Tag: billsmafia

An open letter to the 12th Man: We need to have a serious talk

An open letter to the 12th Man: We need to have a serious talk

Fans of the Seattle Seahawks have built a well-earned reputation of being among the best, if not arguably the best, fan bases in the league. They have helped make Lumen Field over the years a fortress, one where opponents routinely struggle for wins. Their roar is so impactful it’s almost as if there is a… 12th Man… on the field. We all know this story.

But in 2024, the 12th Man doesn’t seem to be on the field. The 12th Man is sidelined… or, more accurately, sitting at home. During the postgame press conference, Geno Smith said something I thought I would never hear a Seahawks quarterback say after a game in Seattle:

“Hats off to Buffalo. They came in and beat us at home. Their fans travel well. It was really loud in there and kind of felt like we were on the road at times.”

Felt. Like. We. Were. On. The. Road.

These words described a home game. In Seattle. This should light a fire in every 12th Man, Woman and Child’s heart to hear Lumen Field being described this way. Unfortunately, it is merely the latest in a recent and shocking trend.

Yes, I fully understand the Bills Mafia has an equally strong reputation as well. They are highly loyal and fanatic for their favorite team. And Buffalo only comes to Seattle once every eight years, so Bills fans in the area have few opportunities to see their team play close to where they live. I get it.

But the Bills Mafia aren’t the only ones overwhelming Lumen Field. Whenever the 49ers come to town, the lower bowl along the east sideline is a sea of red. This was the case when the Pittsburgh Steelers came to Seattle last year. Any fanbase that has even somewhat of a national footprint isn’t just coming to Lumen Field, they are an invading force. At this point I can only imagine what it will look like when it’s the Week 15 game against the Green Bay Packers on Sunday Night Football.

If you are a 12 out there on game days, screaming until your voice is just as gone as your hearing, then you know I am not addressing you about this. If you are a 12 who would absolutely be there screaming away, but simply cannot afford it, I am also not assigning any blame. It costs more than a pretty penny to go to NFL games, and even those who can afford it can feel the pain in their wallet when they go. But to those who can afford it and don’t go, or those who might be season ticket holders and are more than happy to sell their tickets each game with little regard as to which fans are purchasing them… it’s hard not to see how this is impacting the home field advantage of Lumen Field.

The Seahawks are struggling right now, especially at home. They have lost their last three in Seattle, and it’s even more demoralizing to see a quarter of the stadium cheering gleefully when the Seahawks walk off the field in defeat.

I know I can be critical of this team. Objectivity comes with the territory of my position at Seahawks Wire. But I myself am a fan as well, and right now, it’s hard to watch – or listen to – the 12th Man competing for noise in their own building.

The Seahawks only have four more scheduled home games left this season. The 12th Man is going to have to put in some work, and some may have to do some soul searching, if they want to retain their status as among the best in the league. Right now, the 12’s are facing their own challenge. And hopefully, it will be one they rise to meet.

I know they are capable.

[lawrence-auto-related count=4 category=1360]

Bills fans ‘control the atmosphere’ in return to Highmark Stadium

#Bills players felt #BillsMafia vs. the #Packers even if it was just a preseason game:

It might be preseason, but you wouldn’t know it looking out into the crowd at Highmark Stadium during the Bills vs. Packers game on Saturday.

50,000 strong showed up to support the Bills, with many fans getting to see their team live in action for the first time in over a year.

While it was likely a thrill for the fans to get to see a win, it was also special for the players to see the fans back in the stands.

“It was the best feeling to see them fans coming out of the tunnel,” Bills left tackle Dion Dawkins told the media following the 19-0 win. “You know, the Mafia doing what they do. Just seeing all them faces, all that red white and blue. And I’m telling you, this is why Buffalo is so special.”

Dawkins was also excited for his teammates that have yet to get to experience the fan base in full force. Even during Buffalo’s playoff run last season, the crowd was at limited capacity due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

“It’s just amazing that these guys can finally see why Buffalo is what Buffalo is. Like, Diggs ain’t ever feel that. Like all these young guys, they ain’t ever felt that. And today, it was just a short fuse, but I’m telling you, night games, first game of the season, it’s gonna hit, it’s gonna hit,” Dawkins said.

Sean McDermott shared a similar sentiment when speaking at halftime on the team’s television broadcast, saying “only in Buffalo” do you see 50,000 fans show up like this for a preseason game.

Bills safety Micah Hyde, who had an interception during the first half vs. his former team, was also glad to see Bills fans back impacting the game.

“It’s amazing to see fans out there ya know, screaming. It’s a homefield advantage for us,” Hyde told reporters. “We love to have them back. Not having them last year was kinda unique. A little weird, but getting out here on third down, hearing the crowd get into it. Fourth down, hearing the crowd get into it. It’s special, this place is special.”

Bills quarterback Josh Allen, who had a strong outing during his first preseason action of the season, acknowledged that these exhibition games aren’t just for the players.

“Forcing a timeout too and causing a false start or a delay of game, that’s huge… it’s reps for the fans too,” Allen said smiling. “Come regular season time, that’s what we’re gonna need from them too.”

Bills general manager Brandon Beane joined the broadcast in the booth to discuss a variety of topics, one of which was the Bills Mafia.

Beane mentioned leaving the facility late last night and seeing all the RVs in the lots. Then early this morning smelling the charcoal burning as fans tailgated. To him, there was no better feeling, because it meant that fans were really back.

One of the young guys who had his first chance to play in front of Bills fans today, was quarterback Jake Fromm who is fighting for a roster spot.

