Playoff Routines, Stranger Things Conspiracies, and Mainly Hockey Thoughts about Heated Rivalry
Fasten your seatbelts, it's the NFL postseason
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2026 is upon us, and it is already a doozy in every conceivable way. So if you would like a brief respite from the horrors, continue reading - if not, truly no hard feelings. Take care of yourselves, all!
The Sports Section
Here we are again. The NFL playoffs begin this weekend, and while every matchup has some degree of drama, you know the one I’m here to talk about: Sunday at 1p ET, Josh Allen and the Bills square off with Trevor Lawrence and the Jaguars in Jacksonville for the wildcard round. As of this writing (Saturday morning), I feel weirdly zen about this. For one thing - I am still just excited that the Bills are in the playoffs. It’s been eight years of this feeling and yet, it still feels new.
And another thing - I forget who I heard this from last year, maybe my dad? If the Bills lose again at any point in the playoffs - we know that life. We have been there before. We know the feeling. Same as it ever was. But the opportunity to feel something new - say, what it would feel like to see Josh Allen take this team to the Super Bowl…that’s why we do it. That’s why we sign up for the heartbreak in January. As I referenced around this time last year, from the motion picture Jackie, sometimes it’s just enough.
Anyways, enough sappiness, because the Bills could win. I thought I’d give you wonderful readers a peek into my playoff weekend/gameday routine to fully expose my sicko. Over the course of the next 24 hours, I will watch these videos on YouTube at least once (and possibly twice):
Former Bills head coach Marv Levy’s saying, “where else would you rather be than right here, right now” has become iconic in its own right. But my favorite Marv moment may be - as he recounts in the above - when after the Bills lost their first Super Bowl, Marv remembered an old poem (because that’s who Marv is) and told his players,
Fight on my men, Sir Andrew said,
A little I’m hurt, but not yet slain.
I’ll just lay down and bleed awhile,
then I’ll rise and fight again.
I’m tearing up just typing that out. I know I probably shouldn’t be thinking about being hurt and bloody going INTO a playoff game (although we know Josh likes getting hurt, the beautiful freak he is) but I have to hear these words before every playoff game.
I’ll also throw on this little number (sensing a theme?)
This is, as you guessed, the origin story behind the phrase “right here, right now.” If the Bills ever win the Super Bowl, I want to get “right here right now” tattooed on the foot I broke at the Ralph during a preseason game.
This one’s an oldie…well, it’s an oldie where I come from. This is the hype video from the 2005-2006 Sabres playoff run. Yes, this is not even a Bills hype video, but it is a Buffalo hype video, and it also makes me cry every time. Basically, my entire playoff routine is inducing tears. Until we get to these next two videos…
I’m about to run through a wall. And in summation…
Other things I will do on Sunday: go for a run and listen to a playlist made of entirely songs that make me think about the Bills (“Mr. Brightside,” “Shout,” “Bills Mafia Anthem,” “Thunderstruck,” the “pizza” remix of the Bills Shout Song that’s on Spotify, a smattering of Star Wars and Mulan tracks), listen to some local Buffalo sports radio (shoutout WGR), and say a couple of prayers (directed to my grandparents). In past years, I would have a Bath Beer™️, but my bathtub faucet has been dripping since August 25th (my maintenance man has assured me parts have been ordered) but I don’t think the Bath Beer would hit the same. I will also be checking in with family members across the board, likely starting at 6am.
One more thing: for the last month or so, I got to work on a project focused on the end of Highmark/New Era/the Ralph/Bills Stadium, and all of the moments and memories that happened there. Check it out, if you feel so inclined! I only cried a little! This was me after the last game, I am holding superfluous cold gear and a plastic bag with turf pellets and confetti I picked up to take home with me.
Merry Bills-mas Eve, all, and to all, a good night!
Pop of Culture
I finally watched Heated Rivalry (this show is good for society, I feel) and I need to talk about the hockey of it all. I’m obsessed with the fake team names and colors being juuuust different enough from the NHL, but still a little too close. Like, I’m sorry, this is just a Boston Bruins jersey:
The fake Stanley Cup makes me a little sad. But nothing can even come close to the glory of the actual Stanley Cup, so I get it. It’s also extremely funny to me they just call it “the cup” on the show.
My one hockey fan note is they don’t use hockey nicknames near as frequently as they would in real life. I have not heard “Rozy” or “Hollzy” enough. No one is saying their full government last names that often. Also, the “MLH Network” would not be broadcasting every single hockey game played at every level. The Olympics are on NBC! ESPN exists in this universe, they talk about ESPN reporting on Rozanov missing the team trip to Nashville!!!!
Lastly, I desperately need to know the name of the Buffalo team in the Heated Rivalry universe after seeing what was clearly motivation for the Sabres to go on a ten game win streak.1
I’m Too Online
I finished Stranger Things and was honestly shocked by the “conformity gate” conspiracy - that the finale was not ACTUALLY the finale, and there was one more episode to come - blew up SO quickly. I can’t determine if this is just the result of people being disappointed by the series’ ending (rightfully so), people being Too Online (definitely part of it) or simply media literacy continuing to decline and people falling for every hare brained marketing scheme. Or perhaps, all of the above. It also blew my mind to remember that Stranger Things premiered in 2016. Time is getting trippy for all of us, so I don’t blame anyone for grasping at straws at this point.
I need to start a new show this year…everyone has been telling me to watch The Pitt, is it time for me to start The Pitt? Other recommendations welcome!
Some are saying the Sabres are “so back.”