Buffalo Rumblings
Week 7 in Atlanta, consecutive game number 88 for me, was everything the personal side of me wanted but everything the fan side of me did not.
I flew in Sunday morning, where my friend LeShawn graciously picked me up from the airport and dropped me at my hotel so I didn’t have to deal with the MARTA train. First and foremost, if you have friends who go above and beyond without being asked, keep them around and make sure they know how much you appreciate it. But I digress.
To kick off the weekend, I headed to the Fans of Buffalo | Bills Mafia Welcome Party at STATS Brewpub, one of Atlanta’s best game-day spots. I caught up with friends, met some new ones, and of course spent some time joking with Pinto Ron, as we always do, about the endless travel. I told him I need sponsors so I can hire an assistant to keep my bookings straight after missing tickets for the Bills Backers party that night. Mama J laughed, admitting she once bought two tailgate passes for the same city, while I confessed to accidentally booking two flights to Carolina. Misery loves company.
Later that evening, fighting a little bit of FOMO at not having tickets to the BillsBackers Party, I joined my friend Norm for some incredible Jamaican food and somehow found myself playing a version of “pin the tail on the donkey.” Whoever says you can stay graceful after being blindfolded and spun around four times is lying. I stand by that. I’m sure a video of my unsuccessful attempt will surface on Instagram soon (if it hasn’t already).
We wrapped up the night watching the Lions-Chiefs game at a hotel lobby bar. I sent a few texts to friends in town, including a friend of a friend, to let them know where we were hanging out. I thought my usual travel crew had skipped this trip. But a few minutes later, that friend of a friend walked in, introduced me to another buddy, and then suddenly my whole crew walked through the doors. The first words out of my mouth were, “Nah! I hate you all!” They got me good. I didn’t even pretend to focus on the game after that. We ended the night on a rooftop bar, laughing and soaking it all in.
Monday brought the main event. The Fans of Buffalo tailgate didn’t disappoint, as usual, they crushed it. The crowd was massive, the energy unmatched, and I got to meet so many people from social media. That’s honestly my favorite part of this whole journey, turning online connections into real-life friendships. If you ever see me, please come up and say hi. You make the travel that much more fun.
Heading into the stadium, I was blown away by how many Bills fans there were. It didn’t just feel like a good turnout, it felt like a takeover. Mercedes-Benz Stadium is an absolute masterpiece, by the way. Clean, open,...
