The Game! Pats vs. Bills

Ever since I first looked at the 2008 NFL season (which was sometime back in, like, July or something), I noticed that the Pats were ending in Buffalo. I immediately got on the horn (okay, not really, my dad and Louise called) and said that we had to go to Buffalo to see the game. They responded enthusiastically, even though my father is not a Patriots fan. Crazy, I know --> he has been known to cheer covertly for the Red Sox, even once remarking that Manny needed to get a haircut.

So this morning bright and early (not too bright and early, a reasonable bright and early) we piled in the car and made a run for the border to go to Buffalo. Spirits were high, as was the wind. Many people joined us in the border crossing, probably partially due to football, but also partially due to the fact that I think this weekend is the Great Florida Migration, where grandparents, now sick of their children and children's children, hop back in the car and make the trek to the land of sun, high dew points, and shuffleboard. But I digress. The crossing went without incident, we found our way to the stadium with no problems, and parked in someone's yard for $15. There is a whole cottage industry of lawn parking around Ralph Wilson Stadium.

We tailgated, but in a healthy, vegetarian (they are, not me) way that included vegetables and hard-boiled eggs. Also, we chose to stand outside to tailgate, which was kind of dumb seeing as it was wicked windy and somewhat chilly.

Reiss reported that the wind was gusting between 35-55 mph, and I will believe it. The stadium is open, too, there is no place you can go to escape the cold, a design that seems kind of stupid because it's Buffalo, people.

Anyway, we had fun watching the kickers trying to kick into the wind (it didn't go well) during warm-ups, then watched what was kind of a slow first half where the Pats got one field goal. Buffalo missed one field goal. We then missed one field goal. Party time. It kind of cracked me up that the Bills fans seemed less interested in cheering for their team than they did in cheering against my team.

This is not to say that the Patriots were not well-represented in the crowd. Like most out of town sporting events, Patriot fans came from all over, wearing infinite jerseys, and cheering loud and proud for our Pats. Yet another reason that everyone hates us.

Excitement also included a fan running on the field (although he did not attack Junior Seau), the cheerleaders ('Buffalo Jills') dressed as Santas and probably freezing, and the Patriots, you know, winning a shut-out game 13-0. Yay! At which point we piled into the car, followed the heavy traffic, and came back home without incident. It was fabulous. And we were in perfect position to see the one and only touchdown.

For the first part of the game, Bill sported a puffy red number, which at some point he removed in favor of a blue jacket. I was just across the field and up a bunch of rows from the Patriots! Super, super exciting.