This group of Bills is looking to end Rich Stadium with a Super Bowl parade

There’s been plenty of recent history with the Baltimore Ravens and Buffalo Bills. But, as Bills sideline reporter Sal Capaccio of WGR in Western New York points out: this is the last season opener in the history of a stadium that has seen everything but a Super Bowl parade. Get ready for Lamar Jackson at Josh Allen to start the 2025 NFL madness in Orchard Park on Sunday night.

Nestor Aparicio and Sal Capaccio discuss the Buffalo Bills’ readiness to leave their old stadium with a Super Bowl visit, focusing on the upcoming game against the Baltimore Ravens. They reflect on the Bills’ recent history, including Josh Allen’s rise and the team’s consistent performance under Sean McDermott. The conversation highlights the Bills’ offensive continuity, defensive improvements, and the potential for a one-seed playoff position. They also touch on the emotional significance of hosting the AFC Championship game at home and the broader implications for the franchise and its fans. The discussion concludes with a look at the rivalry between Lamar Jackson and Josh Allen and the potential for both teams to achieve success.

Action Items

• [ ] @Nestor Aparicio – Encourage listeners to visit Buffalo and experience the tailgating, wings, and beef on weck before the game.
• [ ] Reach out to Ryan Pitotta, who started a GoFundMe page for Ravens player Mark Andrews, and have him on the show.

Outline

Buffalo Bills’ Historical Context and Expectations

• Nestor Aparicio discusses the excitement surrounding the Buffalo Bills’ upcoming game, mentioning his long-term planning and anticipation for the event.
• Nestor reminisces about past visits to Buffalo and the significant impact of Josh Allen on the city, comparing it to the Orioles’ history in Baltimore.
• Sal Capaccio shares a personal anecdote about the 2021 playoff game against the Ravens, highlighting the close call and the heartbreak of losing to the Chiefs again.
• The conversation touches on the historical significance of the Bills’ current stadium and its upcoming closure, drawing parallels to Baltimore’s Memorial Stadium.

The Rivalry Between Lamar Jackson and Josh Allen

• Nestor and Sal discuss the rivalry between Lamar Jackson and Josh Allen, noting their similarities and the high expectations for both players.
• Sal emphasizes the importance of the upcoming game, comparing it to previous matchups and the significance of the AFC Championship.
• The conversation highlights the parallels between the Bills and Ravens, including their head coaches and the challenges they face in the playoffs.
• Nestor and Sal reflect on the impact of past games and the potential for both teams to achieve success in the future.

Buffalo Bills’ Offensive and Defensive Strategies

• Sal provides an in-depth analysis of the Bills’ offensive continuity, noting the return of key players and the addition of new talent.
• The discussion covers the Bills’ defensive improvements, including the acquisition of Joey Bosa and the development of young players like Dion Dawkins and TJ Sanders.
• Sal mentions the challenges the Bills face in their secondary and the importance of maintaining health and consistency throughout the season.
• Nestor and Sal discuss the Bills’ schedule and the potential for the team to secure the number one seed in the AFC, emphasizing the importance of winning key games.

The Importance of the AFC Championship Game

• Nestor and Sal reflect on the significance of hosting the AFC Championship game at home, drawing parallels to past memorable moments in Buffalo.
• The conversation touches on the historical context of the Bills’ stadium and the emotional impact of winning a championship at home.
• Sal shares his personal experiences covering games in Buffalo and the unique atmosphere of the stadium.
• Nestor and Sal discuss the potential for a storybook season, including the possibility of winning the Super Bowl in San Francisco, where Josh Allen grew up.

The Legacy of Past Bills Teams and Players

• Nestor and Sal discuss the legacy of past Bills teams, including the impact of players like Jim Kelly and Thurman Thomas.
• The conversation highlights the challenges of winning a championship and the lasting impact it has on a franchise and its fans.
• Sal reflects on the importance of winning a Super Bowl for the current Bills team and the potential for creating new memories and traditions.
• Nestor and Sal discuss the broader implications of winning a championship, including the impact on the city and the fans’ sense of identity.

The Role of Media and Fan Engagement

• Nestor and Sal discuss the role of media in covering the Bills and the importance of fan engagement and support.
• The conversation touches on the impact of social media and the evolving landscape of sports journalism.
• Sal shares his experiences working with players and coaches, highlighting the unique dynamics of covering a team closely.
• Nestor and Sal reflect on the importance of maintaining a positive and supportive environment for both players and fans.

The Impact of the NFL Schedule and Playoff Scenarios

• Nestor and Sal discuss the impact of the NFL schedule on the Bills’ chances of winning the AFC Championship and securing a home playoff game.
• The conversation highlights the challenges of playing against tough opponents and the importance of winning key games early in the season.
• Sal provides an analysis of the Bills’ potential playoff scenarios, including the importance of winning the division and securing a high seed.
• Nestor and Sal reflect on the potential for the Bills to achieve success and the impact it would have on the franchise and its fans.

