BY: CULLEN TONGE
The year 2020 has not been anything like we have seen before. Because of COVID-19, the sports world was greatly affected. March Madness, perhaps the best sporting event of the year, was cancelled. The NBA, NHL, and MLB all had modified endings to their seasons and playoffs. The NFL shortened their training camp and completely cut off the preseason.
Even now, with sports seeming back to normal, many places still aren’t allowing fans. That being said, the Bills are amazing, the upcoming Sabres’ season comes with high hopes, and we can’t be there. Regardless, this year 2020 is over, and Buffalo sports made the most of it and gave us a lot to look forward to in 2021.
Right now, I want everyone to look back on the year 2020. Not the shutdowns, the virus, or the masks, but everything good, great, and amazing that happened in the Buffalo sports world as I count down my top 10 Buffalo sports’ games/moments of 2020.
10. Travis Shaw Walk-off Single: August 11,2020
It took a while for the Toronto Blue Jays to find a home to finish out the rest of the MLB season, but it is clear to see that they made the right decision in choosing Buffalo. A true hitter’s park, Sahlen Field was the perfect spot for the Blue Jays to make their nest and their first home game in Buffalo set the tone for the rest of the season. In the bottom of the tenth inning, with the bases loaded and no outs, Travis Shaw gave the Jays their first win in Buffalo in their “home opener”. It truly was a special moment for the Jays and the city of Buffalo as it was the first game of professional baseball in over 100 years.
9. University of Buffalo Football Wins the Camellia Bowl: December 25, 2020
We might play. We aren’t playing. Wait! We are playing. The idea of the Bulls having a football season was up in the air for such a long time and eventually they got to have a season. They went 5-1 in the regular season and even earned the first Top 25 ranking in school history. Even though they lost the MAC Championship, they still received the opportunity to play in the Camellia Bowl on Christmas Day against Marshall, an opportunity they made the most of. They won the game 17-10 without star running back Jaret Patterson behind 138 yards and a touchdown from their other stud running back, Kevin Marks. It was their second bowl game victory in as many years and in a season that was shortened and a bit weird, they came out victors.
8. Buffalo Bills defeat the New England Patriots: December 28, 2020
Monday Night Football in Foxborough, Massachusetts. Primetime. The 11-3 Buffalo Bills were looking to sweep the 6-8 New England Patriots for the first time since 1999. A chance to make a statement and let the rest of the AFC East and NFL that there’s a new top dog. And boy oh boy did they show up. Josh Allen threw for 320 yards and four touchdowns with Stefon Diggs catching nine balls for 145 yards and three of those touchdowns. The Bills ended up routing the Pats 38-9. Although it was a bad season for the Patriots, going into Foxborough against a Bill Belichick coached team is always a hard task and the Bills made it look easy. I cannot wait to see this happen every year but for now, it assured me that the Patriots dynasty is over, and it now is our time.
7. Tyler Kroft Seals the W over the Los Angeles Rams: September 27, 2020
This was a crazy game in only Week 3 that might get forgotten about if the Bills go all the way to the Super Bowl with all that has happened or will happen this season. However, I’m here to bring back your nostalgia. I remember sitting on the couch screaming at the TV when the Rams took the lead late in the fourth quarter. However, I also remember screaming even louder when Tyler Kroft caught the game winning touchdown while falling backwards into the endzone. Just think, without that catch and score, the Bills might not have the two seed right now let alone clinched the division yet. It was a huge moment this season and that is why it is on my list.
6. Buffalo Blue Jays Clinch the Playoffs: September 24, 2020
Like I mentioned earlier, professional baseball hadn’t been played in Buffalo in over 100 years. 2020 brought it back to the city in a peculiar fashion but it is a season that will always be remembered. On this day in 2020, the Blue Jays defeated the New York Yankees 4-1 at Sahlen Field to clinch their first playoff berth since 2016. A Vlad Jr. solo homer in bottom of the second set the tone for the game. They would score again in the third inning and then add two more for insurance in the sixth. Seven scoreless innings from pitcher from Hyun Jin Ryu was just what the doctor ordered for the Jays. Even though they didn’t go far in the playoffs, clinching a berth on the “home away from home” field was truly special.
5. Buffalo Sabres Sign Taylor Hall: October 11, 2020
As much as we want to forget about the Sabres at times, it is hard not to think they will be significantly better this season than last. The biggest reason for this is the signing of Taylor Hall. Just a day before Columbus Day, Sabres’ fans made a big discovery of their own on Twitter when the news broke. Taylor Hall will be a Buffalo Sabre for one year on a contract of $8 million. Putting a star like Hall on a team with Jack Eichel automatically makes the team better and has given fans a lot of hope going into the 2021 season.
4. Buffalo Bills Clinch AFC East: December 19, 2020
A trip to Mile High on a Saturday afternoon was on the schedule for the Bills. It was a quick business trip that quickly turned into a celebration in just over three hours. The game ended up being a demolishment of the Denver Broncos that ended with the score being 48-19 when the clock hit triple zeros. The victory clinched a spot in the playoffs, but more importantly, clinched the AFC East division title for the first time since 1995. As usual, Josh and Diggs were unstoppable, and the defense played phenomenally. History was made in Mile High that day, but as the Bills like to say “Won not Done!”
3. Jaret Patterson Ties NCAA FBS Record: November 28, 2020
One of the best, if not the best, running back in UB Football history made himself known against Kent State with one of the best individual performances in college football history. In just this one game, Patterson somehow ran for 409 yards, just 18 shy of tying the record, and a whopping eight touchdowns. Yes, you read that correctly. Eight touchdowns. That tied the record for the most in a game in FBS history. It was an absolutely insane showing by the UB running back and one that should have put him in consideration for the Heisman. It was also his second straight game with over 300 yards which was the first time that had happened in college football since 1996. Patterson just declared for the NFL draft and should be drafted in the first three rounds and anyone who gets him will be getting a future star.
2. Buffalo Bills Trade for Stefon Diggs: March 16, 2020
The Bills clearly needed a number one receiver after last season. Sending a first-round pick to the Minnesota Vikings for star receiver Stefon Diggs was the perfect move for the team. Josh Allen is significantly better with Diggs and Diggs is better with Allen. They go together better than anything and might just be the best wide receiver-quarterback duo in the entire NFL. Diggs currently leads all players in the league in both receptions and yards and even though Justin Jefferson is having a very good rookie season, I will proudly say that the Bills clearly won that trade.
1. Bills Fans Donate Over $1 Million to Oishei: December 28, 2020
Now I know there were a lot of Bills moments in the list, but this one is miles higher than anything. Even though there are no fans in the stadium, #Billsmafia still made it known that they are the best fanbase in all of sports. Just the night before the Bills destroyed the Seattle Seahawks, Josh Allen’s grandma passed away. When Bills fans found out following the game, they decided to set up a fund for the Oishei’s Children Hospital with donations set up at $17. In just a week, donations had climbed to $483,000. To put what seemed like the finishing touches on the fund, Josh Allen himself donated $17,000 to the cause putting it at an even $500,000. The hospital is dedicating a recovery wing in Patricia Allen’s name. Weeks went on and we hadn’t heard much about the donations that were still coming in. Then, a big donation from a lifelong Bills fan of $217,000 sent the total soaring past the $1 million mark. Buffalo fans are truly something else and in a year that was full of downs, this most certainly takes the cake as the best moment of Buffalo sports in 2020.
The Sports Desk can be reached at editorialtrainwrecksports@gmail.com
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