Bills Broncos Wildcard game remind anyone else of a certain 96’ wildcard?

[eball]

Strong BBFS from the OP.  That was a declining Bills team with an over-the-hill Jim Kelly.  These two games have nothing in common.

 

[YoloinOhio]

Pats 2021

[BillsPride12]

13 minutes ago, Livinginthepast said:

Kelly was done at that point. The only reason we still had confidence in the team was that even an almost washed Jim Kelly was still superior to most Qbs in the league at that point. But in retrospect, all the signs were there. This was the only Bills playoff game I have ever been to. My friends I was with were enjoying copious beverages in the pregame but I had to take it easy being the driver. I do remember the sickening realization when Kelly was injured and fumbled (which was not a fumble) that they were going to lose. TBH they had this game and all the momentum and couldn't close it out.  It was a terrible drive home in silence after that game!

Fun story:  This was the season I went to my first Bills game earlier in the year when we played Washington, awesome game and big Bills win. Darrick Holmes ran wild that day.  It was me, my childhood best friend and our Dads.  So Christmas rolls around and my best friend got tickets to the Jags playoff game and as kids at that age do of course he bragged about how amazing the atmosphere was at that game and how much more intense it was than the game we went to.  From that point on I could not wait to go to a Bills home playoff game.  Little did I know back then it would take 25 years for that to happen(Patriots wild card 2021).  The perfect game and the absolute ass kicking we gave New England that night made it worth the wait.  Incredible 

[Another Fan]

The 96 Jaguars wild card I say might be the saddest Buffalo Bills game ever.  
 

There’s some similarity in that I don’t think the Broncs should be taken lightly but that’s all.  

[NoSaint]

To be honest im not sure why one would look back 30 years for insights on this game 

[Livinginthepast]

23 minutes ago, NoSaint said:

To be honest im not sure why one would look back 30 years for insights on this game 

I think a lot of long time Bills fans (me included), carry a fair bit of emotional baggage. Winning a SB would exorcise it!

[Kelly to Allen]

No. Brunell was in his 4th year. And they had maybe the greatest Lt of all time and two incredible wrs in their prime. 

 

That bills team was good but at the end of their prime. 

 

This is more like the 1996 Packers in the wildcard round vs the Jake Plummer Cardinals. 

[BRH]

If we still had Frank Reich, we probably still would have won that game, Natrone Means notwithstanding. Once Collins had to come in, any chance we had evaporated.  As done as that team was after seven years of mostly deep playoff runs, we still only lost 30-27.  

[SoonerBillsFan]

18 hours ago, Gregg said:

No. Kelly and company were getting older and starting to decline. This Bills team is not that and Allen is going into his prime.

That was Kelly's last game.

[ganesh]

6 hours ago, Another Fan said:

The 96 Jaguars wild card I say might be the saddest Buffalo Bills game ever.  
 

There’s some similarity in that I don’t think the Broncs should be taken lightly but that’s all.  

Not the one in 2017 to end the drought?   

[Riverboat Ritchie]

22 hours ago, dave mcbride said:

Kelly wasn't starting to decline -- he was DONE. He could barely move and had lost his arm strength.

I’m was at game. I’m pretty sure it was his last game and he got knocked out. I was near tunnel and remember the blank look on his face as they carted him off. Still gives me nightmares. 

[DBilz2500]

8 hours ago, eball said:

Strong BBFS from the OP.  That was a declining Bills team with an over-the-hill Jim Kelly.  These two games have nothing in common.

 

Thank you for your expert perfect analysis 🙄

[djp14150]

On 1/6/2025 at 3:34 PM, DBilz2500 said:

Does this wildcard game vs Denver remind anyone else of that 1996 game vs Jacksonville? Vet coach with a young QB, upstart team playing with nothing to lose, big home favorite with all the pressure on them? Maybe it’s my Bills paranoia setting in but I just can’t shake the feeling. 

I was at that game you reference. Bills were not #2 seed

[Billsfanatic8989]

It appears that team was old and no longer the best team in the division. Let alone being SB contenders. 

 

This team isn't old and on their last legs. And they will still be the favorites in the division going forward.

[eball]

7 hours ago, DBilz2500 said:

Thank you for your expert perfect analysis 🙄

Just calling it like I see it. I have no idea what in the world you see as a similarity between these two situations other than just being a sad sack Bills fan looking for reasons to torture yourself. 
 

[gobills404]

Elite defense

Long time vet HC

Good OL

Rookie QB that has exceeded expectations

Lack of talent at skill positions

 

Kinda reminds me of this game

 

[The Firebaugh Kid]

Talk to me at 4 PM on Sunday. It’s normal to be nervous but that Jacksonville team was way different