The Emotional Connection Between Fans and Teams

• Nestor and Sal discuss the emotional connection between fans and their teams, highlighting the importance of creating lasting memories and traditions.
• The conversation touches on the impact of past games and the significance of winning championships for both players and fans.
• Sal shares his personal experiences covering the Bills and the unique dynamics of covering a team closely.
• Nestor and Sal reflect on the importance of maintaining a positive and supportive environment for both players and fans.

The Role of Social Media and Fan Engagement

• Nestor and Sal discuss the role of social media in covering the Bills and the importance of fan engagement and support.
• The conversation highlights the impact of social media on the perception of players and teams, including the importance of maintaining a positive online presence.
• Sal provides an analysis of the Bills’ social media strategy and the importance of connecting with fans through various platforms.
• Nestor and Sal reflect on the broader implications of social media on sports journalism and the evolving landscape of fan engagement.

The Importance of Community and Team Spirit

• Nestor and Sal discuss the importance of community and team spirit in supporting the Bills and creating a positive environment for players and fans.
• The conversation highlights the role of local businesses and organizations in fostering a sense of community and support for the team.
• Sal shares his experiences working with local businesses and the impact of community engagement on the Bills’ success.
• Nestor and Sal reflect on the broader implications of community involvement on the franchise and its fans, emphasizing the importance of maintaining a strong sense of identity and tradition.

Bills reporter Sal Capaccio sa…per Bowl visit but first Lamar

Sat, Aug 30, 2025 12:03PM • 30:17

SUMMARY KEYWORDS

Buffalo Bills, Josh Allen, Lamar Jackson, Super Bowl, Highmark Stadium, AFC Championship, NFL season, Baltimore Ravens, offensive line, defensive line, playoffs, football history, stadium closure, fan excitement, sports rivalry.

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SPEAKERS

Nestor Aparicio, Sal Capaccio

Nestor Aparicio  00:01

Welcome home. We are W, N, S, T am 1570 towns in Baltimore. We are Baltimore positive, and we are getting ready for the big game. I’ve got my curio Well, in the shirt on it is the, you know, we’re here. It’s tastiness. It’s getting to the end our 27th anniversary countdown. I put my favorite foods out there, we got football. Everything I’ve been planning for like five, six months, ever since I knew the Orioles stunk has been around September 7, and circling the calendar, Buffalo start the season. Back to the scene of the crime. Last time I got together with this guy, we still had a chance. We thought Andrew was going to catch the ball South apachio covers, all things Buffalo Bills. We really enjoyed the visit with him. I enjoyed everything about all my visits with you buffalo people to the game starts, especially in the January games that are up there. This is really special. Sal, right? I mean, end of the stadium last you know the expectation. I’ve been in your town once since last year, and saw the Josh Allen stuff all over every billboard. There’s more of him than there are the buffaloes on the side of the road these days in Buffalo, but a lot of expectation and that giant stadium coming up overall, this feels very Renaissance, but it feels like it’s missing a ring finger and it’s missing a parade, and this is where the party starts, right?

Sal Capaccio  01:19

Yeah, for sure. Good to be with you again. It’s funny, you know that that play you mentioned at the end of the game, Mark Andrews obviously drops the ball two point conversion. I was the closest person on the planet to him at the time. I actually picked up the ball and handed it to the official. I was standing right there at the at the pylon, and I thought he had it, and then all of a sudden he didn’t. And you’re like, Oh my God. And you realize you’re you’re one on side kick away from recovering and going to the AFC Championship, and that obviously happened, and then the bills lose to the Chiefs once again in heartbreaking fashion in Kansas City, having the ball and late and couldn’t get the job done. And here we are again. Fast Forward, what six, seven months, these two teams match up once again, and no doubt, they’re two of the best teams in the AFC they’re both considered, you know, Super Bowl contenders, not only for the AFC Championship with the overall Lombardi championship and Lombardi trophy. And, yeah, Josh Allen is the MVP now, and this is a matchup of the last two MVPs, Josh against Lamar. It’s a matchup of last year’s division. Around playoff we know that anything can happen when these two teams play, and when you do come to Buffalo for this game, and I’m sure there’s going to be very much highlighted on Sunday night football, right above the end zone where there’s more the what we call there’s a tunnel end zone, a scoreboard end zone. Right above the scoreboard end zone. You do see the new Highmark stadium coming out of the shadows, basically. And it is ready to rock and roll in a year. And this is the last ever this this Sunday the last ever home opener at the current Highmark Stadium, which used to be rich stadium, and Ralph Wilson Stadium in new airfield. And it’s been, you know, 53

