Buffalo Bills, fans revel in winning farewell to stadium - ESPN

ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. — The music was finished and the jumbotron displayed a singular message, «Thank you Bills Mafia.»

But if you simply glanced up to the stands, there would be no sign that the Buffalo Bills' lopsided 35-8 win over the New York Jets in Week 18 on Sunday had been over for several minutes. Most of the rows from top to bottom remained filled with standing fans taking in their likely last moments at Highmark Stadium as their chants echoed.

Bills fan Janet Gallo, 86, who has attended every home game but three, and was already struck by the emotional day during pregame warmups, remained standing in her row. Even coach Sean McDermott took a moment to look back at the crowd during the two-minute warning.

«I felt a little guilty, at times, looking up in the stands. I'm supposed to be coaching,» McDermott said. "… After scoring and we're getting our kickoff team ready, just taking a second or two to look up into the stands, people singing, 'Mr. Brightside.'

«I mean come on, where else does that happen in the NFL, right? That type of togetherness, that type of fellowship, community, love of their team and of each other, and I'll never forget it. Special moment.»

There is not yet a guarantee that this was the final game played at Highmark, an area that has had many names, but is most affectionately still called, «The Ralph.» The Bills are the No. 6 seed in the AFC playoffs, and still have the unlikely possibility of hosting the No. 7 seed Los Angeles Chargers down the road.

But for all intents and purposes, it was just that. A goodbye to the stadium that opened in 1973 and has hosted countless memorable moments and people before the team moves across the street to the new Highmark Stadium for the 2026 season.

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