And in fact the game unfolded as if nothing had changed, perhaps nothing had happened. The Raiders’ house band, the David Perico Pop Strings Orchestra, performed songs by Santana and Guns N’ Roses, leading the fans with “Defense!” chant. Shown on the video board, Las Vegas fans went wild during their five seconds of fame. Kansas City fans, who may have outnumbered his team’s fans at home, tried to turn the stadium into Arrowhead Stadium his West.
Apologies for the slight twist on the old saw, it was Saturday.
Tributes to Hamlin were scattered among fans on Saturday. There was also
Frank Nostro, 54, who wore the Josh Allen No. 17 Bills jersey to the game, said he saw Hamlin get hit Monday night. “I thought it was just a regular blow. I see a lot of players going down with concussions and such,” he said. “But when you see some coaches and staff in replays and panicking, you realize it was really bad.”
But Nostro, who grew up in Buffalo and moved to Las Vegas 30 years ago, said he wore Allen’s jersey for a simpler reason. “I’m a Bills fan and will always be a Bills fan, but if the Raiders win today, it helps Buffalo,” he said.
In fact, the match will be crucial in determining the seeding for the AFC playoffs, which start next weekend.
Kansas City is 13-3, the best record in the AFC and hopes to bye bye in the first round of the playoffs. The Bengals-Bills game was postponed to Monday night after Hamlin went down, but the NFL chose not to restart, so Kansas City could beat the Raiders or the Bills lose to the Patriots on Sunday afternoon. In that case, he would win a bye in the first round.
However, the first seed doesn’t necessarily guarantee Kansas City home field advantage throughout the playoffs. A scenario in which Kansas City plays either the Bills or the Bengals in the AFC Championship Game on a neutral ground to make up for the Bills and Bengals ending the regular season and playing one game less than the other team. there is. .
The 6-10 Raiders are only playing for pride.
