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Week 3 of the 2025 season. Consecutive recreation quantity 85. And never simply any recreation, a back-to-back divisional matchup underneath the lights in Orchard Park, NY, the place the Payments prolonged their very own streak: 13 straight regular-season residence wins at Highmark Stadium.
Thursday night time video games are their very own animal. Usually, I say recreation day begins the second I get up, however this one felt totally different. I flew into Buffalo late Wednesday night time, near midnight, and Thursday began much less like recreation day and extra like another workday. Espresso, laptop computer, resort Wi-Fi, clocking in early, getting issues achieved. However by 3 p.m., I logged off, shut the laptop computer, and was pulling into the stadium lot by 4.
From there, it felt like recreation day for actual. Mafia is aware of my carpool accomplice properly: “Torpedo Dan.” And should you don’t, you’ll always remember him when you do. American flag speedo, each single recreation, irrespective of the climate. Strolling with him is like strolling with a celeb, it takes 3 times as lengthy to get wherever as a result of everyone needs a photograph. Begrudgingly, I’ve grow to be his hype lady. However truthfully, he handles all of it with a lot humor and style that you may’t assist however adore it. The shock on folks’s faces the primary time they spot him units the right tone for an evening of tailgating.
And the tailgates didn’t disappoint. I acquired to lastly meet a number of associates from Twitter (or “X”) in particular person, Tiffany with the contagious smile, and a husband-and-wife duo I’ve recognized on-line for years. These are the sorts of moments I like most: turning on-line connections into actual life Payments Mafia friendships. I made my normal rounds too; Mama J, Pinto Ron, and a few of my favourite folks like Del Reid, Jack Shaft, Celeste, and Heather. The climate was good — not as soon as did I really feel chilly, which says loads for this transformed South Florida woman. You continue to can’t take Buffalo out of me although.
As for the sport itself? The Payments took care of enterprise in opposition to Miami, securing a 10-point win. It wasn’t fairly in all three phases, and you may really feel the sense that Mafia is perhaps a bit spoiled nowadays, we anticipate clear, dominant wins each time. However a divisional win underneath the lights at residence? You’re taking these each time you will get them.
Recreation 85 is within the books, however the journey continues for me. The Payments keep residence in Orchard Park for Week 4, internet hosting their first NFC opponent of the season, the New Orleans Saints. A Sunday afternoon kickoff at 1 p.m. on September 28. I’ll be there, able to soak in one other chapter of this streak, surrounded by framily, associates, and the Mafia.
