Playing against Indy brings back some of my greatest memories as a Bills fan. Young folks around town would never believe it, but our franchise used to own their franchise. That’s right. The Buffalo Bills use to own the Indianapolis Colts. Don’t believe me? Ask Jeff George or Jack Trudeau. My guess is they both still see #78 in their nightmares. One thing Bills fans could count on during the early 90’s was dominance over the Indianapolis Colts…..our AFC East counter part. It was like two automatic wins almost every single year.

Of course that all changed in 1998 when our old friend Bill Polian started to run the show in the Circle City. He left Carolina after just three seasons of success to jumpstart a Colt’s franchise that hadn’t seen success since 1984 when they snuck out of Baltimore in the middle of the night. Mr. Polian was made President the day he got there, drafted Peyton, won a Super Bowl, built a new Stadium, and you know the rest. I was proud listening to Mr. Polian at the podium as he sported the coveted Professional Football Hall of Fame Jacket. Buffalo was a long time away from Canton for Mr. Polian but you would never know it.  As if having Marv introduce him wasn’t cool enough, the old GM gave props to the town that never forgot what he did here. Buffalo is a sports town of “what ifs” and the biggest what if to me will always be “what if Mr. Polian never left?” He put five future Hall of Famers in the same locker room which in turn severely helped the last chance coach and business first owner get there too. His speech was like watching a movie that you absolutely love…until the end. The world heard the happy ending of success and rebirth in Indy, but Bills fans like me heard a different story. Mr. Wilson did an incredible job keeping the Bills in Buffalo and was a very generous business man. Marv Levy was a well respected and intelligent coach who had an uncanny ability to build team chemistry. Bill Polian built a team that dominated the AFC for almost ten years.

 The word genius doesn’t even do him justice in my opinion. He was a very talented leader who was willing to take chances on players that other people wouldn’t. He was a gambler who took chances that hit. Just ask Andre Reed about that. Mr. Polian was fired after our catastrophic Super Bowl loss to Dallas out in Pasadena. Not to often you here about guys getting “let go” after making it to the championship game. It was ugly. Bills fans hated it and the franchise has basically never recovered. The Colts were just as foolish to let him go after Manning went down. Sure the team could have won some more games that year but losing made sure they would get the first pick. Mr. Polian would have already built a powerhouse around Luck and the Colts know it. How do you cancel out a man who had done so much for your franchise? How many Colts go into the Hall because of his leadership? Firing Mr. Polian knowing you were getting Luck was a decision I think Indy fans will regret down the road. It is no surprise to me that the magic he brought to Orchard Park followed him to Carolina and then to Indy way back in 1998.

They didn’t beat us right away though. In fact, when Mr. Polian faced the Bills for the first time as President of the Colts it was the beginning of the Doug Flutie era out in Indy. Rob Johnson started the game in the Dome, but Flutie finished and put on a show rookie Peyton Manning never forgot. I can still see Kevin Williams catching a touchdown right in front of us as my dad and his crew cheered on the Mullet. I made many trips to Indy, but that year was the best by a mile. Watching Flutie get his chance and run with it right before our eyes was incredible. Ironically, the night before the game I joined my father and his friends for diner at the Indianapolis Planet Hollywood right in the middle of downtown. It wasn’t too crowded inside and we were able to be seated right away. We ordered our food and in walks Flutie and Eric Moulds. I couldn’t believe it. Best part was that nobody but our table knew who they were. We said hello, didn’t bother them to much, and wished them luck on Sunday. We never knew what changes were in store for the Bills that Sunday. 17 years later and we still have the same problem. Who knows, maybe Tyrod changes that.

Excitement around here is growing. The Bills have an opportunity to answer a lot of questions over the next two weeks. Luck is very good and so is our defense. Taylor has a lot to prove and so does the Colts defense. This is the perfect test to prove whether or not you’re ready to take the next step and contend for a playoff spot. We are now days away from one of the most highly anticipated sporting events in Buffalo history. It is only week 1. This franchise has been relevant over the airways and on social media for months after an unprecedented year of transition. Come 1pm Sunday the talk is over. Ralph Wilson Stadium has been loud many times in its existence. Sunday should set the tone for what we can expect for a long time. I am looking forward to taking it all in as we finally kickoff a season everyone has been waiting for. It will be crazy. It will be electric. Hopefully it will be a tune up for next week.