I finally went to my first NFL game yesterday. My beloved, yet injury-riddled Seattle Seahawks played the Buffalo Bills at Ralph Wilson Stadium in Orchard Park NY.
I went up on Saturday after WPPA Sports Saturday... we escaped Hanna's rains, but there was more to come. I went to the Anchor Bar in Buffalo, the home of the original Buffalo Wing. It's always full, yet the atmosphere is right out of bygone era. I was there last summer, and wanted more. The wings were great... I'll have to be adventurous and get some sauce with them next time.
We left our hotel at 9AM to get to the stadium. My friend and I were going up early because two of our friends, Doug and Chrissie, were having a tailgate party. Chrissie told me to park at one of the houses near the stadium, instead of the actual lots. It turns out that the stadium is in a residential area. Along Route 20A are a number of houses with huge backyards. I parked at the house right across from the entrance to Lot One... I saved $10, which was later used for a hot dog and pizza.
We get to Doug and Chrissie's parking spots and they had gathered with 10 of their friends.
Doug asked me if I was a Bills fan... I took my sweatshirt halfway off to reveal my Seattle Seahawks jersey. He suggested than I keep the sweatshirt on. Good call. Anytime anyone with Seahawks apparel walked by, the boos and catcalls came from all around. I kept my sweatshirt on all day. There was one instance where I walked behind two guys wearing Seahawks jerseys, and a guy wearing a Buffalo hat said, "Welcome to the Ralph, guys." So, not all 100% of Bills fan disliked people rooting for the opposition.
There was plenty of food... and there were the bean bag toss games. Quite a few tailgaters were tossing the bean bags around. The board you toss them against is at an incline, with a circular hole cut about 3/4 of the way up. I never quite got the scoring system down, but I know you want to get the beanbag into the circle, or on the board. My friend and I played against Doug and one the veteran tossers. We were severely overmatched. You see, Doug is Doug Kent, the 2007 Pro Bowlers Association Player of the Year. The armswing for beanbag tossing is similar to bowling. Despite sinking one on my first practice shot, I got nowhere close after that. In a game to 21, my team got shut out, 22-0. Oh well, at least I had fun... and congrats to Chrissie, who sank two in a row... the second one coming after bouncing off an opposing beanbag and into the clown's mouth. Thank you, Doug and Chrissie, for a fun time.
As game time approaches, the clouds roll over. Forecasts had called for showers right at 1:00. As we stand for the National Anthem, the clouds open up. All I had my floppy hat and a blanket. Yeah, partly sunny and 73 my butt... it was rainy, 60, and a windchill of about minus 2. Welcome to Buffalo. At least it didn't snow.
We sat in section 205... if you're looking at the stadium from where the press box cameras are, it's to the left, between upper deck and the end zone luxury boxes. Our seats were up top, and there ended up being no empty seats in our section.
Both the Bills and Seahawks were struggling early. Buffalo scored first on a Marshawn Lynch touchdown run. In the second quarter, the Bills' Roscoe Parrish returned a punted 60-some yards for a TD. It's like the Seahawks forgot how to tackle. We're down, 14-0.
The guy in front of me, who obviously had a few beers before taking his seat, turned around to give me a high-five... I (mistakenly) told him I was a Seahawks fan. He playfully punched me a few times. The usher came up and he told her to get me outta there. A brave Seahawks fan and his son came up to our section and got worse verbal treatment. The sweatshirt, despite being soaked, stayed on.
After Seattle's Nate Burleson dropped a sure TD, he caught one in the zone while falling down. There was some hope.
Trailing 20-7 in the 3rd quarter, the Bills lined up for a field goal... but faked it and ended up throwing a TD. We fumbled the ensuing kickoff, and they threw a TD pass on the next play.
Obviously, my Seahawks were no match today for the Bills. 34-10. To pour more salt in the wound, Burleson and starting running back Maurice Morris got injured and sat out most of the 2nd half.
We stayed to the bitter end... navigating a sea of Buffalo Bills jerseys. They ranged from Trent Edwards, Marshawn Lynch, and Lee Evans jerseys, to some past players like Doug Flutie, Jim Kelly, Bryce Paup, and even Jack Kemp. No OJ sightings among the 72,000 in attendance.
I was pleased with how quickly we were able to negotiate traffic. Once you go east to the other side of 219, there wasn't much traffic at all.
The neatest part of the tailgating in the morning was the rusty old Ford Pinto in Lot One. It won my award for most unique tailgate set-up. Bacon and eggs on a shovel, pizza made on a filing cabinet, wings in a hubcap, and a few more.
Will I go to another NFL game? Yes. Will I go to another Seahawks game? Yes, but in Seattle. It's better to root for your team in the NFL when you are among the majority.
If you make the 5 1/2 hour trip up... keep in mind that route 15 in under about five miles of construction north of Williamsport. I-390 has a little bit of construction.
Buckle up and don't be allergic to life.
TS
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