This could be Fromm’s only chance to ever play in front of the Mafia, but he made sure to enjoy the moment.

“It was unbelievable. Today, you looked in the stands and it almost looked like a packed house. It was fun,” Fromm said following the game. “Got to see them really have their mark on the game. It was a delay of game, or something when their (Packers) offense was coming to the locker room, but it was awesome. They kind of controlled the atmosphere. It was really just fun to be back out there.”

Bills fans will have many opportunities to make their presence felt as the team opens the regular season with three of its first four games at home.

As Josh Allen mentioned, the Bills will rely on that homefield advantage early and often. As always, the Bills Mafia appears up for the challenge.

[lawrence-related id=85997,85928]

Watch: #BillsMafia fan rings bell, crashes through table after cancer battle

Bills’ fan Victor Neilson celebrated beating cancer in style by ringing a bell and crashing through a table

The Buffalo Bills’ fans are unique. And they are embracing every moment of the team’s run through the playoffs.

One special member of #BillsMafia is Victor Neilson and getting through five months of chemotherapy and battling cancer as only a Buffalo fan could.

Watch as Neilson rings the bell and then dons a Buffalo Bills helmet and crashes through a table in classic #BillsMafia style.

https://www.instagram.com/p/CKULJywBbg9gtdT9HmPuXfMceewmzHpC48QyJ00/?igshid=jgg8675rbfc2

vipervic1
GLORIOUS DAY TODAY! Many may not have known, but I have been battling Cancer over the past 5 months. Through all the prayers and support, I have prevailed. I got to ring the bell today, Bills Mafia Style. I am officially cancer free. Thanks to all for the prayers and support. Couldn’t have done it without you. GO BILLS, BEAT THEM CHIEFS!! #billsmafia #cancersucks #buffalobills

The gathered crowd cheered him on and this is another example of inspiration as the team heads to Kansas City for Sunday’s AFC Championship Game with the Chiefs.

Bravo.

Bills’ fans come up big for Lamar Jackson’s favorite charity

The #BillsMafia with another great charitable act.

The #BillsMafia is coming up big for a player once again. And it isn’t one of their own.

The fans are donating money to Lamar Jackson’s favorite charity after the Baltimore Ravens’ quarterback left Saturday’s loss to the Bills with a concussion.

The generosity is out of concern and appreciation.

Per WBKW:

A Bills fan on Reddit shared that he donated $25 to Jackson’s favorite charity, the Louisville Chapter of Blessings in a Backpack.

Blessings in a Backpack is a charity that works to feed elementary school children who are in need on weekends.

Back in 2018, Jackson donated $25,000 to the charity which helped start a new program at an elementary school in Louisville, which is where Jackson played in college.

Ravens fans are taking notice of the generosity of Bills fans and thanked them for donating money, with some Baltimore Ravens fans donating money to Oishei Children’s Hospital in Buffalo.

This is not a first. The #BillsMafia donated to Andy Dalton’s charity/foundation when he helped the team make the playoffs. And contributed thousands to a local hospital after Josh Allen’s grandmother died this season.

Well played. #BillsMafia.

If you would like to donate, click here.

Bills fans put billboard down road from Patriots’ Gillette Stadium

Buffalo Bills’ fans won a contest and the prize was a billboard, which is now near Gillette Stadium

The Buffalo Bills and #BillsMafia are in their glory. They haven’t had time to celebrate an AFC East championship since 1995 and they are reveling.

And, they won a FOX contest for the best fans in football. The prize was a billboard and it could be placed at the location of their choice.

So, of course, #BillsMafia decided to rub it into their New England Patriots’ brethren and decided to have the billboard down the road apiece from Gillette Stadium, home of the deposed AFC East champs who saw an 11-year postseason run snapped.

The Boston Globe reminded Bills’ fans their geography is a bit off … the billboard isn’t exactly in the Patriots’ hometown.

Located on Route 1 down the road from Gillette Stadium, the billboard reads “The best fans in football” and features photos of fans. It has quickly became a tourist destination for Buffalo diehards.

But it’s important to note: Despite the initial fan vote, the billboard is actually located in Wrentham, not Foxborough.

 

Josh Allen contributes 17K to push fans’ funds in grandmother’s memory to 500K

Josh Allen has donated $17,000 to push the funds donated in his grandmother’s memory to $500,000.

The #Billsmafia and the team’s fans have come up huge again this week. And Buffalo Bills’ quarterback Josh Allen just pumped the fund-raising effort to a major plateau.

When fans found out Josh Allen’s grandmother, Patricia, passed away Saturday, they began to donate money to Buffalo’s Oishei Children’s Hospital, to which Allen has given time and generosity since joining the team in 2018.

The hospital said Wednesday that it had received more than $300,000 in donations and the funds continue to pour in. As of Friday, the number reached $483,000. And that’s when Allen decided to kick in his number — in thousands — to get the drive to a half-million dollars.

 “Words can’t really describe how I feel, how my family feels,” Allen told reporters Wednesday, the first he has spoken since his grandmother’s death became public. “Every time I call my parents and let them know the new number, they just start bawling all over again. And to know that people care and that so much good is coming out of a tough situation, it means the world to myself, it means the world to my family.

This is reminiscent of 2018 when fans of the team contributed major money to a foundation supported by Cincinnati QB Andy Dalton after he led the Bengals to a victory that propelled the Bills to a playoff spot.

If anyone is interested in making an impact for the Oishei Children’s Hospital, click here.