lord his men.

 

"Come hither, Simon!" says my Lord Howard,

"Look that thy words be true thou said;

I'll hang thee at my main-mast tree

If thou miss thy mark past twelve pence bread."

 

Simon was old, but his heart it was bold;

He took down a piece, and laid it full low;

He put in chain yards nine,

Beside other great shot less and more.

 

With that he let his gun-shot go;

So well he settled it with his eye,

The first sight that Sir Andrew saw,

He see his pinnace sunk in the sea.

 

When he saw his pinnace sunk,

Lord! in his heart he was not well:

"Cut my ropes, it is time to be gone!

I'll go fetch yon peddlers back myself!"

 

When my lord Howard saw Sir Andrew loose,

Lord! in his heart that he was fain:

"Strike on your drums! spread out your ancients!

Sound out your trumpets! sound out amain!"

 

"Fight on, my men!" says Sir Andrew Barton;

"Weate, howsoever this gear will sway,

It is my Lord Admiral of England

Is come to seek me on the sea."

 

Simon had a son; with shot of a gun--

Well Sir Andrew might it ken--

He shot it in at a privy pace,

And killed sixty more of Sir Andrew's men.

 

Harry Hunt came in at the other side,

At at Sir Andrew he shot then;

He drove down his foremast-tree,

And killed eighty more of Sir Andrew's men.

 

"I have done a good turn," says Harry Hunt;

"Sir Andrew is not our king's friend;

He hoped to have undone me yesternight,

But I hope I have quit him well in the end."

 

"Ever alas!" said Sir Andrew Barton,

"What should a man either think or say?

Yonder false thief is my strongest enemy,

Who was my prisoner but yesterday."

 

"Come hither to me, thou Gorden good,

And be thou ready at my call,

And I will give thee three hundred pound,

If thou wilt let my beams down fall."

 

With that he swarmed the main-mast tree,

So did he it with might and main;

Horsely, with a bearing arrow,

Stroke the Gorden through the brain.

 

And he fell into the hatches again,

And sore of this wound that he did bleed;

Then word went through Sir Andrew's men,

That the Gordan he was dead.

 

"Come hither to me, James Hambliton,

Thou art my sister's son, I have no more;

I will give thee six hundred pound

If thou will let my beams down fall.

 

With that he swarmed the main-mast tree,

So did he it with might and main:

Horseley, with another broad arrow,

Strake the yeoman through the brain.

 

That he fell down to the hatches again;

Sore of his wound that he did bleed;

Covetousness gets no gain,

It is very true, as the Welshman said.

 

But when he saw his sister's son slain,

Lord! in his heart he was not well;

"Go fetch me down my armor of proof,

For I will to the topcastle myself.

 

"Go fetch me down my armor of proof,

For it is guilded with gold so clear:

God be with my brother, John of Barton!

Amongst the Portingalls he did it wear."

 

But when he had his armor of proof,

And on his body he had it on,

Every man that looked at him

Said, gun or arrow he needs fear none.

 

"Come hither, Horsely!" says my lord Howard,

"And look your shaft that it go right;

Shoot a good shoot in the time of need,

And for thy shooting thou'st be made a knight."

 

"I'll do my best," says Horsely then,

"Your Honor shall see before I go;

If I should be hanged at your main-mast,

I have in my ship but arrows two."

 

But at Sir Andrew he shot then;

He made sure to hit his mark;

Under the spole of his right arm

He smote Sir Andrew quite through the heart.

 

Yet from the tree he would not start,

But he clinged to it with might and main;

Under the collar then of his jack,

He stroke Sir Andrew through the brain.

 

"Fight on, my men," says Sir Andrew Barton,

"I am hurt, but I am not slain;

I'll lay me down and bleed a while,

And then I'll rise and fight again.

Fight on my men," says Sir Andrew Barton,

"These English dogs they bite so low;

Fight on for Scotland and Saint Andrew

Till you hear my whistle blow!"

 

But when they could not hear his whistle blow,

Says Harry Hunt, "I'll lay my head

You my board yonder noble ship, my lord,

For I know Sir Andrew he is dead."

