THE ROCKPILE REVIEW - Highmark Rocks

[Shaw66]

I suspect that buried somewhere in one or more threads are comments about the stadium for the Titans game on Monday, but I haven't seen them, so I thought I would share my thoughts about it. 

 

First, overall, the place was electric.   Pregame and early in the game, there was a level of excitement that I've rarely heard there.   Fans are still processing the success of recent years, the signing of Von Miller, the emergence of Josh Allen and the Bills on national media as relevant.  The months and months of waiting energized everyone in the first half.  There were times when the crowd wasn’t just loud; it was frenzied.  Sometimes it sounded like we were ready to storm the field, all 70,000 of us.  It was special.

 

Second, Titans fans were kind enough not to have shown up for the game, at least not in any numbers sufficient to be heard.  I saw a few Titans jerseys here and there, but they were hard to find.  Once inside the stadium, Titans fans quickly figured out that there was absolutely no sense in trying to make noise for their team – their cheers literally weren’t going to be in the same ball park.

 

Fans in the parking lot pregame were happy.  It was a party atmosphere, for sure.  Everyone seemed to be celebrating. Some, I suppose, thought it was a foregone conclusion that the Bills would win, and it turned out they were right.  But most just seemed to be genuinely happy to be there with thousands of their friends, celebrating a team that, whatever may happen in the coming months, has finally arrived. 

 

Traffic was bad, the crowds at the gate were pretty big, but the stadium filled in pretty well, and for all those who made it inside early, the pregame was pretty special.  Bruce Smith, wearing a "Choose Love" tee shirt, came on the field with survivors and relatives of victims of the May 14th attack at Tops Market in Buffalo.  He spoke beautifully, with power and emotion, with love and compassion.  He thanked all who have responded.  He challenged all of us to continue to love and support the survivors and our community.  He celebrated Buffalo and its future.  An excellent “Choose Love” video ran on the video screens.

 

Then, the now-traditional “Let’s go, Buffalo” cheer lead by a former Bill brought tears to the eyes of fans all around the stadium.  Jim Kelly, wearing number 12, walked onto the field in the corner of the end zone, tunnel end, Bills sideline.  The public address system volume was no match for the crowd noise, so pretty much no one could hear Kelly lead the cheer.  We heard just enough to know when to respond, and we did.  Following “Let’s go, Buffalo,” it was time to ask “Where would you rather be than right here, right now?”  And Marv Levy took the microphone.  People went nuts!   Kelly and Smith, now wearing number 40, flanked him.  The past and the present came together in one special moment that was lost on no one.

 

The noise when the Titans had the ball was as loud as it gets in Highmark.  Sometimes it hurt your ears.  We sit in what the Bills staff calls the “girlfriends’ section” (covered, with heat), and there are plenty of women in those sections, proportionally more than in most of the open space in the stadium.  The result is that there is more high-pitched shrieking.  It was hysteria. 

 

In the second half, the noise quieted down, but the party was on.  It was a lot like the second half of the Patriots playoff game last season.  Score after score, the fans turned more and more joyous.  How could this be happening?  How could this be our team?  We exploded in joy when Allen found Diggs deep downfield for a touchdown that put the game out of reach.  And when Milano delivered his pick six, well, the fans were delirious. 

 

Then the fans left.  Tuesday’s a work day, so I suppose plenty of people wanted to get a head start to get home and get to bed.  Maybe 20% of the fans were left when Case Keenum took the last knee to end the game.  It was like the Bills Mafia remaining in the stadium at an away game win.  Still, we made noise and celebrated with the team. 

 

It was another great night at Highmark Stadium. 

 

 

GO BILLS!!!

 

The Rockpile Review is written to share the passion we have for the Buffalo Bills. That passion was born in the Rockpile; its parents were everyday people of western New York who translated their dedication to a full day’s hard work and simple pleasures into love for a pro football team.

