Buffalo Bills Closes Highmark Stadium With a Party (And The New York Jets Paid The Bill)

If you believe in football ghosts, you have to appreciate the poetic symmetry of Sunday afternoon in Orchard Park for a Bills game. Fifty-three years ago, the New York Jets were the first opponent to walk into what was then Rich Stadium. On Sunday, they were the last to walk out of Highmark Stadium.

And true to form, in a building that has seen more than its fair share of heartbreaks and jubilation, the Jets played the role they were born to play: the Washington Generals to the Buffalo Bills’ Harlem Globetrotters.

The final score was 35-8, but honestly, that makes it sound closer than it actually was. This wasn’t just a win; it was a Viking funeral for a stadium, with the Jets serving as the kindling.

Josh Allen’s “Hardest” Workday

The Bills had their eyes on the playoffs, specifically a Wild Card date with the Jacksonville Jaguars. So, Josh Allen did exactly what was required to keep his ironman streak alive. He took the first snap, marking his 122nd consecutive start, handed the ball off, and then presumably went to grab a headset and maybe a hot chocolate.

Running Back James Cook did essentially the same, clocking out after two carries. The message from Sean McDermott was clear: “We can beat this team with our B-Squad.” And the most stinging part for anyone wearing green? He was absolutely right.

The Mitch Trubisky Revenge Game

When Mitch Trubisky is carving you up like a Thanksgiving turkey, you know your season has gone off the rails. The Bills’ backup quarterback, who hadn’t started a game since 2023, looked like a Hall of Famer against New York’s defense.

Trubisky went 22-of-29 for 259 yards and four touchdowns. He was dropping dimes to Ty Johnson, who added insult to injury by scoring against his former team, and got everyone involved. Even Dawson Knox cashed in a nice $200,000 bonus with an early touchdown catch.

It was a performance that had the Orchard Park faithful roaring, partly because they were winning, but mostly because it was hilarious to watch the backups run up the score in the snow.

A Historic Level Of Bad for the Jets

We have to talk about the Jets. If this were a tank job, it was a masterpiece. If they were trying to win, it was a tragedy.

Starting undrafted rookie Quarterback Brady Cook was a tough watch. Finishing 11-of-22 for 60 yards is the kind of stat line that sets offensive football back a few decades. The offense couldn’t move, the defense couldn’t stop a backup QB, and the spirit looked broken long before kickoff.

The loss secured the No. 2 overall pick in the upcoming draft for New York, right behind the Raiders. Sure, that means they get a shot at Oregon’s Dante Moore, but does it wash away the taste of becoming the first team in NFL history to lose five consecutive games by 23 or more points? Probably not. They managed to avoid the worst point differential in franchise history by the skin of their teeth thanks to a garbage-time touchdown.

Toasting the Old Stadium With “Blizzard Brew”

The atmosphere in Orchard Park was heavy with nostalgia. Fans spent the afternoon saying goodbye to a venue that, while aging and rust-bucket-esque, was their rust bucket. The team even sold a limited-edition “Blizzard Brew” made from purified stadium snow. Did it taste good? Who knows. Did it taste like victory? Absolutely.

The Bills closed the doors with a final record of 266 wins in that building. It’s a place that defined a community, survived the drought years, and hosted the rebirth of the franchise under Allen.

What’s Next: Playoffs vs. The Draft

For the Buffalo Bills, the real season starts now. They locked up the No. 6 seed and are heading to Jacksonville. They rested their stars, avoided major injuries, though seeing Matt Prater hurt his quad is a concern for the kicking game, and got a confidence boost for the depth chart.

For the Jets, the mercy of the offseason has finally arrived. They finished 3-14, tying for the second-most losses in franchise history. The questions facing them are massive, but at least for now, they don’t have to play football anymore.

Highmark Stadium is closed for business. The Bills turned out the lights, but the Jets are the ones who were truly left in the dark.