 

With that they boarded this noble ship,

So did they it with might and main;

And found eighteen score Scots alive,

Beside the rest were maimed and slain.

 

My lord Howard took sword in his hand,

And smote off Sir Andrew's head;

The Scots stood by and did weep and mourn,

But never a word durst speak or say.

 

He caused his body to be taken down,

And over the hatch board cast into the sea,

And about his middle three hundred crowns:

"Wheresoever thou lands, it will bury thee."

 

With his head they sailed into England again,

With right good will, and force and main,

And the day before New Year's even

Into Thames' mouth they came again.

 

My lord Howard wrote to King Henry's grace,

With all the news he could him bring:

"Such a New Year's gift I have brought to your Grace

As never did subject to any king."

 

"For merchandise and manhood,

The like is not to be found;

The sight of these would do you good,

For you have not the like in your English ground."

 

But when he heard tell that they were come,

Full royally he welcomed them home;

Sir Andrew's ship was the king's New Year's gift;

A braver ship you never saw none.

 

Now hath our king Sir Andrew's ship,

Beset with pearls and precious stones;

Now hath England two ships of war,

Two ships of war, before but one.

 

"Who helped to this?" says King Henry,

"That I may reward him for his pain:"

"Harry Hunt, and Peter Simon,

William Horsely, and I the same."

 

"Harry Hunt shall have his whistle and chain,

And all his jewels, whatsoever they be,

And other rich gifts that I will not name,

For his good service he hath done me.

 

"Horsely, right thou'st be a knight,

Lands and livings thou shalt have store;

Howard shall be Earl of Nottingham,

And so was never Howard before.

 

"Now, Peter Simon, thou art old;

I will maintain thee and thy son;

Thou shalt have five hundred pound all in gold

For the good service that thou hast done."

 

Then King Henry shifted his room;

In came the Queen and ladies bright;

Other errands they had none

But to see Sir Andrew Barton, knight.

 

But when they see his deadly face,

His eyes were hollow in his head;

"I would give a hundred pound," said King Henry,

"The man were alive as he is dead!

 

"Yet for the manful part that been played,

Both here and beyond the sea,

His men shall have half a crown a day

To bring them to my brother, King Jamie."

[sven233]

This may be impossible for many of us here, but try to remove the final play of that season and take the team that year -and for the next 3 years- for what it was: a truely great team! What that '90 team did the entire season is lasting longer for me than 'wide right'.

 

Opening day vs. Colts , starting right off with the no-huddle

suffering a beatdown @ Miami

3 thrilling come from behind wins at home vs. Denver, Raiders & Jets

'The Daryl Talley Show' @ Cleveland

MNF @ Houston

Wild weather game vs. Cardinals

Sterling performance Vs. Randall and the Eagles

the battle in New jersey where both eventual SB teams lost their starting QB's

'The Frank Reich Show' vs. Miamim for the AFC East and conference #1 seed

Playoff game in the snow Vs. Miami

51-3!!

 

It's a damn shame a missed kick seems to make the whole fabulous season seem fruitless. I have far more wonderful memories of that season that will stay with me throughout my life than just

...Wide Right

 

Yeah.....1990 was special.....and so were the years that followed. Just thinking about how good we were at one time brings back so many emotions. Believe me, I will never forget everything that went into getting to the Super Bowl that season. But it doesn't make it any less painful. In fact, it may make it even more painful. I still believe deep down inside that we were the best team in the world that season. I honestly believe if that game is played 10 times, we win just about the rest of them. But that night......for whatever reason.....it just wasn't meant to be. Many people point to the kick, but the defense just didn't get get it done. Missed tackles.....missed opportunities everywhere. Sure, the offense scored over a point per minute of posession time, but they just didn't get enough opportunities. There is a million ways to break that game down.....it isn't just about that kick.....but that is what everyone will always remember.

 

But yeah, I agree that 1990 was special. It always will be. 51-3 is probably my all time Bills high. There is a lot of things to be proud of that year. Unfortunately, in the end......that's what we will feel every day until we win this thing. JUST 1.....