By JOHN ANDERSON
The NFL and the New York State Police increased security for the last Buffalo Bills home game at Highmark Stadium on Sunday afternoon. The team will move to a new stadium across the street next season.
Turns out, the fan base known as the Bills Mafia, the same fan base that tore a goal post down then carried it up to the window of the owners box to thank the late Ralph Wilson Jr., the same fan base known for jumping through tables and enjoying adult beverages — didn’t need security.
The sold out crowd of 70,944 looked more like a stunned family who didn’t want to leave a wake. Some cried, some were silent and some talked. The game was over. The actual game was a 35-8 win by the Bills over the Jets, but in reality was over at halftime with a 21-0 Buffalo lead.
No one left.
Players took their time leaving the field. Offensive lineman Alec Anderson, who spent his college career in the sun at UCLA, stood motionless in the endzone, watching the long video tributes. He’s just in his third year in the league, but he understood — and felt — the magnitude of the moment. A stadium since 1973 with so many memories for fans, players, staff and administration, was closing.
Longsnapper Reid Ferguson, a nine-year veteran, has played more games at Highmark than anyone on the current roster. At the end of the game, emotions got the best of him as he teared up watching the video of moments through the years.
“Speaking on the video they played … I was just trying to take it all in. A lot of the memories and clips that they were showing were obviously before I got here, but there at the end, they showed a bunch of clips from memories that I’ve had at the stadium and it brought a rush of emotions. I was just enjoying the special moment with the fans and making sure we sent it off the right way.”
After Josh Allen took one snap to keep his consecutive games streak going, veteran Mitch Trubisky came in and managed the offense during one of the finest games of his career.
The Bills have had some injuries on the offensive line and shuffled around receivers. But Trubisky looked calm and in command from the second snap of the game to his final kneel down.
Trubisky went 22-of-29 for four touchdowns, no interceptions for a 142.1 passer rating. He ran for nine yards and was never sacked.
Long after the game and after most players were gone, he was with his family walking the field, taking photos and carrying his child on his shoulders.
“It was special, it was absolutely special … this one is for Bills Mafia, this one is for all the guys, for all the hard work we put on this field, For everyone who’s ever worn a Bills uniform and played in this stadium,” Trubisky said. “It’s very emotional. To put on a show one last time in this stadium for these great fans really means a lot.”
Fan-favorite Reggie Gilliam, a 6th-year veteran, plays fullback, but rarely gets the ball. He blocks and does what it takes for yards and touchdowns. He joked after the game, “It’s been an amazing season … it’s awesome my team and (offensive coordinator Joe Brady) trust me and trust me to do my job. I may not always be in the highlights and in the newspaper, but it’s whatever and I’m going to keep doing what I can do to help the team.”
Gilliam may have scored a touchdown at the goalline but the entire stadium was chanting his name for him to get the ball.
“It was like a movie! Of course I want to score a touchdown and then I hear the fans chanting my name,” Gilliam said, and then laughed, “And I’m thinking ‘Ok, I don’t want the other team to know I’m getting the ball, so if you guys could be quiet?’ It was really awesome hearing my name chanted and hearing the fans actually knowing who I am.”
Trubisky joked that was why Gilliam was stopped. However, on the next play, Trubisky found Gabe Davis for another Bills touchdown and the Shout song and celebration in the stands continued.
Gilliam also took a moment to enjoy the crowd that would not leave.
“It was a lot to take in … it was sad but it was an amazing moment, just seeing everyone so happy and everybody sharing the love for the game that we all do, but of course that could be the last time we play out there, so it was a little sentimental,” Gilliam said.
More photos from the game:
