Reflecting on the 2014 Bills Packers Game & How Far We Have Come

[corta765]

With Sundays game approaching against the Pack and the first home game vs GB since 2014 it brought me back to that Sunday 8 years ago, what it is like as I attended, and how far we have come since then:

 

The 2014 season was a wild and I mean wild year. Ralph died, Jim got cancer, Andre went to the Hall, Jim beat cancer, and the Pegula's became the front runners and eventual new owners basically all before the season started. The team itself lost Kiko for the season due to his knee, added Sammy, and there was some optimism for a better season as the defense had shown some teeth the year prior and EJ had flashed some potential. 

Well fast forward to the GB game the Bills were "in the hunt" although in a better way then normal at 7-6 with a great defense and better then normal outside chance to get the wild card. The offense has transitioned as EJ failed out for Kyle Orton who sometimes could do some things in the passing game. The running game wasn't great as Spiller was out for the year at this point so it fell on Freddie who was injuried at times and Bryce Brown. On the flipside this was probably the second best Packers team over the last decade (2011 15-1 tops) as they were leading the league in scoring as Rodgers won MVP and was loaded in skill players. The defense was stout enough and Micah Hyde had 221 yds in punt return yards (MICAH!). The Bills actually limited Peyton Manning's Broncos the week prior to just 24 pts the week prior, but I distinctly remembered heading into that week that no one gave Buffalo much of a chance. Additionally Buffalo had not played meaningful late season game since 2007 against CLE so it was a foreign feeling to have any emotion in a game this late in the year let alone maybe have a playoff shot. For us drought kids (34 now) this was like the first real time as an adult to have a Bills team be remotely competitive so it meant something regardless of how small that something was. Still it was kind of like hopefully Buffalo is competitive and will see Rodgers at the height of his powers which is neat.

 

I went to the game and we sat section 223 I believe. It was the first time I ever felt at the stadium that energy people talk of when something cool or good maybe happens. My father said during the 80s and 90s when the team started to rise and was good you could tell it had a different feel in the crowd. By this point I had been to enough games to understand the difference and my brother in law who saw the 34-31 upset of the Pats in 2011 said it felt like that day. For a wintery type day the weather actually wasn't too bad. The game itself felt like something out of a movie as things started going Buffalo's way forcing GB to punt and then holding the Packers to a FG. You could tell the crowd really started to buy in that this could be a day on Marcus Thigpens 75 yd punt return and the place was bedlam when that happened. The second half went Buffalo's way as Rodgers got picked twice by Bacarri Rambo with the second INT killing a 12 play Packer drive that was going to at least put the Pack within 3 or allow them a 1pt lead. Instead Buffalo then scored a FG to go up 19-10 and put the screws to GB mid 4th quarter. One thing that is not talked about enough despite how well the Bills D played it the Jordy Nelson dropped deep pass. On the drive which Rambo got his second INT Rodgers found Jordy Nelson deep dead to rights which probably would've been a TD... but he dropped the ball. If ever there was a sign things were going Buffalo's way that was it. Still as Bills fans how many times during that past decade and half had we lost in games to good teams late despite everything seemingly go our way. I think that is why on the final Packer possession it was so loud and out of control until the fumble/safety finally happened to ice the game. At the time that was loudest I can remember the stadium when Mario Williams force fumbled Rodgers to clinch the win. Also Mario Williams was a beast all day, in general I consider him more of a success and have good thoughts then bad. You could feel the relief exude in the stadium that the upset had been pulled and the parking lot after had more people stay to celebrate then I could remember in my time going.

 

Of course the Bills flopped the following week to kill their playoff dreams, but it was a fun season compared to the prior 10 years. Looking back on how everything has changed to now it is really wild. The Bills offense was honesty not very good then and didn't deserve to win, yet now we run a juggernaut and have a god at QB. I don't take that for granted. The hype and excitement leading to that game/annoyance we were not primetime has given way to regularly being in the national spot light and the hype just always being at mach 5. If you told most fans in the stadium that day where things would stand this coming Sunday jaws would drop for all of these things. The fact Rodgers never made it back to SB also is pretty wild as watching him at that point the guy was so damn good.

 

That game to me though has always been the demarcation point of the Bills finally emerging from the wilderness in the national landscape. Subsequent years the team gained attention prominently Rex/Shady etc.., broke the drought in 2017, and then all the good stuff since Josh came. But for me that was the first snowball that helped to slowly create the massive run roiling today and was a really cool moment in time.

[The Firebaugh Kid]

Dude you are likely hanging on my living room wall. We bought a huge 5 piece canvas art wall hanging of the stadium for our living room wall (my wife rules), and when you look closely you can see it was the GB game from 2014. 

Edited October 28, 2022 by The Firebaugh Kid

[corta765]

3 minutes ago, The Firebaugh Kid said:

Dude you are likely hanging on my living room wall. We bought a huge 5 piece canvas art wall hanging of the stadium for our living room wall (my wife rules), and when you look closely you can see it was the GB game form 2014. 

 

That's amazing. Ironically I actually have a picture of the stadium autographed by the entire 2014 Bills squad I got that day which is also hanging somewhere in my house.

[SoCal Deek]

Remember it well. I was at a wedding in Waikiki. Watched the game at 7:00am in a bar with the entire groomsmen party…. and the minister!  We had a blast. The entire place was high fiving us and comped our breakfast. Nice! 

[The Firebaugh Kid]

Here it is: https://brightroomy.com/buffalo-bills-country-stadium-sport-5-panel-canvas-art-wall-decor/?gclid=Cj0KCQjw--2aBhD5ARIsALiRlwB-jP1SLpeKBBffauB8SOzpeWx4OYWZQCurRjifwdc29goeQEbjkNwaAoCnEALw_wcB

 

 

[corta765]

Just now, The Firebaugh Kid said:

Here it is: https://brightroomy.com/buffalo-bills-country-stadium-sport-5-panel-canvas-art-wall-decor/?gclid=Cj0KCQjw--2aBhD5ARIsALiRlwB-jP1SLpeKBBffauB8SOzpeWx4OYWZQCurRjifwdc29goeQEbjkNwaAoCnEALw_wcB

 

 

That is actually really awesome

[Robert Paulson]

How far we have come from the debacle in Green Bay 4 years ago. Josh's worst game.

 

Packers fans all mocking how we chose the wrong Josh. I can't wait till we are back in Lambeau in 4 years. I'll be in the same seats asking who the wrong Josh is at the top of my lungs!

[Nextmanup]

11 minutes ago, The Firebaugh Kid said:

Dude you are likely hanging on my living room wall. We bought a huge 5 piece canvas art wall hanging of the stadium for our living room wall (my wife rules), and when you look closely you can see it was the GB game from 2014. 

Is this it?  If not, give us a pic!  I'd like to see the thing.

 

LOL...we were crossing posts.  So that IS IT!  Pretty cool.

 

 

[MJS]

Yeah, that was a fun game. So much optimism for that team, and then Rex came in and destroyed everything.

 

But it all worked out, in the end. Things happened a certain way that allowed McDermott to come in and change everything. Now, the Bills are the class of the NFL. The team is in good hands with a good coach, a good GM, and a top 3 QB. And our success is literally the blueprint many other teams are trying to follow now.

 

I just wonder how many hall of farmers we will be adding when this era is over...

[DC Greg]

The high water mark of the Marrone era! Great recap of that game. It was an amazing win, and Mario was unstoppable. He was a great Bill and should be remembered fondly!

[Buffalo Boy]

   My memory is of Schwartz being lifted and carried by his defense afterwards.( edit : wrong game, Detroit game, old man memory😜) Then, there being posters on here who were pissed at him because he allowed it to happen. Also, talk about him taking Doug Moron’s job the following year.

    The other memory is Bacari Rambo ( What an unforgettable name) picking off Roger’s to seal the deal.

    Thank goodness we are where we are now! Couldn’t stand Orton or Hackett.

Edited October 28, 2022 by Buffalo Boy

[corta765]

2 minutes ago, Buffalo Boy said:

   My memory is of Schwartz being lifted and carried by his defense afterwards. Then, there being posters on here who were pissed at him because he allowed it to happen. Also, talk about him taking Doug Moron’s job the following year.

    The other memory is Bacari Rambo ( What an unforgettable name) picking off Roger’s to seal the deal.

    Thank goodness we are where we are now! Couldn’t stand Orton or Hackett.

 

Ortons slide the week prior a yard short of the 1st down line almost made me break my TV. Thankfully Josh just runs through people now.

[rusty shackleford]

I remember that game well. I had seasons at the time and had for years. My then girlfriend, now wife wanted to come with me to a few games  that season after we started dating a few weeks into the season. We bought tickets on stub hub for practically nothing for this one so we could sit together and I just gave my season seat to a friend in the group I would normally sit with. Its funny to think how far we have come since then with ticket demand and prices in just a few years.

Edited October 28, 2022 by rusty shackleford

[TPS]

A childhood friend, a Packer fan, came out for the weekend and the game.  It was a great weekend, not so much for him in the end.

I looked into tickets this year, and what a difference.  We probably paid $75 per ticket in 2014, and I couldn't find much for under $400 this year.

[corta765]

5 minutes ago, TPS said:

A childhood friend, a Packer fan, came out for the weekend and the game.  It was a great weekend, not so much for him in the end.

I looked into tickets this year, and what a difference.  We probably paid $75 per ticket in 2014, and I couldn't find much for under $400 this year.

 

Looking back on the ticket cost its wild the difference now. I think we paid $75 a ticket too.

[SageAgainstTheMachine]

1 hour ago, corta765 said:

 

Ortons slide the week prior a yard short of the 1st down line almost made me break my TV. Thankfully Josh just runs through people now.

 

Being another drought kid, that slide is one of my least favorite Bills memories.  There were things that Orton did as a passer that made us somewhat more competitive than with other QBs of that era but that one moment makes him a pariah to me.

[damj]

What a great game, especially watching it from free box seats

[Robert Paulson]

3 hours ago, Buffalo Boy said:

   My memory is of Schwartz being lifted and carried by his defense afterwards. Then, there being posters on here who were pissed at him because he allowed it to happen. Also, talk about him taking Doug Moron’s job the following year.

    The other memory is Bacari Rambo ( What an unforgettable name) picking off Roger’s to seal the deal.

    Thank goodness we are where we are now! Couldn’t stand Orton or Hackett.

wasn't that at Detroit?

 

[Buffalo Boy]

56 minutes ago, Robert Paulson said:

wasn't that at Detroit?

 

You are right…..memory🤷‍♂️

[BillsPride12]

I was just talking about that game with a co-worker of mine this week in the context of look how far we've come by comparing how back then that was considered a BIG game for the Bills.  At the time probably one of the biggest wins since the last time they were in the playoffs.  Now winning a game like that is just the expectation and a BIG game for these current Bills would be AFC Championships and playing in the Super Bowl.  It's amazing how far along this organization has come.