Wednesday, February 03, 2021
Bills Win!! 2021
While most of the world is hunkered down due to the pandemic, a few thousand fans gathered in the Ralph Wilson Stadium in Buffalo to watch their Bills. The team played well, in all three major areas of concern: offence, defence, and special teams.
But it took an excellent play, in the dying seconds of the team, to seal the deal. They call it a “Hail Mary” play, with no ill intent. The quarterback takes the snap, backs up a few paces, winds up and fires the ball high into the air at the opposition's end zone. The purpose is to have one of his players catch the ball to win the game.
On Saturday, Indianapolis Colts' Phillip Rivers threw such a pass toward the Bills' end zone. The Bills had lost a game this year on a similar play. Tackle Dion Dawkins summed up the play, from a Bills' perspective. “You know, this time I was happy that it was going up there. Our guys practise it every day. They practise for it NOT to happen. Micah Hyde went up and tomahawked that ball down like he was a starter on the volleyball court. That was a double-handed tomahawk as a statement, like it was not going to happen again to us.”
The Bills will play the Baltimore Ravens this coming Saturday night in Buffalo. One Bills fan, who shall go nameless, suggested that we pile into our vehicles and drive through the NEXIS lane in Fort Erie. Likely wouldn't work.
The Rams will have the joy of playing on the frozen tundra in Green Bay to face the Packers on Saturday afternoon. The Kansas City Chiefs will host the Cleveland Browns on Sunday. A couple of old pros will face off in New Orleans when the Saints and Drew Brees will face the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Tom Brady, also on Sunday.
The Bills' game was certainly a see-saw affair. With Josh Allen at the helm, the Queen City squad was able to move the ball on the ground and in the air. Allen used an array of receivers to get the job done: Dawson Knox, Stefon Diggs, and Cole Beasley did most of the work.
The hockey season gets underway in the United States on Wednesday night, and in Canada on Thursday night. Due to the COVID 19, the Canadian teams will play all of their games in The Great White North.
The Raptors are currently on the West Coast, which, historically, is not a good thing. They have stumbled out of the gate this year, and there is some concern. They lost a squeaker to the Golden State Warriors last Sunday night, and to Portland on Monday night, leaving them with a win-loss record of 2-7. Not good.
The sports world lost one of its more colourful characters last week. Tommy Lasorda truly bled Dodger blue. He played for them, managed them, scouted for them throughout their transition from Brooklyn to Los Angeles. I met him, briefly, at Cooperstown a couple of years ago. He was holding court with a couple of other Hall of Famers. Lots of giggles.
Stay safe.
January 11, 2021
