Buffalo Bills fans are still reeling from the team’s heartbreaking 32-29 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC Championship, a defeat that has left a cloud of frustration and sadness hanging over the city.
Adding to the sting, the loss came just a day before the 34th anniversary of Scott Norwood’s infamous “wide right” miss against the New York Giants in Super Bowl XXV, a memory that has haunted Bills fans for decades.
The combination of these two crushing events has made for an especially tough few days for Buffalo, a city whose devotion to its teams is undeniable.
On the latest episode of the “Fitz & Whit” podcast, former NFL quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick, who spent four seasons with the Bills, shared his insight on the emotional toll the loss has taken on the community.
“Before I start crying, let me say this last thing,” Fitzpatrick began. “Just texting with one of my buddies who lives in Buffalo this morning … goin’ to work today he said it’s just silence.
“It’s just silence at work today because this isn’t a game to these people in Buffalo. This isn’t just for fun, like this is their life.”
Fitzpatrick, who experienced the intense passion of Buffalo fans firsthand, continued to paint a somber picture of the city’s mood after the Bills fell short once again to Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes, marking the fourth time Josh Allen has faced Mahomes in the playoffs and lost.
“To be so close, to have Josh have that opportunity to go down and win the game. And all the hope and excitement and for it not to happen, it’s like a funeral or a wake right now in Buffalo. And it’s not gonna be gone anytime soon,” Fitzpatrick added.
The loss has not only left the Bills’ fan base devastated but also underscored the deep connection between the team and the city.
In Buffalo, football is far more than just a game – it’s woven into the fabric of everyday life. The fact that the Bills have never won a Super Bowl has only made this latest loss sting even more.
With the Bills’ painful exit still fresh and the Buffalo Sabres struggling in last place with an 19-26 record, the mood in the city remains very much down.
For many in Buffalo, sports represent hope, and without that, the streets feel quieter and more somber than ever.
Head coach Sean McDermott has faced a ton of heat in the days since the lost. There are some fans who have grown sick and tired of him and feel it’s time for a new voice.
However, Allen made it clear that the entire team still believes in their coach and leader.
“I’m just so proud of coach,” Allen said. “I don’t know why he’s not recognized more in the awards stuff. That’s the cruddy thing about it. But time in and time out, he’s got us in position.
“We’re fighting to get over that hump, and he gives his life to this. … He’s so committed to doing whatever it takes.”
Unfortunately for Buffalo, this was just another season that ended on a sour note with nothing to show for it.
What are your thoughts on the way Fitzpatrick summed up the feelings of Bills Mafia???