 

Edited September 21, 2022 by Shaw66

[CNYfan]

Maybe not the appropriate place but can someone explain the "false start"/"Offside" controversy from the first half.   I don't listen to the audio during Bills games.  How was that explained away by the official?

[fasteddie]

5 minutes ago, CNYfan said:

Maybe not the appropriate place but can someone explain the "false start"/"Offside" controversy from the first half.   I don't listen to the audio during Bills games.  How was that explained away by the official?

The refs forgot their glasses last night. The "false start" an then the "illegal" snap. Couldn't see an offensive infraction in either of these. Another bad night for the refs.

[Warcodered]

8 minutes ago, fasteddie said:

The refs forgot their glasses last night. The "false start" an then the "illegal" snap. Couldn't see an offensive infraction in either of these. Another bad night for the refs.

The spotting of the ball was awful all night too.

Edited September 21, 2022 by Warcodered

[Mr. WEO]

You left out how great it was seeing OJ in town...

[UKBillFan]

Highmark looked stunning in the overhead shots which aired during the match.

[Simon]

21 minutes ago, CNYfan said:

Maybe not the appropriate place but can someone explain the "false start"/"Offside" controversy from the first half.   I don't listen to the audio during Bills games.  How was that explained away by the official?

 

Titans DT jumps just offside but doesn't make any contact.

Bills C goes to tap him on the head to create contact and active the penalty.

Titan DT was barely offside and then jumped back onside immediately.

By the time the Bills C touched his helmet the Titans DT was just barely back on his own side of the LOS.

Since he was no longer in the neutral zone, the penalty goes to Buffalo for movement/initiating contact.

 

 

[CNYfan]

5 minutes ago, Mr. WEO said:

You left out how great it was seeing OJ in town...

I would put a laugh emoji on this, but it really isn't funny.

[Let's Go Buffalo]

Well done on the RockPile Review as always! Thanks for sharing.....I wish I would've been there. 

[CNYfan]

1 minute ago, Simon said:

 

Titans DT jumps just offside.

Bills C goes to tap him on the head to active the penalty.

Titan DT was barely off and tehn jumped back onside immediately.

By the time the Bills C touched his helmet the Titans DT was just barely back on his own side of the LOS.

Since he was no longer in the neutral zone, the penalty goes to Buffalo for movement/initiating contact.

 

 

Thank you very much.  I didn't realize the touch had to occur while the D was over the line of encroachment.

[Warcodered]

At the beginning of the game I thought they were going to shake the stadium to the ground with how loud it seemed.

[Franco_92]

3 minutes ago, Simon said:

 

Titans DT jumps just offside but doesn't make any contact.

Bills C goes to tap him on the head to create contact and active the penalty.

Titan DT was barely offside and then jumped back onside immediately.

By the time the Bills C touched his helmet the Titans DT was just barely back on his own side of the LOS.

Since he was no longer in the neutral zone, the penalty goes to Buffalo for movement/initiating contact.

 

 

I figured, and grudgingly believed, this to be the case from the stands last night. But then I saw the reverse happen - a Bill jumped offside, and it looked like he got back in plenty of time but was still called, was that one also legit? 

[Simon]

2 minutes ago, arcane said:

I figured, and grudgingly believed, this to be the case from the stands last night. But then I saw the reverse happen - a Bill jumped offside, and it looked like he got back in plenty of time but was still called, was that one also legit? 

 

Yeah, that was almost exactly a reverse image of the earlier one that was called on the offense.

I thought stripes might call it that way again to keep things square, but I think in the 2nd case, the Bills DT (was it Phillips again?) was .1 second slower getting back onside and got tapped on the hat when he was still just barely in the neutral zone.

It was finer than frog hair, but I thought they actually got both calls right.

[Bob in STL]

Another great Rockpile Review by Shaw. 

[smuvtalker]

Thank you as always for your excellent write-up Shaw.  Reading it really made me feel like I was right there enjoying the festivities and atmosphere with everyone else.  

