Buffalo Bills: Highmark Stadium Is Primed To Roar Like A C-5 - Gridiron Heroics

Any team that has visited the Buffalo Bills in Orchard Park is well aware that Highmark Stadium will be rocking until they can find a way to silence the raucous Mafia.  The devastating playoff losses in early 2023 and 2024 to the Cincinnati Bengals and Kansas City Chiefs come to mind immediately, but before kickoff, that place is invariably abuzz, and the Miami Dolphins are about to walk, or perhaps swim, into an especially exhilarated hornet’s nest on Sunday.

I would doubt there is any football fan who doesn’t go nuts for a flyover, no matter the aircraft, but the Bills have announced that this weekend they are inviting one of the military’s heaviest hitters to join in the festivities: the Lockheed Martin C-5 Galaxy.

“As the Air Force’s largest and only strategic airlifter, the C-5 Galaxy can carry more cargo farther distances than any other aircraft.  With a payload of six Mine Resistant Ambush Protected vehicles or up to five helicopters, the C-5 can haul twice as much cargo as any other airlifter.”

The Bills Mafia is going to be foaming at the mouth when this mighty 248’x223′ metaphor for Josh Allen roars overhead from the nearby Niagara Falls Air Reserve Station and I don’t know how the Dolphins won’t be shaking in their teal pants.

As if a 400-ton machine of war isn’t intimidating enough, the Bills announced that fan favorite George “The Senator” Wilson will be the Legend of the Game and leading the crowd in the booming pregame ritual of honoring legendary coach and general manager Marv Levy.

“Where else would you rather be than right here, right now?”

Nowhere else, Marv. Nowhere else. #BillsMafia pic.twitter.com/VvnGfbSNwI

— Buffalo Bills (@BuffaloBills) September 19, 2022

Do you hear that crowd?  That’s reminiscent of King Leonidas’ brave 300.  For those who are unfamiliar with The Senator because of how irrelevant Buffalo was during his tenure from 2005-2012, he was a bright spot as a George-of-all-trades, playing wide receiver and safety for a sad team that was in the middle of a 17-year playoff drought.  Wilson even has one carry for six yards in his Bills career, which slots him firmly ahead of Reggie Bush in team history because Reginald finished the 2016 campaign with 12 rushes for negative three yards.  As a matter of fact, all of us non-players have more rushing yards for the Bills than Reggie Bush, so congratulations all around.

Divisional games are inherently more intense in the stadium, but a win for the Bills will put the Dolphins 4.5 games behind Buffalo with half a season to play and the ravenous Mafia smells blood.  It is guaranteed to be deafening, chaotic, and downright scary when the away squad hits the field on Sunday so for their sake, I hope Miami is prepared.  Or, perhaps they’ll go the other way and prance around in smug t-shirts that read “I wish it were louder.”

Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel at Wednesday’s practice in the team’s indoor practice facility before Saturday’s Buffalo game. The Dolphins turned the a/c down pretty far. This T-shirt is a play on a training camp T-shirt that reads, “I wish it were hotter” pic.twitter.com/fnT0N6H4jw

— Chris Perkins (@chrisperk) December 14, 2022

Miami Dolphins at Buffalo Bills Roster Updates

Arguably the biggest addition to either team’s lineup this weekend is Bills defender Von Miller, who has been suspended for the past four games for violating the NFL’s personal conduct policy in a domestic matter.  Head coach Sean McDermott has not yet officially confirmed that Miller will be playing against Miami, but if he can get back onto the field and has stayed in shape during his mandatory vacation, the Dolphins offense should have their hands full.  In only four games and 93 snaps this season, Miller has three sacks, four quarterback hits, and ten tackles, including three for a loss.

The mystery remains with Dolphins wide receiver Tyreek Hill, who appears to be working through a foot injury.

I did not see Tyreek Hill (foot), Zach Sieler (eye), Kader Kohou (neck), Julian Hill (shoulder) at portion of Dolphins practice open to media Wednesday.

Jevon Holland (knee/hand) looked good in work with a trainer.

I did see Tua readying for Buffalo pic.twitter.com/XKvuOs0KDu

— Joe Schad (@schadjoe) October 30, 2024

It is unclear whether or not Hill will suit up this week, but his absence would be a relief for Bills fans who have been hurt by the Cheetah more than a few times in his career, as he is allegedly wont to do.