Nestor Aparicio  02:47

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years. Well, I’ve been through all of that with Memorial Stadium, right? I mean, here in Baltimore, when we say goodbye to that, we say goodbye to a franchise, I’ve been showing my old colts ticket stubs off this week, having people like Clark judge and John McClane on to kick off the season. And because we have a colt reunion coming up for the 50th anniversary of the 75 team, which had Ted March abroad, was a part of that. So there’s a piece of history, you know, in regard to Buffalo and all of that. That was OJ Simpson’s territory. But, I mean, I I’ve been to Buffalo Manny many times. I mean, I was at those big games back in the 80s when the K gun offense and beating up on art shell and Jay Schrader in the championship game to go to a Super Bowl wide right? All of that history that’s there. Josh Allen stands at the forefront of changing that. And you know you’re good enough. You know you have a chance. Where there are many years, 17 years you weren’t in the playoffs, I’m an Oriole fan, and there’s many years you don’t have a chance. I see that little Yankee bobblehead there. Yes, that’s right, you’re angering my blood up south Apache. But I would just say, for the buffalo fans and for what the stadium represents, it’s like, all right, you know, there’s no grandparents with stories, or aunts and uncles or big brothers with any stories of a bills parade I told receive last week, and his wife’s from chick the walk into pew and Amherst, yeah. So, you know, I said, if we can’t win, I want you to win. But, like, there is a point in all of this that everybody’s chasing homes. Man,

Sal Capaccio  04:12

yeah, listen, I think that the same could be said for here we have this. There’s this real big infighting, rivalry. We saw it come out in a really bad way. I thought last year before the bills played the Ravens between Bills fans and Ravens fans Lamar against Josh and MVP and all that stuff. But the God’s honest truth, from my perspective, is I love Lamar Jackson. If Josh Allen can’t win one, I hope Lamar Jackson wins one, and maybe they can both win one someday. But you know, as long as it’s not the Chiefs now and them keep winning, but they’re so tied in right? Because they came out in the same draft class, Josh and Lamar, and they’ve been chasing and neither him, neither of them, has gotten to a Super Bowl yet, and yet, they’ve been very, very close to do that. They both have MVPs, and of course, Lamar has a couple now, and I just think that they’re both right there that some at some point, you know, one of them, hopefully he gets it. And we wanted to be us here. Buffalo, and you want to be you in there, in Baltimore. So they’re so tied together. And I agree with you from that standpoint, which is, boy, if it can’t be Josh and the bills, at some point, I’d like to be Lamar and the Ravens. Because, yes, John Harbaugh and Lamar and the in the Baltimore Ravens have won a Super Bowl. And, you know, the Ravens have won a couple, but with this head coach, but it’s been a long time, and I think there’s a lot of parallels between these two teams. The head coaches have been there both of them for a long time, and even though John Harbaugh has a Super Bowl, it’s quite a while ago, and there’s a lot of people saying, Is he the guy to be able to bring this team to a Super Bowl? Same thing it said here about Sean McDermott despite all the success, right? And then you have, you know, people talk about what’s happened in the playoffs with Lamar Jackson and some of the turnovers. Then you talk about Josh Allen, and yeah, he’s, he’s, he’s been great, but you know, he he’s had the ball twice in his hands late in games against Kansas City, and they haven’t been able to win all these narratives that come out. Fact is, they’re both great, and only one team can win every year, and we’ll see how much this game goes towards helping that at the end of the year, I will say last year, the Ravens crushed the bills in the regular season. In the bills still wound up with a better seed. The bills beat the chiefs in the regular season, and the Chiefs still wound up with a better seed. So this game is big, but it doesn’t have to mean what happens at the end of the year. And you know where these two teams fall, because there’s a lot of football

Nestor Aparicio  06:13

to be played. Well, obviously, last year’s a long time ago, whether you won or lost. I mean, I say that for like the commanders, our other team here, you know as to whether they’ll be you think you’re something and then you’re not ask any Oriole fan around here what happened this year. When things go wrong, pitching goes wrong, players don’t develop. The Ravens have this reputation and this aura about them, certainly in watching generations of this, whether it was Shannon Sharpe and Rob Woodson coming in, or whether it was Matt Burke signing up for this and Anquan Boldin and then Steve Smith and Eric Weddle trying, you know, like these veteran players, and whether it’s the death moves to steal roquan Smith at the trading deadline, but Derek Henry signing up to come and play Odell Beckham wanting to play with Lamar going back to Dion, wanting to play with Ray Lewis, right like players want to come in. DeAndre Hopkins is the guy this year. Henry was the guy last year. Jair Alexander comes in. Now. Remains to be seen whether they can stay healthy or not, because of that relationship with Lamar and all that, they’ve recruited talent in one of the reasons Josh Allen won the MVP to his credit, and I don’t need a homer from Buffalo to tell me. But this time last year, we got together, I had you on the show before the beat down here, and it was like, hey, bills are a little bit diminished. I mean, they lost some players there. It’s early in the year. They’re trying to make it Mel, trying to make it gel. Then you look up at the end of the year, Josh Allen’s decorated has done all of these things, and that’s one of the reasons so many of the voters said, Well, I mean, he had less to work with. I mean, Lamar got Derek Henry last year. No wonder it turned out pretty good, right? So I think there’s a little piece of that give me the bills outlook of the offseason, because I can sit here and say the Ravens might have gotten better. I mean, the Ravens haven’t been diminished in the off season at all. They brought up some pieces. They signed Kyle Hamilton to this big deal at the same time that old man Jerry’s giving Michael Parsons away, you know, within 24 hours. And are the bills better? What have the bills done? Because they’re quietly, maybe like the duck underwater in the off season, they had problems with the running back hold ins. We haven’t had a hold in around here in a long time. Man,