 

Man I would've lost it when Marv took the mic and asked everyone "Where would you rather be, then right here, right now?". 

 

I say this with unbridled arrogance, certaincy, this is going to be one of, if not THE most magical year in the history of the Buffalo Bills.  I say this not as a fanboy, or some fan lacking football knowledge just making outrageous, thoughtless predictions for the heck of it, but in my humble opinion, the only team that can stop the Buffalo Bills, is the Buffalo Bills.  Four starters out pregame(Oliver, Settle, White, and Davis), during the course of the game we lose four MORE starters(Phillips might as well be considered one), our offense was a bit out of sync in that first half particularly, yet we STILL ABSOLUTELY EVISCERATED the Titans!  Missing two of our D tackles and then a third goes out, and we STILL hold Henry to 25 yards on 13 carries.  Like for real?  

 

I can only imagine how that stadium was rockin last night.  Thanks again for the awesome write-up friend.

[The Firebaugh Kid]

It actually did hurt my ears, first time can remember that in 30 years of attending games. Absolutely electric

[Just Jack]

1 hour ago, Shaw66 said:

Bruce Smith, wearing his number 78 jersey, came on the field with survivors and relatives of victims of the May 14th attack at Tops Market in Buffalo.  He spoke beautifully, with power and emotion, with love and compassion.  He thanked all who have responded.  He challenged all of us to continue to love and support the survivors and our community.  He celebrated Buffalo and its future.  An excellent “Choose Love” video ran on the video screens.

 

 

Umm... what?  He was wearing a Choose Love shirt.  Here's the whole speech.

 

 

[ganesh]

32 minutes ago, smuvtalker said:

Thank you as always for your excellent write-up Shaw.  Reading it really made me feel like I was right there enjoying the festivities and atmosphere with everyone else.  

 

Man I would've lost it when Marv took the mic and asked everyone "Where would you rather be, then right here, right now?". 

 

I say this with unbridled arrogance, certaincy, this is going to be one of, if not THE most magical year in the history of the Buffalo Bills.  I say this not as a fanboy, or some fan lacking football knowledge just making outrageous, thoughtless predictions for the heck of it, but in my humble opinion, the only team that can stop the Buffalo Bills, is the Buffalo Bills.  Four starters out pregame(Oliver, Settle, White, and Davis), during the course of the game we lose four MORE starters(Phillips might as well be considered one), our offense was a bit out of sync in that first half particularly, yet we STILL ABSOLUTELY EVISCERATED the Titans!  Missing two of our D tackles and then a third goes out, and we STILL hold Henry to 25 yards on 13 carries.  Like for real?  

 

I can only imagine how that stadium was rockin last night.  Thanks again for the awesome write-up friend.

Last year, we beat up on bad teams and then lost to good (Colts)  and playoff (Titans, Steelers, Tampa Bay, New England)  bound teams.  

This year we have beat up the crap on the defending SB champions in their own stadium and then knocked the Titans out of the ballpark at Highmark stadium.   Can they keep up the momentum with the suddenly resurgent Dolphins,  how the hell I gave up my21-point lead Ravens,   the suddenly OC-finger pointing Steelers and our annual rivalry against the Chiefs....This is a dream season indeed.

[LeviF]

3 minutes ago, Just Jack said:

 

Umm... what?  He was wearing a Choose Love shirt.  Here's the whole speech.

 

 

The 66 is for number of beers at the tailgate. 

[SoCal Deek]

43 minutes ago, arcane said:

I figured, and grudgingly believed, this to be the case from the stands last night. But then I saw the reverse happen - a Bill jumped offside, and it looked like he got back in plenty of time but was still called, was that one also legit? 

The distinction is that the Bills Center reached out and purposefully touched the Titan D Lineman. When you do that, the penalty is on the offense. Simple! It was the correct call. 

Hey Shaw were you also distracted by the stupid Eagles game from inside the stadium? 😉