Cheektowaga, N.Y. (WBEN/WGR Sports Radio 550) - It was the first time in 33 years the Buffalo Bills were able to capture a road playoff win when they defeated the Jacksonville Jaguars, 27-24, on Sunday at EverBank Stadium.
While Sunday's contest may have been an anxiety-filled roller coaster for many Bills fans, the win was a cause for celebration, as hundreds of "Bills Mafia" faithful showed up at the Buffalo Niagara International Airport terminal later that night to cheer on their hometown team.
"It's your standard weekly three-hour heart attack. It was that tough a game the whole time," said Sam from Amherst. "The Jaguars were driving, and they scored right there to make it 24-20, they left four minutes on the clock. That's the perfect time for the Bills to walk down the field, score and then do something with it. And Cole Bishop. And I'm wearing the Reggie Gilliam jersey, love me some 'tush push'. That's the 'tush push' MVP right there - Most Valuable Pusher."
"It was the craziest feeling ever when the game was going on. It was the best feeling [when we won]," added Bill from Buffalo. "Got a little worried with some of the plays, but in the end, when they got that interception, I couldn't even handle it. I freaked out, and we immediately said, 'We've got to go find them when they land and just cheer them on.' I can't wait. I think this is gonna be the year."
Fans like Lisa from Niagara Falls joked by saying it wouldn't be a Bills game if there wasn't nail biting at the end.
"This is the absolute best. And to be here when that plane lands and you're making eye contact, it's got to be such an incredible feeling for them, just to land and see this chaos," said Lisa with WBEN.
"I did not breathe until Bishop caught that interception, and it was like, 'Holy cow, we did it! We actually beat them,'" added Erica from Buffalo. "We pushed Josh [Allen] into the end zone, we got that touchdown to go above them, 27-24. And then we got that interception with Cole Bishop, who, by the way, is freaking amazing this year. He is unstoppable. Love it!"
As the defense did its job throughout the game to give the offense multiple chances to score and stay close with the Jaguars, it was quarterback Josh Allen helping catapult the Bills through the Wild Card Round. He finished the game completing 80% of his pass attempts for 273 yards and a touchdown, while also accounting for two more scores on the ground.
Although Allen finished the game a bit battered and bruised, having to go into the blue medical tent on more than one occasion Sunday, members of "Bills Mafia" admire the reigning NFL MVP for his tenaciousness to put his team over the top.
"He's our quarterback, and that's why we love him," said Laura from Tonawanda. "I mean, he's 'Super Josh', and that's what he does. And when the Bills do well, we get that version of him. So no doubts we've got to 'Billieve.'"
"All Josh Allen's gotta do is put on that Superman cape, and everything happens," echoed Curtis from Batavia. "I don't care if it's one leg or one arm, he gets the job done, and he will always get the job done."
"He's a dog. There's no better way to put it," Sam added. "He's a farm boy. He grew up tough, he's got to be tough, he's got to take hits. He knows what it means to be a quarterback. He's ready to stand in there and take some hits. So yeah, he's injured. He'll be better by next week, though."
Heading into the AFC Divisional Round next weekend, there are a couple aspects of the Bills' overall game fans would like to see cleaned up a bit.
"The defense needs to really work on stopping that running game. We're really good in the passing game, we had the two interceptions. That was amazing, but we need to work on the running game and stop the running game," Erica said with WBEN.
Lisa is only hoping for the Bills to get a bit healthier ahead of next weekend.
"They're sore. They do a lot of work, and they're the ones that are the most physical," she said. "I think if we can get [Jordan] Poyer back out there, that would be great. But I think just focusing on Tre'Davious White, he had one heck of a game today, he made some serious plays. And Cole Bishop at the end, you couldn't ask for a better end of the game today."
As for Laura, she says there's no need to overcomplicate things heading into the Divisional Round.
"They've just got to show up, and they've got to be that team that digs hard and plays like it could be the last game," Laura said with WBEN.
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That matchup for the Bills in the AFC Divisional Round will come on Saturday in Denver against the 1-seed Broncos at Empower Field at Mile High. It'll be a rematch of last year's AFC Wild Card Game that saw Buffalo dominate the Broncos at Highmark Stadium in Orchard Park.
A number of Bills fans are eager to get the Denver to take on the AFC's top team from the regular season.
"We usually play them really well. I trust Allen against the Broncos. I don't trust Bo Nix as much in the playoffs. Doesn't have as much experience, so I would rather play someone with less experience than Aaron Rodgers, who has a ton," said Luke from Lockport.
How does Buffalo find a way to beat the Broncos?
"Ground and pound. Always ground and pound," Sam said. "James Cook looked a little dinged up, and I know that Ty Johnson was out today, but ground and pound. Denver needs to just have the ball rammed down their throats."
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