Orchard Park, N.Y. (WBEN) - Once again, members of "Bills Mafia" answered the call.
After more than two additional feet of snow reportedly fell in Orchard Park following Monday's win in the AFC Wild Card Round over the Pittsburgh Steelers, the Buffalo Bills put the call out on social media for shovelers to help clear Highmark Stadium before Sunday evening's AFC Divisional Round showdown with the Kansas City Chiefs.
Let's just say the response from the Western New York community was monumental.
As of Saturday morning, the Buffalo Bills were still looking for additional shovelers to report to the stadium, with progress being made on clearing the bowl of the piles and drifts of snow.
"I'm a big Buffalo Bills fan, all my life, and felt like I could come help out and do my part," said Bills fan Brent from Orchard Park, waiting to register to shovel on Friday.
Brent added the last time he came to help shovel out Highmark Stadium was with his grandfather when he was 15- or 16-years-old, which happened to be nearly 30 years ago.
A number of local college students and Bills fans were also on-hand on Friday to help clear out the stadium for an extra few bucks.
"I heard they needed help for the past game against the Steelers, and I wanted to come out really bad. But with the travel bans and everything I wasn't able to," said Petros Kollidas from Clarence on Friday. "Now that the bans are off and we can come, I thought, 'Why not?'"
"Honestly, I wanted to go the last time, and I missed out on the opportunity, I was busy," added Bills fan Ryan Ensminger from East Aurora. "And I'm in college, I need the money, so $20 an hour is pretty good."
Heading into Friday, the Bills said they expected around 200 fans to volunteer and help clear snow from the stadium. However, the team says they believe more than double that amount ended up showing up and registering to help shovel.
Before Monday's playoff game with the Steelers, there were a handful of Bills fans and volunteers that were able to get down to Orchard Park and clear as much snow as possible before the 4:30 p.m. EST kickoff.
This time around, the team expects the lower bowl of the stadium to be completely cleared of snow come Saturday, and most of the rest of the stadium cleared before Sunday's 6:30 p.m. EST kickoff.
For many of the shovelers showing up Friday to the stadium, it was an experience they simply could not pass up.
"It feels good to be a part of the team, and it's always nice to come to the stadium. It's fun being here, it's a great environment," said Bills fan Ethan Healy from East Aurora.
"Just knowing that what we're doing now is helping so that fans can enjoy the experience this weekend is pretty cool," Kollidas said.
"It feels good to do something for not just myself, but for the community and for the Buffalo Bills," Brent added. "And it gives me a good workout."
According to the National Weather Service, nearly four feet of snow fell in Orchard Park between the back-to-back lake effect snowstorms that struck Western New York over the last several days.
For many of the shovelers on-hand Friday, the snow may have come somewhat as a surprise, but it's nothing that's too out of the ordinary.
"Personally, I love it. I love the snow," Ensminger said. "In East Aurora, we still got a lot. I mean, it seems like four feet in my driveway, but the snow is great. We were able to go sledding just a few days ago, that's one of my favorite things, and skiing too. It's always good for that."
"Over the past few years, we haven't really been getting a lot of snow. I knew eventually this was going to go happen, but actually I think this snow right here is going to be our advantage. It's gonna be the Bills' advantage," Brent added.
For Kollidas, he says he won't complain about the snowfall, especially when it comes to getting some time off from classes.
"I'll tell you one thing, I didn't have school the entire week. I'll cut my losses, and I'll take it at that," he said. "Even though I couldn't go anywhere, I didn't have to go to school. It's not too bad."
So how are Bills fans feeling about Sunday's huge playoff showdown with Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs in Orchard Park? If there was any doubt, the overwhelming majority are confident the Bills will pull out the win and advance to the AFC Championship Game next Sunday.
"I'm nervous, because it's the Chiefs, of course, and they've kind of always had our number in the playoffs. But I really do think we're gonna take this one, because the Chiefs are not great this year or not what they've been," Ensminger said. "My prediction, I honestly think Bills by 14 points."
"I think we're a little banged up, but I think now that it's our first time hosting the Chiefs in the playoffs, I'll take us any day," said Kollidas.
"I think Josh Allen's gonna have a great game. I think it's gonna be a James Cook show too, and I think we're gonna pull it out," added Healy.