HOUSTON — Just an hour after sunrise, cars were already lining up in the designated Bills backers tailgating spot in Houston.
A full seven hours before kickoff, which ended in a 22-19 overtime loss in the wild card round, but Bills fans filled the time meeting fellow backers from far and wide.
Cathie Smith lives in New Orleans, but her husband is a Buffalo Native. So as long as the Saints aren't playing, she cheers ton the Bills.
"We do it together, we tailgate, we have a great time," she said. " It's all fun, crazy, crazy fun."
There was this "tailgate" within the "tailgate." Organized on Facebook for people who were mostly solo, but wanted that big group experience.
"it's about 300 strong now that are coming," said Nick Luciano, a Bills fan from New Jersey. "Most one or two-sies coming in from all different parts actually of the world."
Derrick Counts found a unique way to travel to the game, his big rig. Counts is a professional truck driver.
"I just find a load coming this way and I follow the team."
There were even honeymooners making the best of the Bills tailgating experience.
"We decided to go to all the Bills away games for our honeymoon," said Emily Kayne with her new husband Chris. "Now that we made the playoffs, here we are."
The couple says as long as the Bills are winning, they'll keep going, making it easily the Most Buffalo honeymoon.
Bills fans have arrived in Houston, and thousands of them have begun to party in style a day before the playoff game against the Texans.
But the Bills takeover of Houston started on earlier in the week.
The Bills Backers of Houston are hosted a massive block party Friday at Christian's Tailgate Bar and Grill, which is where the group meets to watch every Bills game.
2 On Your Side asked Bills Backers of Houston President Katie O'Brien what to expect at the street party.
"Pure madness," she said. "Christian's Tailgate and Bar has done a phenomenal job preparing. They are excited to host the Bills and have the Bills Mafia here to throw a block party, and we're excited."
The group got a permit from the City of Houston to close down the street, allowing food trucks, bars and the massive crowd. Temperatures are expected near 70 with sunny skies.
Zachary Heberlein of Alden flew to Houston with several of his friends and talked with 2 On Your Side from Christian's Tailgate Bar and Grill Thursday night.
"Be here or be square," Heberlein said. "This place is going to be wild. If you're a real Bills fan, you'll be here. I'm talking to you mom!"
"We can have a Bills tailgate that's Buffalo style the way we want to do it," O'Brien said. Looking at all the people bringing down Sahlen's hot dogs and all the different Buffalo foods, I think it'll be a great time."
People traveling to Texas for the game can stay up to date through the Bills Backers of Houston Facebook group page. It now has more than 2,000 members.
