How do you decide which words to use when describing a day that you will remember forever? How do you choose just the right words to convey the passion and childlike thrill you felt watching history unfold before your eyes? It’s almost an impossibility. But when recounting this incredible game you realize that the word impossible can never again be used when referring to the Buffalo Bills.
My best friend Johnny and I prepared as we usually did to watch our beloved Bills take on the formidable Oilers. But we could never have anticipated what was to happen during the next three hours. After a half of football that could only be described as depressing carried into the third quarter Johnny and I decided that a change in mojo was necessary. We switched around not only all our Bills paraphernalia but our beverage of choice for the game from beer to gin and Coke’s. We decided this after Kenneth Davis scored just as I made the fateful change. Sensing a winning ( if not potentially dangerous ) formula we decided to consume our drinks entirely after each score. ( That’s 1 )
Here’s where it got very interesting …
Moments later with our faith and buzz renewed Steve Christie recovered his own onsides kick setting up a Frank Reich to Don Beebe bomb that not only had Johnny and I high fiving but also headed back to his bar. ( That’s 2 )
After Frank hit Reed to make it 35-31 we were both delirious, in more ways than one ( That’s 3 )
When Andre caught the go ahead touchdown ( That’s 4 ) you could just imagine the jubilation as well as intoxication.
The Oilers of course would have to make things interesting but the inevitable arrived in the form of a Steve Christie field goal , a 41-38 victory and our 5th gin and Coke within an hours time. Remembering details of that game's second half might be a bit fuzzy but I'll never forget the jubilation that Johnny and I felt as we held each other up in joyous celebration.....