Drink it up, Buffalo
Rowdy time back with ‘MNF’
Ah, Patriots fans. Remember the good old days of Schaefer/Foxboro Stadium on a “Monday Night Football” game? Tailgating to drunkenness; charcoal stains smearing greasy clothes, and skin, too; urination everywhere! There was a certain camaraderie, a bonding, among friends, foes, security guards and police.
And that was before you got into the stadium for the game. Then the fun really began. So much so that the Patriots were banned by the NFL from nighttime football in Foxboro for almost 20 years because of fan misbehavior, so they say (details excluded). And on this NFL weekend, and for the first time since 2008, fans in Buffalo will watch their team play your team on the game’s most cherished time slot — “Monday Night Football.” And those Bills fans will be riled up indeed for Tommy Boy’s boys, a team fans hate much more than those nasty rumors that one day Toronto will own their Bills. Now, whether Bills fans will resort to the rowdy shenanigans in Foxboro (so they say) that led to no more night football for some time, who knows? Buffalo does have 10 years of pent-up emotions ready to be unleashed here and also 18 years of watching Brady and the Patriots beat the crap out of ’em, too. And a Pats decision on playing Rob Gronkowski pending, remember how PO’d Buffalo got last season when Gronk body-slammed that teeny-weeny defensive back like in a worldwide wrestling match. And wasn’t it in Buffalo just a few years back when one of those fans threw “unborn remains” at the Patriots? And that was on a Sunday afternoon! Oh well, Bills fans, enjoy your return to “Monday Night Football” just as you enjoyed your return to the playoffs last year for the first time in 20 years. (That streak is over.) Act up, but not too much. And how to avoid another 10 years away from a Monday night date? Get yourself a quarterback! Might at night: Patriots at Buffalo (-13½ )— If the somewhat wretched Patriots defense can’t stop this offense, then all hope is lost for any Super dreams. Pats, 37-20. End of the line: Philadelphia (-3) vs. Jacksonville — There’s been more spit and fire in their locker rooms than these teams have shown on the field. And the Jags’ Super Bowl Express takes another hit. Eagles, 2014. Cleveland at Pittsburgh (-8) — All Browns players are required to wear ties, then will tie one around Steeler necks while hoping for a tie score in a fifth overtime game of their season. Steelers, 23-20. Denver at Kansas City (-10) — So KC can score. And score. And score. And score. And then some more. Chiefs, 37-16. NY Jets at Chicago (-7½ )— Jets rookie QB Sam Darnold shows Mitch Trubisky how to throw a pass. Trubisky says I’ll be running anyway. Bears, 24-21. Washington at NY Giants (-1) — What a pathetic team the Giants have become. They’ll be heading to group therapy soon with the Eagles and Jaguars. Redskins, 30-24. Seattle at Detroit (-2½ )— All positives happening with the Lions leads to one conclusion: Kerplunk! Seahawks, 27-23. Tampa Bay at Cincinnati (-4) — These teams are twin brothers. Act the same, talk the same, look the same, lose the same. Buccaneers, 32-27. Baltimore (-2) at Carolina — Ravens and Panthers. Contenders again? Guess so. Panthers, 19-16. Indianapolis (-3) at Oakland — First, Kahlil Mack traded. Now, Amari Cooper. The Raiders aren’t just leaving town, they’re abandoning it. Colts, 15-11. San Francisco at Arizona (pick) — Cancel this mess. Cardinals, 18-13. Green Bay at LA Rams (-9 ½ ) — Rodgers vs. Goff. This should be a shootout, except for one thing, the Rams can play defense. Rams, 33-14. New Orleans at Minnesota (-1) — Enough already, Drew Brees. You can’t set any more records for a while. Vikings, 30-26. Last week: 8-6-0. Season: 43-56-6.