Winter wonderland perfect setting for Bills
Dec 11, 2017 - 1:42 AM ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. -- As the winter weather rolled into Western New York this week, the Buffalo Bills team motto was: "When it's too cold for them, it's just right for us."They took that mindset into Sunday's 13-7 overtime victory over the Indianapolis Colts, embracing conditions that many considered to be the most severe in franchise history.
Or, "the best," as LeSean McCoy said after rushing for 156 yards and the winning touchdown.
Known for braving the elements during December games over the years, the heavy snow accumulation and near whiteout conditions on Sunday took even the most hardened Buffalonians by surprise.
But when the game ended, several Bills players lingered on the field, celebrating with fans, making snow angels and basking in the winter wonderland.
"Our fans and the people here are the toughest damn people in the world," said defensive tackle Kyle Williams, the longest-tenured player on the Bills. "And they are why I've been here so long and the reason I enjoy being here so much. They deserve as much credit as anybody."
For rookie cornerback Tre'Davious White, this was his first time playing in the snow. But he seemed to enjoy the experience more than anybody else in the stadium, jumping around and dancing during timeouts with a big smile on his face.
"Everybody in this locker room and all the teammates and the coaches thought that the snow bothered me because I'm from Louisiana," White said. "I had to show them that I could weather the storm and go out there and perform in any conditions."
Prior experience playing in the snow couldn't prepare players for the conditions they faced on Sunday.
"I played in snow that didn't stick but that stuff was like two feet deep," said Buffalo safety Jordan Poyer, who spent the first four years of his NFL career with Northeast teams Cleveland and Philadelphia. "It was crazy. It was fun. It was exciting. We embraced it."
Still, with more than eight inches of snow piling up during the game and swirling winds significantly limiting visibility, there were challenges.
"We kept saying it was like we were at the beach, because the snow was so high," wide receiver Deonte Thompson said. "The snow was so thick, we were sinking in every time we stepped. It was pretty much like sand."
"That was not fun," Bills guard Richie Incognito said. "Not fun to not have any footing and not being able to move around. That's a long day."
The Colts were unable to prepare for playing in such conditions during the week. Kicker Adam Vinatieri had played in the snow several times when he was a member of the New England Patriots, but said Sunday's game was different.
"If it was just snow and no wind, it's one thing," Vinatieri said. "But you get both of them, it was a tough game."
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