Lamar Jackson shoved a Buffalo Bills fan back into his seat after getting smacked on the helmet as NFL’s Sunday night game turned nasty in the third quarter, before the Baltimore Ravens capitulated and blew a 15-point lead.
In a second shameful scene of unrest, a Bills supporter threw a beer at Ravens star Derrick Henry, narrowly missing the running back as he scored a touchdown in the fourth quarter. The hardcore ‘Bills Mafia’ fanbase were rebelling as their team were getting blown away by the Ravens, before the Bills somehow came back to win.
Even Bills quarterback Josh Allen, unaware of the depths of Bills fans’ behavior, called them out in his post-game interview on the field at Highmark Stadium just minutes after sensationally flipping the scoreline.
‘Our team didn’t quit,’ Allen said to NBC. ‘I think there were people who left the stadium (early). That’s ok, we’ll be fine. But have some faith next time.’
The most controversial moment of was in the third quarter, when Ravens quarterback Jackson clashed with a Bills fan who smacked DeAndre Hopkins’ helmet before hitting out at again, this time at the signal caller.
Hopkins and Jackson were celebrating after the wide receiver took a stunning one-handed catch to extend the Ravens’ lead to 34-19. As they danced in celebration, a young Bills fan reached over from his seat and slapped Hopkins’ helmet before doing the same to Jackson.
Lamar Jackson pushed a Buffalo Bills fan who kept slapping players on the helmet
The fan started the incident by first slapping DeAndre Hopkins on the helmet after a TD
A beer was then thrown at Derrick Henry as he raced into the endzone for a touchdown
But the 6ft 2, 215lbs quartback snapped and rather than ignoring it like Hopkins, turned and grabbed the fan with both hands before pushing him away.
Then in the fourth quarter, as Henry raced into the endzone for his second touchdown of the night, a beer was thrown at the Ravens running back, narrowly missing him and the Bills players in pursuit. But astonishingly, despite trailing by 15 points in the fourth quarter, Allen’s team somehow came back to win 41-40.
Most of the immediate reaction backed quarterback Jackson for hitting back against the fan.
‘I think Lamar saw the first one and took one himself,’ NBC analyst Cris Collinsworth said, watching the replay back.
‘I’m not excusing, you can’t go after fans in the stands but sometimes that gets a little ridiculous.’
‘Don’t tell me Lamar Jackson did anything wrong here!’ NFL Insider Jordan Schultz added on X. ‘He was simply responding to a fan being utterly ridiculous and doing something no fan should EVER do — make contact with a player. Fans shouldn’t be touching players. End of story.’
Bills fans – known as ‘Bills Mafia’ – have a reputation for causing rowdy atmospheres, especially when their team plays in the late games in the NFL. They even have a ‘table smashing’ tradition when they tailgate before kickoff at Highmark Stadium.
But they were being mocked by the rest of the NFL on Sunday for their behavior as their team were getting beat.
‘The Ravens have Bills fans crashing out tonight. This time someone throws a beer can at Derrick Henry as he pours on another touchdown,’ one fan said who shared the caption of the beer being thrown at Henry.
The Ravens were celebrating after a sensational one-handed catch from Hopkins
Ravens running back Henry, meanwhile, had been in sensational form against the Bills
It reflected what had been a largely disappointing night for the Bills in the first game of a season, where many backed them to make the step into serious Super Bowl contenders.
But for the most part they looked a level below the Ravens, who blew them away with running back Derrick Henry rushing for 169 yards, as well as Jackson starting 2025 in fifth gear with 209 yards and two touchdowns.
But a late Keon Coleman touchdown made it a one-score game that flattered the Bills. They sensed their opening.
And then Henry, who had been flawless throughout, made an inexcusable fumble that gave Allen’s team a shot at tying the game with two minutes on the clock. Momentum grew.
But astonishingly, it was Josh Allen and the Bills who were celebrating at the end of the game
It came down to a kick from Matt Prater from 32 yards, taking to the field in the absence of the injured Tyler Bass.
He made no mistake and suddenly, those fans who lashed out at Jackson and threw beers at Henry were made to look even more foolish for turning against their team.
Collinsworth added on NBC commentary: ‘It just never, ever felt like they were going to stop the Ravens. And yet, here we are.’
This article was originally published by a www.dailymail.co.uk . Read the Original article here. .