The Buffalo Bills are always around when history is made

The NFL is the Buffalo Bills’ world and we’re all simply residing in it.

The Kansas City Chiefs, Joe Brrrr..Bengals and the Philadelphia Eagles dominate the discourse, however Buffalo is the Forrest Gump of NFL franchises. Not within the sense that sometime a generic main man will depict Josh Allen in an eponymous biopic. No, the Bills are the Forrest Gump whose fictional exploits lead him to affect pivotal occasions of the Sixties, ‘70s and ‘80s.

There are 32 teams, but the Bills are the most unintentionally influential team of modern times. From the passenger seat, they’ve altered the arc of latest history with out really doing something extraordinary. An assortment in your viewing pleasure:

Run, Aaron, Run!

For occasion, Monday marks one week since Aaron Rodgers ruptured his achilles on Monday Night Football and the reverberations haven’t been absolutely fleshed out but. However, few individuals exterior of upstate New Yorkers will keep in mind Leonard Floyd because the Bills exterior linebacker who sacked Aaron Rodgers on the Jets’ fateful fourth play from scrimmage. At so many nexus factors in latest NFL history, Buffalo has been within the peripherals of the body. It’s too early to foretell how shortly Rodgers’ damage will create a butterfly impact, however based mostly on Sunday’s outcome, it’s painfully apparent that finally, the Jets will desperately attain for an above common quarterback placeholder who may give them a preventing likelihood this season, and extra importantly within the postseason.

Overtime is like a field of sweets

In January of 2022, the Bills participated in one of the electrifying fourth-quarter offensive back-and-forths in NFL playoff annals in the course of the remaining seconds of their Divisional Round matchup in opposition to Kansas City. Ultimately, Travis Kelce’s extra time landing catch prompted an overhaul of playoff extra time guidelines in favor of ones that will have given the Bills an opportunity to match Kansas City’s offensive rating.

Tua’s concussions modified the sport — that’s all I’ve to say about that

In Week 3 of the 2022 season, Tua Tagovailloa’s head bounced off the turf main him to wobble off the sphere. Tagovailoa attributed his stumble to the sideline on his again. Days later, on Thursday Night Football Tagovailoa’s head dribbled off the turf a second time, inflicting him to involuntarily tense up right into a fencing response, which led to enhanced concussion protocols. That’s not fairly as glamorous as educating Elvis to bop, however the chain response of occasions Buffalo set in movement is important sufficient.

Some individuals don’t assume miracles occur. Well, they do

It doesn’t take six levels to establish the roles Buffalo’s trainers performed in saving Bills security Damar Hamlin’s life as he sprawled out immobile on the sphere. Hamlin collapsing and the quarter-hour when medics carried out life-saving medical procedures to resuscitate him was probably the most traumatic NFL expertise on nationwide tv since Lawrence Taylor by chance snapped Joe Theismann’s tibia and fibula on November 18, 1985.

The final time the collective NFL world watched with bated breath whereas somebody’s mortality swung within the stability was 16 years earlier when Bills tight finish Kevin Everett‘s life was saved on the field. After Hamlin was released from a lengthy hospital stay, the status of his health became fodder for some of the most unhinged corners of the internet–aka the App Formerly Known as Twitter.

You’ve received to place the previous behind you earlier than you may transfer on

In a extra trivial improvement, the Minnesota Vikings shattered Buffalo’s practically 30-year-old file for the biggest comeback in NFL history throughout Week 15 in opposition to Indianapolis. But that pales compared to how the ills sale impacted the world stage.

I’m not a wise man, however I do know what a grifter is

About a 12 months earlier than he launched his presidential marketing campaign, Donald Trump’s bid to buy the Buffalo Bills blew up as a consequence of his falsified monetary data. Had Trump been authorised to buy the Bills, there’s an actual risk his corruption may have been contained to the NFL. The world’s axis might have swung on the NFL’s resolution to promote the franchise to Terry Pegula as a substitute of a high-profile grifting billionaire. If we had entry to a time machine, it could be the best trolley downside involving such a high-stakes dilemma this aspect of the twenty first century. Sacrificing the Bills to serve the larger good could be a simple selection. The arc of the universe is lengthy and it bends in direction of jest.

We’re all simply floating around accidental-like on a breeze

When the Buffalo Bills make a soccer play or a soccer personnel resolution, a hurricane types within the Atlantic. Even a textual content message from Bill Belichick meant for Bills offensive coordinator Brian Daboll modifications how the complete league does enterprise.

Three days earlier than Brian Flores’ interview for the New York Giants head teaching job, Bill Belichick congratulated him for his impending announcement as the subsequent Big blue head coach in a textual content that learn, “I hear from Buffalo & NYG that you are the guy.” Moments later, Belichick realized properties texted the unsuitable Brian and awkwardly texted again, “Sorry – I fucked this up. I double checked and misread the text. I think they are naming Brian Daboll. I’m sorry about that. BB.”

It doesn’t matter if Belichick was being Machiavellian by throwing the Giants below the bus and by chance ensnaring the Miami Dolphins. Belichick’s unintended textual content to Flores as a substitute of the Bills’ Daboll is the opening paragraph within the former’s class-action discrimination lawsuit in opposition to the NFL. The Dolphins even misplaced a first-round choose because of the investigation that sprouted from Flores accusing Dolphins proprietor Stephen Ross of asking him to recruit Tom Brady, whereas he was nonetheless below contract with Tampa Bay.

Stupid is as silly does

Former NFL Network reporter Jim Trotter’s lawsuit options excerpts of damning feedback allegedly made by Dallas Cowboys proprietor Jerry Jones and Pegula.

For higher or for worse, the Buffalo Bills are movers and shakers. They might not begin it, however Buffalo is always in the course of one thing.

Follow DJ Dunson on X: @cerebralsportex