For the second straight week, the Buffalo Bills received permission to have a limited number of fans for their home playoff game.
On Monday, the Bills announced that New York State Governor Andrew Cuomo will allow “approximately 6,700 fans” for their Saturday home game against the Baltimore Ravens at Bills Stadium.
Fans who wish to attend the game will have to test negative for COVID-19. Tailgating is still barred, and contact tracing will be done following the game.
The Bills announced soon after that tickets for Saturday’s game have already sold out.
Buffalo had 6,700 fans in attendance for Saturday’s thrilling 27-24 Wild Card Round win against the Indianapolis Colts. It marked the Bills’ first playoff win since the 1995 season.
The Bills didn’t have any fans at their 2020 regular season home games. This was also the case for New York’s two other NFL teams, the New York Giants and New York Jets – who play at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey.
Saturday’s game will mark the first ever playoff meeting between the Ravens and the Bills. Buffalo has only made the postseason twice in the 21st century, qualifying in 2017, 2019 and 2020.
Aside from winning their first playoff game in 25 years, 2020 also marked the Bills’ first division-winning season since 1995. The 13-3 record also marked the franchise’s best since 1991, when they went 13-3 under Jim Kelly and head coach Marv Levy.
A win against Baltimore on Sunday would send the Bills to their first AFC Championship appearance since 1993. That year, the Bills defeated the Kansas City Chiefs, but they fell 30-13 to the Dallas Cowboys in Super Bowl XXVIII.
GM Brandon Beane and head coach Sean McDermott have pieced together a championship-caliber roster here. This is the franchise’s best season in nearly three decades, and they’re oh-so-close to reaching the AFC Championship Game.
The Bills will have 6,700 passionate and loyal fans to accompany their home field advantage. Only time will tell if they make the most of it.
NEXT: David Schwimmer Thinks Ross & Rachel Were On A Break
Source: Read Full Article
