KSR: NFL Cover Zero - Joining Bills Mafia in Buffalo!

Episode Date: November 17, 2025
Hosts: Matt Jones, Drew Franklin, Billy Rutledge
Location: Recorded live from Buffalo, NY, after attending the Bills vs. Buccaneers game

Episode Overview

Matt Jones, Drew Franklin, and Billy Rutledge deliver a vibrant Week 11 NFL recap, broadcasting from Buffalo after an immersive day as honorary members of "Bills Mafia." This episode dives deep into the culture, quirks, and communal spirit of Buffalo tailgating, delivers first-hand press box and locker room anecdotes, and breaks down notable NFL games from around the league. Their trademark Kentucky wit and camaraderie is on full display as they recount culinary oddities, fashion observations, and the warmth (and wildness) of Buffalo fandom.

Main Theme

Exploring the heart and soul of the Buffalo Bills fan experience, with reflections on NFL tailgating traditions, game recaps, and what makes "Bills Mafia" unique.

In Buffalo: Bills Mafia Immersion

Best Stadium Experience in the NFL

• Matt Jones reflects on visiting his 12th NFL stadium and ranks Buffalo as the best NFL fan experience:
  • "Even as a Bears fan, this is the best experience of just fandom. Green Bay is a very close second." (05:04–05:26)
  • Top 5 stadium experience: 5) Broncos, 4) Chiefs, 3) Bears, 2) Packers, 1) Bills. (06:33)

Bills Mafia Hospitality

• Drew Franklin on the legendary friendliness:
  • “Every person I talked to was so nice. It's like a big community...it’s like you know everybody without knowing anyone.” (05:26–05:47)
• Matt Jones highlights the unchecked camaraderie:
  • “There was a bus…with a sign in front that just said, ‘Come on in and stay a while.’ It wasn’t aimed at anyone in specific. It was everybody.” (05:47–06:23)

Tailgating Culture & Culinary Oddities

• Quirky Cooking:
  • Smoked meats in file cabinets, meatballs served from a hospital bedpan with a nine-iron, wings fried in a WWII helmet, and blue cheese in a paint tray. (14:08–17:17)
  • Drew Franklin: "A man served me meatballs from a bedpan, and the utensil was a nine iron." (14:49)
• Hospitality: Bucs fans and strangers openly welcomed to tailgates, encouraged to join in eating and drinking. (09:04–09:17)

The Zubaz Phenomenon & Buffalo Fashion

• Zubaz pants are everywhere — “6-8% of the crowd had on Zubaz, maybe more,” Matt jokes. (10:03–12:06)
• Drew’s nostalgia: “In fifth grade, me and my classmates, we all had them. This is about 93.” (11:13)
• Fashion note: Bills fans represent a diversity of player jerseys, not just stars. “There are jersey...two Ty Johnson jerseys. Who is the third string running back?" (09:17–10:03)

Buffalo Vibe: Happy, Not Hooligan

• On the level of intoxication: “These are the drunkest fans, but they're happy drunk. Bengals are stab someone drunk. These are like put their arm around you and talk about their various life crises.” (08:01)
• Lots of singing ("Shout!" and “Mr. Brightside”), dancing, and communal joy. (08:32–09:04)
• Inclusivity: “They were inviting Bucs fans to their tailgates...so hospitable." (09:05–09:17)

Game and Press Box Experience

The Buffalo Game Recap: Bills 44, Buccaneers 32

• Unique final score: “First time that score has ever occurred in the NFL.” (04:09)
• “Josh Allen has two games in which he scored six touchdowns, rushing three and passing three. The only other person in NFL history was Otto Graham, and 1954 in a championship game.” — Billy (34:08–34:19)
• Game pendulum: Allen starts slow (two first-half INTs), but Bills ramp up and clinch it in the 4th quarter. (34:31–39:19)

Press Box & Locker Room Insights

• Billy describes staying professional — “had a hard time not cheering in the press box, but...business trip.” (19:51)
• Visiting the locker room: "There’s a lot of nudity. It’s odd to interview a person just sitting there in a towel...I’ll wait for you to put on underwear.” (35:12–36:09)
• Meeting NFL stars in person (Josh Allen, Baker Mayfield), media etiquette dilemmas, and moments of giddiness at being behind the scenes. (36:43–38:29)
• Locker room parting gifts: Bills players get Jersey Mike's subs as they leave; Bucs had a wings buffet (blue cheese for Bills, ranch for Bucs). (86:14–87:20)

Noteworthy Quotes & Moments

• Pinto, Buffalo Superfan:
  • “Start doing something dumb, start doing it stupid. Doing dumb stupid, and just keep going. And 40 years from now, you'll be famous too.” (29:40–29:46)
• Blue Cheese vs. Ranch:
  • "I asked for the ranch. I thought he was going to kill me...the look on his face was like, get out of my tailgate if you say the 'R word.'" – Drew (17:41–17:55)
  • “They don’t just prefer blue cheese. They don’t offer anything else.” – Matt (17:55–18:05)
• On cold:
  • “Bill's fans are acting like this is a beautiful day. What are you all talking about? They had nipples out.” – Matt (53:44–53:57)

