Shout: My Day With The Bills Backers of Fenway

It hasn't always been easy for Bills fans living in New England,
but they've got a lot to cheer about this season.

Bleacher Bar, constructed under the outfield seats of Fenway Park, is adorned with Red Sox memorabilia and other Boston sports images, and even has a wall that opens up into center field of the stadium.  But don't bother trying to catch a Patriots game there on NFL Sundays.  Instead, you'll find a playground for the children of Utica, Rochester, and Syracuse (but definitely not Albany).  My friend Dan started the Bills Backers of Fenway here four years ago, and I've been to a few of their Buffalo game watches since.  This Sunday, I was able to join them once again for quite an entertaining afternoon.

A highlight of the day was watching fans in Patriots jerseys or Steelers hats walk into the bar, slowly realize that eight of the nine TVs are playing the Bills game, and quickly walk out.  If they stayed, they'd see people enjoying buckets of Labatt Blue, beef on weck sandwiches, Buffalo wings, and something called a Garbage Plate (which is half as messy as it sounds, but twice as delicious).

An authentic Buffalo beef on weck sandwich, with the obligatory Labatt Blue.

The Bills fans are some of the most loyal and optimistic I've seen, even in their team's worst years.  I attended their NFL Draft party at the bar this past April, and they were so ecstatic over the Marcell Dareus pick that they cheered his Alabama highlights as if they were a live game.  So you can imagine their level of excitement as their team entered this game with a 4-2 record.  After every touchdown, the bar played the traditional Bills version of "Shout", but with the addition of "Fitzmagic" in honor of their newly minted franchise QB.

I am admittedly critical of the Ryan Fitzpatrick mid-season extension, primarily because the Bills ultimately regretted doing the same for Dick Jauron three years ago.  I like Fitz, but I think GM Buddy Nix could have waited until later in the season to make this commitment, without too much added cost.  Still, Fitzpatrick provided a quick return on investment on Sunday.  His first touchdown got the biggest reaction out of the fans at the bar.  (For the record, the second biggest reaction came when Jim Kelly was spotted on the sideline, and the third was when Tyler Thigpen took a football to his helmet.)

How do I know Bills fans are legit?
Let's just say this isn't the first Brian Moorman jersey I've seen at Bleacher Bar.

This game may ultimately be remembered as the coming out party for the aforementioned Dareus.  With underrated Pro Bowler Kyle Williams out indefinitely and Buffalo's pass rush in sore need of a jolt after just four sacks in six games, Dareus toyed with the Redskins o-line and destroyed John Beck's day.  The highly-touted rookie moved from end to tackle for much of the game, and had 2.5 sacks and a handful of pressures as the Bills took Beck down nine times.

Upstate/Bills Jeopardy: It's A Canal Thing

At halftime, Dan hosted a game of Upstate/Bills Jeopardy, where teams put their minds and bodies on the line for the most precious of prizes: bragging rights and free beers.  By some coincidence, all of the physical challenges involved Miller High Life ponies.  As Dan's wife Nicole pointed out, "the team that usually wins is whichever team yells that they're right first."  I'm just glad they included my question about the Bills' star running back from the '60s, Cookie Gilchrist.  Sadly, The Cookie Monster passed away earlier this year, but he and his awesome nickname will live on in Buffalo lore.

What Beverly Hills, 90210 character hailed from Buffalo?  Valerie Malone, of course.

In the second half, the Washington offense was being dominated so thoroughly, it made me wonder how they'll be able to win another game all season.  Beck started hucking the ball downfield into double coverage, blindly hoping for something good to happen.  Instead, he merely gave a couple of easy interceptions to the Buffalo safeties.  The Redskins never seemed to have a chance in this one. 

I do have to give credit to Mike Shanahan for going for it on 4th and 17 from the Bills' 24 yard line in the final minute.  I've been a vocal Shanahan critic and think he gets way too much credit for two Super Bowls that he won on the backs of John Elway, Terrell Davis and Alex Gibbs' zone blocking scheme.  But he had never been shut out in 24 seasons as a coach or coordinator, and he could have taken the easy way out with a token field goal in the final seconds.  He didn't, and that's admirable, even in defeat.  The 23-0 victory, along with the Patriot loss, put Buffalo in first place in the AFC East and ushered the Bills fans into celebratory dance circles.

 As a transplanted New Yorker living in Boston, I often wish that I could take a quick subway ride back home for a few hours each week.  Yet through their passion and commitment, Dan and the Upstate faithful do just that every fall Sunday.  These Bills fans have long enjoyed the slice of home that they've carved into the bleachers of Fenway Park, win or lose.  With much more of the former this season, don't be surprised when the party extends into January.

Changing my allegiances? No, but I'm a sucker for a party.  Plus, this was one sweet poncho.