BillsFan619 Posted September 7, 2021 Author Share Posted September 7, 2021 3 hours ago, CLTbills said: 31-0 against the Pats was certainly memorable, but the most memorable to ME, and this is because I was there, was a beatdown on Seattle in 2008. Seattle was coming off of a 10-6 season, won their division and a playoff game. They came to OP and we put a beatdown on them to open up the year. That game included a fake FG for a touchdown as well - Brian Moorman to Ryan Denney, if I recall. It also included another special teams touchdown with a Roscoe Parrish punt return. It was a fun game to be at because we beat the living snot out of a really good team from the year before (a team that would end up going 4-12 that season). It started off our season with, as many seasons during that time frame, high hopes. High hopes that would eventually come crashing down, but it was fun in the stadium that day. Thanks for sharing. Nobody has shared that game yet. Good stuff! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gomper Posted September 8, 2021 Share Posted September 8, 2021 12 hours ago, SoCal Deek said: Six preseason games. What was anyone thinking? 😉 I believe they would have the College All-Stars play the NFL Champion to start the preseason. So, some teams played 7. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BillsFan619 Posted September 8, 2021 Author Share Posted September 8, 2021 13 minutes ago, gomper said: I believe they would have the College All-Stars play the NFL Champion to start the preseason. So, some teams played 7. Wow, I never knew that. That’s 1/3 of a team’s season. Crazy! For the people that say that the NFL doesn’t care about their players, it seems like they’ve always played some semblance of 20 games when you combine preseason and the regular season. Even if they go to 18 regular season games, the talk is to reduce the preseason to two games. Sounds pretty consistent to me even though I get that a preseason and regular season game is not the same intensity. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Big Turk Posted September 8, 2021 Share Posted September 8, 2021 3 hours ago, Just Jack said: Looks like it was this game. It was...here is the highlight 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BillsFan619 Posted September 8, 2021 Author Share Posted September 8, 2021 4 hours ago, Big Turk said: It was...here is the highlight Man, these were the most infuriating and hopeless games. We’d play our hearts out and somehow, someway still lose to the patriots. You felt helpless because there was nothing you could do but watch it go down. I’m so glad that era is over with. Now we’re the team that’s pulling out victories. Go Bills! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Motorin' Posted September 8, 2021 Share Posted September 8, 2021 22 minutes ago, BillsFan619 said: Man, these were the most infuriating and hopeless games. We’d play our hearts out and somehow, someway still lose to the patriots. You felt helpless because there was nothing you could do but watch it go down. I’m so glad that era is over with. Now we’re the team that’s pulling out victories. Go Bills! I never want to think about those years again! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
holla83 Posted September 8, 2021 Share Posted September 8, 2021 I'm going with 2 that I was in attendance for. The first was opening day 1992. The Bills destroyed the Rams 40-7. Thurman Thomas scored 4 TDs, Steve Tasker made a tackle on a punt return that is in most of his highlight reels, James Lofton broke the receiving yardage record, and Magic Johnson was in attendance. The second wasn't actually opening day but it was the home opener in 2014. Ralph Wilson had passed away during the offseason and they were having a pregame ceremony to honor him. Then during the week leading up to the game, the Pegulas had been approved to buy the team and it was announced that Jim Kelly was cancer free. The feeling in the crowd was electric. Jim Kelly approached the podium to speak at Ralph's ceremony and the place came unglued. That was as loud and as sustained of a roar as I've ever heard. It gave me chills. Oh yeah, and the Bills beat the Dolphins 29-10. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Metal Man Posted September 8, 2021 Share Posted September 8, 2021 I like the idea of choosing games that I actually attended and for that the 31-0 beating of the Pats* really sticks out. Regardless of how that season turned out for both teams that year it was still an awesome feeling on that day. However since that one has already been listed a bunch another game that really sticks out to me is a game in 1990 against the Eagles because of one specific play. The Eagles were deep in their own end and on a pass play Bruce looked to have Cunningham wrapped up in the end zone but somehow he shook off the tackle and ended up completing a pass that went for 95 yards and a TD. Not really a good Bills play but that memory has always remained in my mind. Randall Cunningham was one heck of an athlete. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Greg S Posted September 8, 2021 Share Posted September 8, 2021 Nothing will top 1980 but what about the first two games of the 81 season. They opened with a 31-0 beatdown of the Jets at home. In week 2 they go to Baltimore and beat the Colts 35-3. Starting off 2-0 and outscoring their opponents 66-3 was impressive. