The Bills Say Farewell to Highmark Stadium
BY GREGORY BROWN
Bills vs Jets final game in the Highmark Stadium. Photo by Jerome Davis.
The long, grueling 17-game NFL schedule has finally reached its climax and now the real fun begins. After bidding a sad farewell to 53-year old Highmark Stadium; AKA: Rich Stadium; AKA: Ralph Wilson Stadium (The Ralph); AKA: New Era Field; AKA: Bills Stadium, the Buffalo Bills now hope to say hello to Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, CA, for Super Bowl LX.
In a pretty much meaningless game, the Bills improved their overall record to 12 – 5, after pummeling the hapless New York Jets 35 - 8. The win leaves Buffalo as the 6-seed, which will have them facing the 3-seed, Jacksonville Jaguars at EverBank Stadium in Jacksonville.
Sunday’s victory over the Jets was about as good as it gets, as the Bills got to close out their five decades long reign at Highmark on a winning note. It was a nostalgia fest all around, as the Bills ended play at the stadium with a win over the Jets, just as they began it, which was also a win over the Jets.
The other highlight of this game was James Cook becoming the first Buffalo Bill to win the league rushing title since the great O. J. Simpson did it some 50-years ago. As a side note, it will be interesting to see whether OJ’s now infamous name will remain on the Wall of Fame at the new Highmark Stadium. Since OJ’s legendary exploits on the field is what got his name on the Wall in the first place, I’m betting that it will be carried over to the new stadium. However, that is certainly not a guarantee, as many fans and pundits had clamored for its removal after OJ’s controversial acquittal in the 1995 “Trial of the Century.”
But, on to the Jaguars, where the Bills will take on a rejuvenated Trevor Lawrence. Fans will recall that Lawrence was the first overall selection in the 2021 NFL draft. At the time, there was little doubt that Lawrence was destined to become the next best thing since sliced bread. At the start of his career, Lawrence seemed poised to make good on his tremendous promise. However, after leading the Jags to the playoffs in his second season, Lawrence regressed badly.
After that initial playoff appearance, Lawrence’s play on the field was spotty at best. last year’s 2024 campaign was simply a disaster and serious questions about his future in the NFL began to emerge. It appeared that Lawrence’s confidence had been shattered and the optimistic belief that he was a star-in-waiting had been completely debunked.
However, after a post season head coaching change from Doug Peterson to Liam Coen, the former Offensive Coordinator for Tampa Bay, both Jacksonville and Lawrence have had a rebirth. The Jags rebounded from a 2024 season record of 4 - 13 to an AFC South Division best 13 – 4 under Coen. Few teams in NFL history have accomplished as dramatic a turnaround as the Jags did from one season to the next.
There is no question, of course, that the Bills will have their hands full as they face Jacksonville on the road. However, the Bills are probably the most playoff seasoned team in the AFC, following their sixth consecutive playoff appearance. That will be a huge advantage in this game.
Although Jacksonville will not go down easily, I look for the Bills to prevail. While I don’t expect the Bills to completely stop Lawrence and the Jags offense, I do expect Josh Allen to be at his very best, as he usually is in the playoffs. I also expect James Cook to heat up the kitchen and be the perfect complement to Allen, just as he has been all season long.
The Buffalo defense has been much better down the stretch, especially in the second half. The rest that many of the defensive starters got against the Jets in the season finale, will make the team as healthy as can be expected at this time of year. If the injured Maxwell Hairston is able to play, along with safety, Jordan Poyer, the Bills should match up well against Jacksonville in the passing game.
Hold on to your hats, Bills Mafia, and let the playoffs begin.