Sal Capaccio  08:21

well, he’s back. He signed two weeks ago. So, you know, that was never really an issue. He did everything, except for two weeks of training camp, right? But he did everything in the off season. James Cook,

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Nestor Aparicio  08:29

he was never a feeling he wasn’t gonna play Sunday night, right? Really? No, he’s been back

Sal Capaccio  08:33

for a few weeks now. So everything is it worked out there, but certainly was a bit of a distraction for a little while, especially with hard knocks and all that. You know the here, but

Nestor Aparicio  08:41

we had Lamar as a distraction two years ago. That’s all I talked about for six months, right?

Sal Capaccio  08:45

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Yeah, so, so let me give you about the bills the off season. I’ve never seen a team with as much continuity on offense as the Buffalo Bills from last year to this year, and this is a team that broke records on offense. They scored over 30 points a game. They were the second best scoring team in the league, and that’s without a true number one, quote, unquote wide receiver after moving on from Stefan Diggs last year. But there’s really very, very, very little change in the bills offense. Nestor, I don’t know if you’ve ever seen this before, but not only, the bills had a really good offensive line last year, and they brought back all 10, not just all five, all 10 of their offensive linemen, like every starter and every reserve, when you have that, you can just continue to build on what you have, right? Which is great for them. All the running backs are the same. All the tight ends are the same. They added the best blocking tight end in the draft, Jackson Hawes, the only issue, the only changes out are Mac Hollins and Amari Cooper at wide receiver and income, Joshua Palmer, Elijah Moore at wide receiver. And I think that you could argue they’re better, but who knows it’s you have? Josh Allen, I think that matter, what the real change is on defense. The bills believe they’re a lot better on defense. When they played that game against the Ravens Sunday night, we they were diminished. They were without Matt Milano, Terrell, Bernard and Taryn Johnson, arguably the three best defenders. They’re all healthy, they’re all playing but really what they did was they went and attacked the defensive line. The reason why the bills a big reason why the bills have not been able to beat the Kansas City Chiefs. When it’s come to the playoffs, they haven’t been able to get the Patrick mahomes haven’t been able to get him on the ground. So they went out this off season. They signed Joey Bosa, and he stayed healthy this preseason, and he looks good. I really like the way Joey Bosa has played in the way he’s looked. You got to keep them healthy. Though it’s a long season. They went out and they spent early draft picks on Dion Walker and TJ Sanders come in and help on the defensive line. They signed Michael Hoyt, who’s going to really help him, but he’s out this game because he suspended six weeks to start the season. And they drafted Max Hairston, their first round pick, a corner. He’s out because he got hurt spraying his LCL. He’s out for the first four weeks of the season, at least with IR so yes, I believe there definitely can be better, but there’s still some issues where people are like, Are they good enough? Tredavi White got hurt at corner. Former Raven come he was a bill. He’s a raven. At the end of the year, plays in the playoff game. Comes back to Buffalo. Are their safeties good enough? There’s still some questions about the secondary. I think in I think Bills fans honest, Bills fans would tell you they feel very good about the front seven and what they can do to get better at after the quarterback and stop the run. But is the secondary going to hold up? Considering they have some questions, it could be great, but we don’t know yet, until they play, and that’s why this is a really big challenge

Nestor Aparicio  11:07

for them. Well, and it’s the bills have a different kind of schedule too than the Ravens. I mean, the Ravens have just this unbelievable freight train schedule. They got Flacco next week coming in, but then Detroit, and then at Kansas City, they got the Rams early in the year, just, you know, just, it’s a difficult schedule. I look at the bills and look at the, you know, the cushiness and the A seems always cushy for the Patriots when they were the Patriots for the most part, you know, it’s, it’s one of the easier schedules where you look at and say they’re a way better team than those other three teams in there. They might go six and, oh, and that’s another part of this thing, that even if you take a game from the bills, you’re like, they got some automatics in there to get them up into the twelves and 13, that you better get a game up on the bills. If you’re a team like the ravens, and you’re gonna have a schedule like this, because you’re gonna want, you’re gonna need this one in your cap at some point, the ravens are really in a tough way with the

