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By: Grace Heidinge
The city of Buffalo and Bills Mafia around the world have been counting down the days until Monday night’s home opener against the Tennessee Titans. After a 1-0 start to the season following last week’s season opener win over the Rams, the build up of energy has created a buzz around town.
“Monday night, it’s showtime back on prime time again,” wide receiver Stefon Diggs said. “We’re on there for a reason, too. I feel like this team, we’ve been through the good and the bad. We’ve been through the rain, we’ve been through the storm. So, when things do get a little sunny like on Monday night, why not shine?”
Now even though kickoff isn’t until the stadium lights turn on, the excitement all around the city will start while the sun is still shining, or maybe even rising. In Bills Mafia fashion, fans will start to fill the parking lots surrounding the stadium hours before kickoff as they patiently wait for the clock to hit 7:15 p.m.
Buffalo native Doug Boechel and seven of his friends from high school already have their camper, “The Shasta,” packed for Monday. Boechel, who has been a season ticket holder for 36 years, has stuck with the team through all the ups and downs, and is loving the potential the 2022 Bills roster has heading into this season.
Between the group’s tailgate that’s starting at 2:00 p.m. and the game itself, the long-time Bills fans can’t wait for the energetic atmosphere that’s going to be in the air come game time.
“There’s never been this much hype for a team,” Boechel said. “They seem like they’re the real deal. I lived through all the Superbowl years and after those years of a lot of nothingness, it’s so much fun again. And it’s awfully fun to watch Josh Allen play live.”
Knowing what a Bills tailgate entails, Hall of Fame quarterback Jim Kelly said he expects Monday to be “stupid crazy”. Kelly, who played in front of Bills fans for 11 seasons, feels that the atmosphere is different from when he was playing with the heightened level of enthusiasm the younger generation of Bills Mafia brings game after game.
“I’ve already talked to a few people and they’re already thinking about jumping on the tables,” Kelly laughed. “Maybe they should lay back and not do too many table jumps yet since it’s only the beginning of the season. I can see maybe a two-foot jump, but no 5-10 feet jumps right now. It’s too early for that, but I’m pumped up and I’m excited.”
“Even though the older generation still brings it, this new generation being called Bills Mafia, I think they’ve taken it to heart,” Kelly added. “They love it, they enjoy it, and they wrap their arms around it.”
To further elevate the excitement level for Bills fans of all ages, media personalities Trey Wingo and Kenny Mayne will be in town with the Caesars Sportsbook Truck Tour. Wingo shared that he’s not sure if expectations have ever been higher in Buffalo for a team than this year’s Buffalo Bills, and added, “Yes, that includes the teams that went to four straight Super Bowls.”
“They have everything they need: great quarterback, a great coach, a great defense, and a great culture,” Wingo said. “This home opener should be absolutely bananas after the whooping they put up on the Rams last Thursday.”
“I broke a chair in my driveway to honor traditions of Bills fans after that hard playoff loss in KC,” Mayne said. “Monday, it will be great to be with them at our new Caesars Sportsbook Truck to tailgate and take in my first game in Buffalo.”
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