Local Bills Fans In Jacksonville Feeling at Home During Pregame
Thousands of Buffalo Bills fans have escaped sub-zero temperatures and invaded Jacksonville this weekend expecting to make the most out of the team's first playoff appearance in 17 years.
Former Boilermaker President Tim Reed is among the fans during tailgate festivities Sunday morning. "There are literally thousands of Bills' fans here," said Reed. "and Shady (LaSean McCoy) is on the field running with no limp." McCoy was injured with an ankle sprain during last week's game and was questionable leading up to today's game, and is now officially listed as active.
Last night, media reports in Buffalo described "a sea of red white and blue" on the streets of Jacksonville and one bar owner told WKBW that "they have never seen this many fans representing an away team." Tim Reed concurred. He and his family found a Buffalo Bills bar in the city and celebrated with many Buffalo fans, including former Bills' kicker Brian Moorman and legendary 'super fan,' Ken Johnson, a.k.a. Pinto Ron, who is known for attending every single Bills home and away game and hosting a tailgate party, since 1994.
Josh Reed co-host of the Buffalo Bills Kickoff Live television broadcast, which airs on WFXV FOX 33, questioned whether this game would actually feel like the first playoff home game for Jacksonville since 1999, because there are so many Buffalo fans in the stadium. "I'm not so sure it's going to be a home game for them because there are a lot of Bills fans in here already and they are loud," he said.
The Bills, eight point underdogs, play Jacksonville today at 1:05 p.m. and if they win, it will be their first playoff victory since December 30, 1995. The game can be seen on CBS and will be broadcast live on WIBX 950.
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