Sal Capaccio  12:01

schedule early in a year. Yeah, listen, I agree with you, and I’ll say what I’ve said for a while and tell people is there’s one thing the bills haven’t done here. Over the last five years, they’ve won five straight division championships. They’ve gone to, what, three AFC Championship games, two AC championship games, but two of them. But the one thing they haven’t done, they haven’t had the one seed, they haven’t had the one seed, where they’ve had the week off, and then a home game, and then another home game. And I think this schedule sets up for them to have the one seed this year if they can stay healthy and, you know, do what they’re supposed to do, exactly why you said a the division. I mean, division games are always tough. I actually think the Patriots will be a lot better this year. I don’t know how, but how, much better. And of course, the dolphins can always, you know, put some points on the board. We’ll see what the Jets are. But I agree with you. It’s not the AFC north, right? You’re not fighting with Cincinnati for two games and Pittsburgh two games. And of course, that rivalry with the browns, so they should be able to take care of their division games. And here’s the other part about the schedule. Yes, they go on all their all their toughest games. I say that because we don’t know what every team will be. Nestor, ravens, chiefs, eagles, Bengals, all at home for the bills. Everything on the road is against teams that they should be able to match up with and beat. I think they’re favored right now, projected be favored and pretty much every single game this year. The other part about the schedule, which is really fascinating to me, the bills play one game outside the Eastern Time Zone, one, and that game is a Thursday night game in the Central Time Zone against the Houston Texans. When you have that few a little bit of travel on your body, on your schedule, coaches and players love it, and you can stay in a routine. So I think the schedule really sets up for the bills this year to do what they have not done yet in this five year run with Josh Allen winning division championships, and that is a possibly get the one seed, but you got to beat the ravens, you got to beat the chiefs, you got to beat the Bengals. Got to beat him out. And a game like this can go a long

Nestor Aparicio  13:45

way for that. Well, you just made your case for Josh to not be the MVP this year because the schedule is too easy. So, you know, I’ll throw that at saccapacio is here. He’ll be on the sidelines on Sunday evening. Sunday, Sunday. Sunday. Real football, man. It’s feel does it feel like 10 years ago that Andrews dropped up? It kind of does to me, just like a long time ago. And I would say, for everything you’ve told me, just awakened me to the fact, because I know what that was like here. We spent 28 years here chasing an AFC Championship Game, and then Taylor Swift came and sat in the upper deck. We got her feelings hurt two years ago, and I was in Buffalo for the art shell Jay Schrader game. That was the first time they went to a Super Bowl in Buffalo. That AFC Championship Game is a little bit of a holy grail in any year, because you can’t host the Super Bowl at home. So I know talking about it all of these years, and we the time we’d had it before, two years ago was the 1970 colts against, you know, like, That’s how far back it goes in Baltimore to have the AFC Championship game. We still haven’t won one since then, since the franchise began. So for the for the bills, to do that kind of thing at home in that stadium where OJ played, like all of that thing where Jim, Jim Kelly. You all of that. This is the only year they can do that, and they’re capable of doing that so much so that you’re talking about it, and I’m sort of talking about it and buying in. It’s a romantic year for them. It’s a real Renaissance year in so many ways, for the bills franchise, which makes it a big deal all over Western New

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Sal Capaccio  15:18

York. I mean, let me, let me give you the the whole storybook that people have talked about here, which is, you close down this stadium in the AFC Championship game at home, you get the one seed you you, and you have a chance to hoist the Lamar Hunt trophy on the final ever game played at this stadium. I mean, how incredible storybook would that be? And then on top of that, two weeks later, the Super Bowl is being played an hour and a half from where Josh Allen grew up, San Francisco, California. I mean, you talk about storybook and what this, this season could be, and that’s what people are trying to romanticize about. That’s what we all do, right? That’s what all football fans and sports fans do. You romanticize in a certain way, and you put it in your head, and then you would open up, and if you would win it, you’d open up a new, brand new stadium on the first game of the year with these banners and the celebration on Thursday

Nestor Aparicio  16:04

night, right? And they bring Lamar in. I don’t know

Sal Capaccio  16:07

if they’re playing next year at home, we’d see, but that’s the storybook. You know, this year there’s been a lot of video and oral histories about this stadium, and you’re right. I mean, there’s so much history here, and I’ve been there for a lot, lot of them as a fan and as now a reporter and a sideline reporter. It’s my 12th year on the sidelines. I have incredible stories that I’ve shared with people about, you know, going to those games as a fan as a kid, and also being a part of, you know, the radio broadcast that game. If you ask Bills fans, we’ve done this, if you ask Bills fans like, what’s the greatest game ever played at this stadium that’s closing down over this year, you’re gonna get one of two answers. Generally, maybe one of three, depending on your age, the three answers would be the greatest comeback in NFL history when they came back against the Oilers, okay, the 51 to three AFC Championship Game, which that’s my choice that you just referenced. I was in. I was a senior in