Memorable Tailgate Innovations

• “I saw a smoker in a file cabinet...meatballs from a bed pan...wings fried inside a WWII helmet.” (14:08–15:33)
• "A nine iron will solve any problem." (15:20)
• “Everything was like...do any of y’all own a grill?” (15:34)

Press Room Comedy

• On fashion: Billy’s “Dick Van Dyke” shoes get roasted by Bills fans ("Not supposed to be a compliment, but it hurt.") (18:45–19:22)
• Drew gets physically shoved by a Tampa Bay staffer for holding up the scanner line; Mario tries (unsuccessfully) to get an apology. (88:03–89:15)

Tailgating vs. SEC Football

• Drew Franklin: “I have never experienced tailgating like this...I don't think anyone can even be in the same conversation.” (31:32–31:46)
• SEC is more “regal”; Buffalo is “communal party.” (32:11–32:24)

Highlighted Fan Interviews (24:43–29:40)

• Emphasis on family, tradition, and inclusion — “We’re a big tight knit family. We care about each other…it’s just something different between Bills mafia and every other fan base.” (25:20–25:37)
• Descriptions of bedpan buffalo meatballs, nine iron as a serving tool, and tailgating as both culinary innovation and bonding ritual.

Around the League: Brief Game Recaps

Chiefs vs. Broncos - Denver wins 22–19

• Chiefs lose a lead late; Matt: “That's a game they normally win...an interesting thing to watch.” (55:06–55:44)

Dolphins vs. Commanders - Dolphins win 16–13 in Madrid, Spain

• Hosts admit limited viewing; joke about anti-Tua t-shirts at a Buffalo tailgate. (55:44–56:59)

Panthers vs. Falcons - Panthers win 30–27 (OT)

• “Falcons are the least predictable team in sports.” (57:19–57:48)
• Bryce Young: franchise record 448 passing yards, but hosts still unsure if he’s a sure-fire hit. (58:02–58:29)

Texans vs. Titans - Texans 16–13 (OT)

• Titans fandom in shambles; Drew: “No...I want the number one pick again.” (59:29–59:46)

Bears vs. Vikings - Bears win 19–17

• Dramatic finish; Santos rebounds for game-winning field goal.
• Matt: “The Bears are 7 and 3. They should be 9 and 1, as crazy as that sounds.” (65:42–67:20)

Packers vs. Giants - Packers 27–20

• Jordan Love and Brian Daboll notes; hosts question Giants star’s nightlife choices on game weekends. (69:42–70:57)

Steelers vs. Bengals - Steelers 34–12

• Rodgers exits; Mason Rudolph steps in.
• “Spitgate” between Jamar Chase and Jalen Ramsey: “Would you rather be punched or spit on?” (72:01–73:44)

Jaguars vs. Chargers - Jaguars 35–6

• “Absolute beatdown” for the Jags, Allen sets sack record.

Rams vs. Seahawks, Ravens vs. Browns, 49ers vs. Cardinals – Recapped with spirited MVP debates, coach of year musings, and questions about QB draft class strength. (76:13–84:53)

Final Reflections: Grading the Buffalo Trip

• Drew Franklin: “There’s the letter grade, but I can’t get high enough. 100 out of 100, A plus…this was the time of my life.” (48:43–49:14)
• On possible Bills "fandom conversion": "I am now a Bills fan. I guess I have three teams now." (49:59–50:21)

End-of-Episode Nuggets

• Bills players get Jersey Mike's after games; Bucs have a wings bar (ranch included). (86:14–87:20)
• Tailgate hospitality: Drew gets invited to the top row by a family of Syrian immigrants, highlighting the inclusivity (52:06–52:46)
• Even after a minor run-in with a pushy Tampa staffer, the overall verdict is overwhelmingly positive for Buffalo and its people. (88:03–89:31)

Notable Segment Timestamps

• Buffalo Fan Experience: 02:32–15:33
• Zubaz, Buffalo Fashion: 09:17–12:06
• Tailgating Food & Interview Segments: 14:08–29:40
• Locker Room & Press Box Stories: 35:12–39:19, 86:14–89:31
• NFL Game Recaps: 54:45–84:53
• Conclusion & Trip Grading: 48:43–50:21

Key Episode Takeaway

“If everybody was like Bills Mafia, we’d have world peace at this point.”
— Billy Rutledge (18:30–18:34)

The KSR crew’s trip illustrates the singular warmth and wildness of Buffalo fandom—inclusive, inventive, and completely unbothered by cold, judgment, or NFL convention. Whether sharing oxtail from a file cabinet, braving a blizzard for the pure love of team, or welcoming total strangers to their circle, Bills fans and the city itself steal the show, proving that football is about much more than X’s and O’s.