Trainwreck Sports 
Jeffrey T. Barnes | Credit: AP
BY: DANFORD
A few head coaches ago, Bills Mafia was known for two things – breaking tables and forcing hard counts.
Now, the best fanbase in the world can add a third association to its claims for fame: philanthropic dominance.
Bills Mafia regained the reigns of national attention as the Buffalo Bills defeated the Baltimore Ravens 17 – 3 in the Division Round of the NFL Playoffs. After an amazing display of football from both teams for three quarters, the game took a turn for the worse when Ravens QB and last year’s NFL MVP Lamar Jackson exited the game with a concussion. Without their best player, the Raven’s offense stagnated for the remainder of the game, unable to surmount an attack against an already elite Buffalo defense.
While Bills fans were certainly excited to be returning to the AFC Championship for the first time in 26 years (see below), the feeling was bittersweet. It’s great to win, but to do so because a great player like Jackson left the game prematurely doesn’t sit right with them. They know the pain of losing players in big games. They know the pain of playoff losses. Put those two together, and you’ve got a lot of empathy built up for Lamar Jackson and his Ravens. That empathy has to go somewhere, right?
How about putting it towards Lamar Jackson’s charity of choice? Because that’s what they did.
Almost as soon as the game had ended, members of Bills Mafia were advocating for fans to donate in $8 amounts (Jackson’s jersey number) to a charity Jackson has long been an advocate for, Louisville’s chapter of Blessings in a Backpack. Lamar Jackson was the QB for the University of Louisville during his college tenure.
As it stands, Bills fans have raised over $400,000 for Lamar’s charity.
Think about that. Thousands of blue-collar, hard-working Buffalonians donated NOT ONLY to Lamar’s charity but ALSO to the Patricia Allen Fund (well over $1,000,000) AND Josh Norman’s ‘Buffalo Business Blitz’ (nearing $450,000). When all is said and done, Buffalonians will have likely raised over $2,000,000 for amazing causes.
During a pandemic. That’s wonderfully insane.
So keep it up, Bills Mafia. The world may question yourn tailgating antics, but I know for certain that your selflessness brings warmth to the hearts of everyone who hears of the good work going on in the “City of Good Neighbors.”
If you’d like to donate to any of the great causes mentioned above, here are the links that will take you to them:
The Children’s Hospital of Buffalo Foundation: Patricia Allen Fund
And as always…
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