Nestor Aparicio  16:57

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high school. Oh, I remember that day like it was yesterday. 41 to three at halftime, the bills make me want to shout, yeah, you know, yeah. Mightiness doesn’t go, I remember all

Sal Capaccio  17:05

that stuff, but, but Esther even then, like it wasn’t what I remember about that was, was 41 to three at halftime, and it was a party for a whole hour and a half in that stadium the whole second half. And the chance that went up. Thank you bills. Thank you bills. And Super Bowl, Super Bowl. That was incredible. But anyway, the other game would be just a few years ago, 2021 playoffs at night, what we call the perfect game, when they finally put the final nail in the coffin of Bill Belichick and the New England Patriots and scored at every single drive and just ran them out of town and crushed them and throwing touchdown passes the offensive lineman and playing with them like that was an incredible night. It was zero degrees. Was it was a great it was super cold. It was, I think, nine degree, nine below. It didn’t matter. Nobody cared. Hot chocolate was freezing, and people had the best time. Those are the three games I think that everybody says are the greatest games ever played inside this stadium.

Nestor Aparicio  17:52

South Apache was here. I love this conversation, because something really special is happening in Baltimore this week. So I don’t know if he has it’s the 30th anniversary of Cal Ripken, 21/3 awesome Saturday, November. You know, it’s literally this week. So it’s, it’s kind of a memorable weekend for fans here, cows being honored. Messina is coming back, you know, all that stuff, right? So that I’m a sucker for that nostalgia. Well, I know you are in your baseball guys. I mean, my last name is Aparicio, so let’s start the party here. So, you know, the stadium open in 92 the baseball stadium, which was our Renaissance, which our Gateway Arch, Camden Yards. All that certainly. You know, one thinks of the football stadium as being architecturally anything here they’re like Camden Yards, ooh, you know, and I live downtown, this was my view of the harbor, and I had the view of the stadium. You’ve probably seen it in our other piece. I probably had Camden Yards behind me, and how it changed my town, how it changed the feelings about my town, and what’s going on in your town with stadia and all that. But then you look up and it’s 33 years later, and you’re like, oh, most famous thing that ever happened in the stadium was 2131 not a small thing, but not a championship thing. And you know what Oriole fans talk about modern Oriole fans. They’re like, Oh, the greatest thing ever was the Delman young double dude. You don’t even know what the hell the Delman young double even is. There was a Delmon young double against the Tigers in a in a in a regular playoff series that got them into the ALCS against the Royals in 14 where they didn’t win a game didn’t have a lead, so storm won a playoff game all these years later. So that game to a modern Oriole fan, they’re like, Oh my God, it was a Delmon young double. Like, you bring up this Bill Belichick game, and I’m outside. I’m like, that all you got Josh Allen, you know, that’s your it’s like Lamar has a highlight reel that’s better than any highlight reel in the history of the game. It’s not Jim Brown or Walter Payton. I mean, literally, right? It’s crazy the highlight reel. But it doesn’t mean anything if you don’t win and you don’t have that memorable thing, dude, that AFC Championship game, that’s a memory when you win an AFC Championship game at home, you were there as a kid. That’s your goal. Greatest memory, because that’s what you have to have silver hair to have that memory. And I think there’s part of that for any fan base making that memory, and you have that chance, and the only way you can do that is to win games in late January, right? And that’s something that both of these franchises, chiefs fans are like, which one do you want? Which memory Do you want? You know, and we’re all sort of planning away for that. And that’s probably why beating up Belichick felt so good, because he we, he did it to us here till Flaco, yeah, they exercised it, you know, he

Sal Capaccio  20:28

also it was Tom I mean, you have to understand this. They were in the same division, and they crushed him for 25 straight years. It was literally, like, ruining people’s childhoods, childhoods, right? I mean, like, so I think that game was the ultimate, oh my God. They finally like, this is it, we slayed the dragon. So, yeah, I mean, right, it’s a it’s a game. But that game meant way more than just beating the Patriots or Bill Belichick. It was what it meant to the people who grew up for 25 straight years. Tom Brady literally signed a jersey. The other day. Someone sent him one of those new bills, like you rivalry jerseys. He is a Josh Allen. He put 33 and 333, dash three, dash three, because that was his record against the bills, 33 and three. I mean, that’s why it meant so much. So, yeah, I think if you’re a certain age and you’re not old guys like us,

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Nestor Aparicio  21:11

right, that’s, that’s all you got, that’s all you got until and the other difference is still the next that.

