And indeed the game unfolded as if nothing had changed, perhaps even as if nothing had happened at all. The Raiders house band, the David Perrico Pop Strings Orchestra, played songs by Santana and Guns N’ Roses, and led fans in “Defense!” chants. Las Vegas fans who were shown on the video board went crazy during their five seconds of fame. Kansas City fans, who might have outnumbered fans from the home team, tried to turn the stadium into Arrowhead Stadium West.
It was, with apologies for the slight twist on the old saw, any given Saturday.
There were scattered tributes to Hamlin among fans on Saturday. A few wore Bills jerseys, though there were just as many in gear representing the Cowboys, the Eagles, the Seahawks and other teams.
Frank Nostro, 54, who attended the game wearing a Josh Allen No. 17 Bills jersey, said he was watching as Hamlin got hit Monday night. “I thought it was just a regular hit — you see a lot of guys go down with a concussion or something like that,” he said. “But you see the replay and the panic in some of the coaches and the staff out there, and you realize it was something really bad.”
Nostro, who grew up in Buffalo and moved to Las Vegas 30 years ago, said he was wearing an Allen jersey for a much simpler reason, however. “I’m a Bills fan, I’ll always be a Bills fan, but if the Raiders win today, that helps Buffalo,” he said.
Indeed, the game carries a great deal of significance in determining seedings for the A.F.C. playoffs, which begin next weekend.
At 13-3, Kansas City has the best record in the A.F.C., and hopes to clinch a bye in the first round of the playoffs. With the N.F.L. opting not to resume the Bengals-Bills game that was postponed Monday night after Hamlin’s collapse, Kansas City would clinch a first-round bye if it beats the Raiders or the Bills lose to the Patriots Sunday afternoon.
The first seed would not necessarily guarantee Kansas City home-field advantage throughout the playoffs, however. To compensate for the Bills and the Bengals ending the regular season having played one fewer game than the other teams, there are scenarios in which Kansas City could play either the Bills or the Bengals in the A.F.C. Championship Game at a neutral site to be determined later.
At 6-10, the Raiders are playing only for pride.
Credit: Source link