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Big Turk Posted September 8, 2021 Share Posted September 8, 2021 (edited) 6 hours ago, BillsFan619 said: Man, these were the most infuriating and hopeless games. We’d play our hearts out and somehow, someway still lose to the patriots. You felt helpless because there was nothing you could do but watch it go down. I’m so glad that era is over with. Now we’re the team that’s pulling out victories. Go Bills! Yup...so many times we managed to grab defeat from the jaws of victory, it was infuriating. Exactly why the term "Billsy way to lose" was coined. Edited September 8, 2021 by Big Turk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BillsFan619 Posted September 8, 2021 Author Share Posted September 8, 2021 4 hours ago, Big Turk said: Yup...so many times we managed to grab defeat from the jaws of victory, it was infuriating. Exactly why the term "Billsy way to lose" was coined. Ugh, that’s so true. Hopefully our current team will be so good for so long that we come up with positive sayings about our team. Go Bills! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
corta765 Posted September 8, 2021 Share Posted September 8, 2021 14 hours ago, BillsFan619 said: Man, these were the most infuriating and hopeless games. We’d play our hearts out and somehow, someway still lose to the patriots. You felt helpless because there was nothing you could do but watch it go down. I’m so glad that era is over with. Now we’re the team that’s pulling out victories. Go Bills! It was weird too because the Bills in 2004-2009 lost to NE close like all the freakin time and wild stupid games. The Patriots 2010-2019 were to me more annoying because they were so good most of the time one of the games was a blowout and the other we were close but couldn't close. I always attributed that to Brady not truly becoming Brady until 07 and onward. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Wiz Posted September 8, 2021 Share Posted September 8, 2021 (edited) The Kevin Everett game. Didn't see him get hurt or taken off the field. Didn't even care the broncos won on a last second field goal. The reasons for this was because I met a nice Canadian girl that day that was very "distracting" let's call it. And before anyone asks/posts a reply, no I'm not any of those pictures that have circulated TBD with my/her hand down anyone else's pants (we kept it above the belt). Edited September 8, 2021 by The Wiz Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BillsfaninSB Posted September 8, 2021 Share Posted September 8, 2021 2019 at Jets. The real beginning of the JA era with the comeback and perfect pass to Brown to win it. If they lost that game I think things would look different today. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BillsFan619 Posted September 9, 2021 Author Share Posted September 9, 2021 (edited) 4 hours ago, BillsfaninSB said: 2019 at Jets. The real beginning of the JA era with the comeback and perfect pass to Brown to win it. If they lost that game I think things would look different today. I believe in the concept that you’re talking about. There are moments that define a player or team or even make or break a team. That said do you really feel that one game against a division rival would have totally changed the trajectory of our team today? if so, how so (not being snarky)? Edited September 9, 2021 by BillsFan619 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BillsfaninSB Posted September 9, 2021 Share Posted September 9, 2021 3 hours ago, BillsFan619 said: I believe in the concept that you’re talking about. There are moments that define a player or team or even make or break a team. That said do you really feel that one game against a division rival would have totally changed the trajectory of our team today? if so, how so (not being snarky)? Good question. If the Bills lost that game can you imagine the feeling around the team the following week after coming off a poor 6-10 season? It would have caused more doubt and the confidence level would be significantly lower. I vividly remember how I was feeling during the 1st 3 quarters. Nothing is going to change. Ever! But then they pulled out a win. I was thrilled and thought maybe things will be truly different now. I loved it more that it was against a really cocky Jet team at the time. I don’t think they win 9 games. The Bengals game in week 3 could have been loss too if they did not have that 2 game momentum. On to another 8-8 season. Perhaps they don’t trade for Diggs thinking a higher draft pick in the top 15 was too valuable. I know it is all a feeling and nothing tangible but I do believe that win was massive, especially for Josh. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GunnerBill Posted September 9, 2021 Share Posted September 9, 2021 2 hours ago, BillsfaninSB said: Good question. If the Bills lost that game can you imagine the feeling around the team the following week after coming off a poor 6-10 season? It would have caused more doubt and the confidence level would be significantly lower. I vividly remember how I was feeling during the 1st 3 quarters. Nothing is going to change. Ever! But then they pulled out a win. I was thrilled and thought maybe things will be truly different now. I loved it more that it was against a really cocky Jet team at the time. I don’t think they win 9 games. The Bengals game in week 3 could have been loss too if they did not have that 2 game momentum. On to another 8-8 season. Perhaps they don’t trade for Diggs thinking a higher draft pick in the top 15 was too valuable. I know it is all a feeling and nothing tangible but I do believe that win was massive, especially for Josh. Interesting, although they really outplayed the Jets from the get-go that day. They were better than them in all three phases. They just kept making dumb mistakes and turning the ball over. That game shouldn't even have been close, it was all self-inflicted wounds. I have enough faith in McDermott's leadership that even if they had lost that game he'd have been able to sell the team on the fact that if they just cleaned things up they had the ability to be a really good football team and they'd have come out and beaten the Giants and the Bengals anyway. I still think they win 10 games too, because they would have won the week 17 Jet game if they needed to and played starters. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Greg S Posted September 9, 2021 Share Posted September 9, 2021 14 hours ago, BillsfaninSB said: 2019 at Jets. The real beginning of the JA era with the comeback and perfect pass to Brown to win it. If they lost that game I think things would look different today. I go back to Allen's rookie year and the win at Minnesota. The Bills were a huge underdog but Allen show flashes of what was to come. It worked out as Allen has developed into a franchise QB. To me it was this game where it started for Allen. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JMF2006 Posted September 9, 2021 Share Posted September 9, 2021 I am going with the 2017 Bills 21 Jets 12 game. 1) It was the start of the Mc Beane era and my hopes were renewed after the tragic Wrex era 2) It was my friend and co worker Marcel's first Bills game ever and he had a real blast 3)Played a joke on him when he went to the porta potty I got a mounted police officer to station his horse at the door so when he came out it was nose to nose with him. 4) Got free parking and Pizza at Pino's(they missed me) 5) A Cover Hard Rock Band(can't remember the name) was playing at a white house almost across the street(they had bands previously but not for a few years) this band once played on a stage in front of the Ralph and had a terrific female singer. 6) Visited Hammers Lot and introduced him to Kenny(Pinto Ron) 7) The Bills made the playoffs for the first time in 18 years 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LewPort71 Posted September 9, 2021 Share Posted September 9, 2021 (edited) I read this as most memorable home opener I attended. So here goes. 2008 Home opener against Seattle. 1. First ever NFL game for my new Son In Law. 2. SIL cooked at Kenny's Pinto 3. Bills won 34-10 as Trent Edwards had the first of his 5 good games (that all ended in Arizona when Trent got hurt) 4. That was the day Brady got hurt against KC and the murmurs at the Ralph sort of rejoiced at this news. smart phones were in their infancy and the news spread slowly in the crowd. alas the Bills finished 7-9 and the Cheatriots finished at 11-5. Second favorite Home Opener was Sept. 2000. Sunday night contest versus the Titans 9 months after the events of Jan 8, 2000. Again my attendance is involved in my decision Edited September 9, 2021 by LewPort71 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Greg S Posted September 9, 2021 Share Posted September 9, 2021 2019 - Bills 17 Jets 16. The Bills come back from a 16-0 deficit. Leaving MetLife that day and seeing all the pissed off Jets fans was priceless. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BillsFan619 Posted September 10, 2021 Author Share Posted September 10, 2021 13 hours ago, JMF2006 said: I am going with the 2017 Bills 21 Jets 12 game. 1) It was the start of the Mc Beane era and my hopes were renewed after the tragic Wrex era 2) It was my friend and co worker Marcel's first Bills game ever and he had a real blast 3)Played a joke on him when he went to the porta potty I got a mounted police officer to station his horse at the door so when he came out it was nose to nose with him. 4) Got free parking and Pizza at Pino's(they missed me) 5) A Cover Hard Rock Band(can't remember the name) was playing at a white house almost across the street(they had bands previously but not for a few years) this band once played on a stage in front of the Ralph and had a terrific female singer. 6) Visited Hammers Lot and introduced him to Kenny(Pinto Ron) 7) The Bills made the playoffs for the first time in 18 years Woohoo! The opener that ended up helping us end the drought. It’s crazy that was already four years ago. Being mediocre for so long, it’s weird that we’ve been respectable or really good for four years now. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigDingus Posted September 10, 2021 Share Posted September 10, 2021 This is probably just due to my age & optimism at the time, but JP Losman getting his first start against Houston opening day & getting the W. I was worried after Bledsoe's last season, but optimistic about Losman. Figured that he was drafted in the 1st round of strong QB class (Manning, Rivers, Big Ben) that surely the Bills must've known he was of similar quality to move up in the 1st round to get him. Then he got injured his rookie season, so 1 extra year went by to build up the expectations. Then when game time came, the Bills win at home against the Texas 22-7, Losman didn't light it up, but he showed promise. Man... how quickly things change 😄 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BillsFan619 Posted September 10, 2021 Author Share Posted September 10, 2021 2 minutes ago, BigDingus said: This is probably just due to my age & optimism at the time, but JP Losman getting his first start against Houston opening day & getting the W. I was worried after Bledsoe's last season, but optimistic about Losman. Figured that he was drafted in the 1st round of strong QB class (Manning, Rivers, Big Ben) that surely the Bills must've known he was of similar quality to move up in the 1st round to get him. Then he got injured his rookie season, so 1 extra year went by to build up the expectations. Then when game time came, the Bills win at home against the Texas 22-7, Losman didn't light it up, but he showed promise. Man... how quickly things change 😄 It really is crazy that in a draft where there was Manning, Rivers and Rothlisberger we get Losman. Thankfully we FINALLY have our guy. Go Bills! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigDingus Posted September 10, 2021 Share Posted September 10, 2021 2 hours ago, BillsFan619 said: It really is crazy that in a draft where there was Manning, Rivers and Rothlisberger we get Losman. Thankfully we FINALLY have our guy. Go Bills! Yeah... that really hurt. Little did we know at the time it was just a sign of things to come. So much ineptitude in evaluating/developing QB's. 17 year drought... So many good QB's in that draft & we moved up to grab Losman 💩 But hey, several years later we give it a go again & draft another QB in the 1st round. Surely this time we'll get it right. Surprise, EJ Manuel is here! That draft class had the opposite problem... all the QB's were duds. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dan Darragh Posted September 10, 2021 Share Posted September 10, 2021 On 9/7/2021 at 4:00 AM, ChasBB said: It was just a plastic coin (Ralph is cheap) And it said "Home of the Buffalo Bills" instead of "Rich Stadium" because Ralph was still having a naming fight with Erie County. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dan Darragh Posted September 10, 2021 Share Posted September 10, 2021 It's only worthy of an honorable mention but the 2016 home opener is noteworthy: Pros - Thursday night game Bruce gets his number retired Bills scored 31 including a nice bombs to Goodwin (84 yards) and Salas (71 yards) Cons - Red pajama uniforms Tyrod was our QB Rex was our coach Fitzmagic was playing for the wrong team and looked like a Hall of Famer (374 passing yards) The next day, after scoring 31, Rex decided to "fix" the problem by firing the OC. That's when I knew for sure it was a poop-show. He really did fix the problem by quitting before week 17. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BillsFan619 Posted September 11, 2021 Author Share Posted September 11, 2021 On 9/10/2021 at 6:06 AM, Dan Darragh said: It's only worthy of an honorable mention but the 2016 home opener is noteworthy: Pros - Thursday night game Bruce gets his number retired Bills scored 31 including a nice bombs to Goodwin (84 yards) and Salas (71 yards) Cons - Red pajama uniforms Tyrod was our QB Rex was our coach Fitzmagic was playing for the wrong team and looked like a Hall of Famer (374 passing yards) The next day, after scoring 31, Rex decided to "fix" the problem by firing the OC. That's when I knew for sure it was a poop-show. He really did fix the problem by quitting before week 17. Cool thoughts! Wow, that was five years ago already. Little did anyone know that it would be the last year of the drought. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chandler#81 Posted September 11, 2021 Share Posted September 11, 2021 Some great openers mentioned here, but no fans of the beat down we gave KC on the road, 41-0 I believe? Wasn’t THAT long ago.. For me, it will Always be Opening Night, ‘74 at home vs. the Raaaaaaaida’s, MNF! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bleve Posted September 11, 2021 Share Posted September 11, 2021 I was at the 1980 Opener and the 74 MNF game, both great ones. But I have to go with the '80 opener. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ExiledInIllinois Posted September 11, 2021 Share Posted September 11, 2021 Only one answer: 1980. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MRW Posted September 11, 2021 Share Posted September 11, 2021 Haven't seen anyone mention this one, but I really remember the opener against the Titans in 2000 as a super-intense game and made me optimistic for the season to come. Unfortunately... that season was the start of the drought and getting that bit of revenge on the Titans was really the only good part of that year. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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