Sal Capaccio  21:17

The other difference is you do have two rings in Baltimore, yeah, right, so we don’t hear so anytime you have like, these unbelievable, incredible, hey, I mean, honestly, to me, the greatest play maybe ever, the most historical play ever in that stadium might be the Taron Johnson pick six against the Ravens during the covid playoff year, right? Like that to me, because of what it meant for the bills to go on like the next week, the ravens are about to score, to tie it up. Taryn Johnson goes back, because we don’t have that championship under this regime. We don’t have a Super Bowl. Those are the things now, what now it’s going to happen? Nestor is new, know, this because you lived through this. I lived through it with Syracuse basketball chasing, you know, championships for years. You need a mellow one, yeah, once you get one those other memories that meant so much, they don’t qualify as much, and I think that’s what you’re saying, which, once you get it, that’s what matters, right? And you know that, but until that, we’re still chasing, and that’s what we have right now. Well,

Nestor Aparicio  22:12

Brian Billick is my partner here for years, and I’ve seen him give his speech so many times, and he would always hold a Super Bowl ring up. You say, see that that’s a Super Bowl ring. You know, they tell you that that day you win it, that they can never take it away from you, but that won’t stop them from trying. That’s right. That’s

Sal Capaccio  22:28

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exactly right. You know, it’s funny, but we also live through and you you’re of the agent No, like, Yeah, four Super Bowls Jim Kelly, and they didn’t win anything. And the further we get away from that, we know how special that was. And, you know, Dan Marino never won a championship, right? I mean, I do think that there’s some I push back on the people who say, well, it doesn’t matter if you don’t win one. I think those, I would never take anything away from those careers or those people. They were unbelievable at what they did. I think, as a city, as a collective, as an organization, as a fan base, sure, you know, I don’t know what would happen if the bills ever won it, but I’m close to Jim and Thurman and all those guys. Thurman’s a very good friend of mine now, and and I see what you know, Dan Marino and Dan Fouts and those guys who never won it. And I think you have so much more of an appreciation, sometimes even for the people who didn’t win one that, to me, is unfair, that it should define those legacies. You know what I mean?

Nestor Aparicio  23:16

Yeah. And I think for that’s part of Lamar versus Josh on Sunday night that I’ve talked about that said I remember when Peyton couldn’t win, and then he did, and then his brother, and then he had to chase his brother. And I also remember Philip Rivers, and I remember Randall Cunningham, and I remember Matt Ryan, who could have should, like, there’s just a lot of guys out there that that spent Roethlisberger spent years chasing, Flacco spent years chasing, you know, Drew Brees spent years chasing.

Sal Capaccio  23:42

They may not in the same category. My guy, Donovan McNabb, went to, like, four, three championship games in the Super Bowl, never won one, you know,

Nestor Aparicio  23:49

yeah, and that diminishes something, but it doesn’t diminish the chase, like the Deep Purple song, you know, I mean the thrill of the chase for every Bills fan, for what it means on Sunday night, for younger people who Lamar is all they got. They don’t remember Ray Lewis or and, you know, we’re at that point generationally, where you’re about to pass that torch into the new stadium. And I’ll leave with this. Salcapacio is here, just as I know you’re an old Bills fan and I’m an old broken Arctic colts fan here. And reliving some of that a little bit with the cold, we have a colts reunion next week. So it’s 75 Colts. Burt Jones was, you know, something here when I was that’s my first love. And seven year old, you know, there, there is a point for all of this. I think, new season, new beginning, zero and zero, new memories to be made. And just, I think, a great game. And the league draws these games up to make us really interested. Somebody’s got their feelings hurt on Monday. Brother,

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Sal Capaccio  24:42

yeah, for sure. And like, I don’t love that. It’s the first game of the year. I think that’s a game that should be saved for later. You gotta mean, I really do. I like last the bills, the last four years, they had to open on Thursday night, the opener against the Rams. After the Rams won the Super Bowl, the bills were the opening night opponent. The next year, they had to go Monday night at the Jets. This year. Saturday night against the Ravens last year, Arizona, Cardinals come to town, home opener, Sunday, one o’clock in the afternoon. Beautiful Orchard Park New York, picturesque scene in the fall. I like that. I wish it would be it would be that, because I think these two teams, this is high anxiety for everybody, right? You’re opening up with this particular game. Somebody’s going to but you know what the beauty is, Nestor, there’s 16 games left after that, and they’re all going to go on to week two no matter what. And you know, the Ravens last year, remember, they lost to the Raiders right early on in the season week two, right after that tough game to open the chiefs, and they still had a really, really fantastic season. It’s a long season. It’s, um, it’s not a sprint, it’s a marathon. And we have to remember that no matter what happens, I think, on Monday night, but you’re right Sunday night. Excuse me, but getting up Monday morning, somebody’s going to feel really hurt, and somebody’s going to say, I can’t watch, wait to watch all the highlight shows everywhere, because I’m going to relive my team winning.

Nestor Aparicio  25:49

I’ve done purple therapy here after losses on Mondays for 30 years. We’ll be here win, lose, or even if what won’t be a draw, but either way, South apachio, I will be on the sidelines on Sunday South sports, right? The easiest way to find you, give them what you do,

Sal Capaccio  26:05

yeah, for sure. Easiest way to find me, everything I do. I’m on WGR sports radio, 550 in Buffalo. But you know this day and age everywhere at South sports, you can find everything I do, all the content that I create. We have a really great podcast. And my buddy, Matt Beauvais, he’s the sports director at the ABC affiliate here in Buffalo, and you can find us, it’s called, it’s always game day in Buffalo, and that’s at sell sports on video. You can download it on iTunes, and, of course, at cell sports on X, Facebook, YouTube, Twitter, whatever it is, you know, you want to call it Instagram. That’s, that’s the name I got it years ago. And luckily, I kept with it so I could just kind of keep that branding going at sales sports.

Nestor Aparicio  26:40

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I’ve had so much fun this week because I have so many have so many Vic carucci’s been on this week, you know, chasing old friends. And I have Ryan pitotta On this beautiful young man who created the GoFundMe page for Mark Andrews. He is have him on your show, Sal, there’s my gift to you. His name’s Ryan patota. Started his GoFundMe page, raised $164,000 so far for juvenile diabetes in the aftermath of bullying of Mark Andrews and I went up. I had dinner with his family at bar bills at the best and I had the best beef on whack I’ve ever had in my life. So I’ll tell everybody, if you’re going to Buffalo this weekend, go for the tailgate. Stay for the football game, but get some beef on wet. Get some wings. You know, do all what the locals do up there, and be safe and have a good time, because we’re probably coming back in January if we lose, and it’ll be a hell hole up there in January, if they’re shutting that stadium down so and

Sal Capaccio  27:31

maybe, maybe bills will be in Baltimore in January, if the if the Ravens pick this one. Remember, though last year it went the other way. Real quick. Story I gotta share. I gotta think on the side of the lines last Sunday, last year, Sunday night football, and I’m there and I’m doing the thing, and, you know, the bills are losing pretty bad. And I look up and they’re showing on the big video board in Baltimore at the stadium, and it’s Steve Smith, wide receiver, and he’s in the band. And I’m like, wait a minute, Steve Smith’s part of the what’s going on here. I’m a drummer. Steve Smith is a drummer. He’s in the marching band for the Baltimore Ravens. I’m like, Oh my God. And we’ve met each other a few times in our brain. Few times in our broadcasting career. Going to so i want to he it was amazing. I love it see that he didn’t come there to be Steve Smith. He came there to be a drummer in the marching band at the Ravens game. And it was amazing. And I love him, and he’s my guy, and I just love kind of stuff like that, and then all the different connections that

Nestor Aparicio  28:17

happen. Well, it should be both of our goals for the season to make Taylor Swift come to our stadium there, instead of having to go to Taylor Swift stadium. So of course, last time she came here, it didn’t end so good for us. And she said it was the greatest football memory ever being on the field in Baltimore.

Sal Capaccio  28:34

Well, she’s engaged now. Josh got engaged to Hailey Seinfeld a couple of months ago, of course, famous actress. So you know, I mean, we’re watching all of these people, Lamar, Josh, everybody, included, just grow up before our very eyes, right? I mean, Josh and Lamar are going to be turning 30 within the next year or so. So it’s just amazing that, you know, we’re here after this many years, and watching this and keeps the train running, right? I just wanted to turn

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Nestor Aparicio  28:59

out better than DiMaggio Maryland did is I throw a cheap shot at you Yankee guys up there. Sal capacio torturing me with Yankee paraphernalia, some Syracuse stuff. Oh, it’s a decking Matsui. Well, he was a nice man. What about my guy? Wait,

Sal Capaccio  29:12

I went this. I seen a bobblehead. No, no, I this is actually from Orioles Yankees. This year, they had this the Aaron judge Superman when they promoted the Superman movie, and that was actually they gave that away. And I was at Yankee Stadium against the Orioles this year, and they gave that away. And the Orioles crushed the Yankees that night, by the way. But yeah, there you go. You

Nestor Aparicio  29:30

know what the Orioles should do, having a lane Bennis bobblehead night for the Orioles. It’s an idea for Katie Griggs, there you go, that you could have it dance all different ways. She was from Towson. I am Nestor. We are W NSC, man, we got to play this football game. I may bother you after the game. South capacio. He’s on the sidelines. He covers the bills better than anybody. Find him in South sports. You can find Luke and owing smells. If you’re under w n s t tech service, you’ll get breaking news. First all of it brought to you by Cole roofing and Gordian energy. And I want to give a special shout out to our friends at chief. BMC for sponsoring the GBMC hotline around here, and for trying to get a 56 year old guy to do all the men’s health stuff that he doesn’t want to do. My God, it’s going to be a tough football season, especially if they don’t win. Monday morning, we’ll be here to break it down. Luke and I stay with us. We’re Baltimore positive.