No fanbase in football is as crazy as Bills Mafia. In fact, very few fanbases are as insane as the fine folks of upstate New York across all sports.
For example, jumping through folding tables is the most sacred practice at their tailgates. Buffalo fans climb onto elevated surfaces and throw themselves on top of tables. If the table breaks, they go wild.
There is no clear answer as to when, why or how the table-jumping tradition came to be. However, the general consensus is that it began back in 2015.
An overly enthusiastic member of Bills Mafia, who was likely well-lubricated, decided to hurl himself on top of the nearest table. Someone filmed the hilarious hi-jinx, people loved it, and the video went viral.
That’s it. That’s the whole backstory.
Buffalo fans saw a guy jump through a table and thought “wow, that rules.” Now it’s a thing!
It is such an important component to the NFL franchise’s fandom that local Walmarts and stores that sell tables often sell out when they are on the road. The team doesn’t necessarily condone the behavior but there is simply no way to prevent it at this point.
Bills Mafia took it to a new level on Sunday ahead of their home game against the Patriots. They set a table on fire prior to leaping from the tailgate of a truck.
Unfortunately, the first participant went up in flames — as could be expected — and forgot what he was taught about fires as a child. Fortunately, his friends were there to remind him to stop, drop and roll!
After the first fan was forced hit the ground to extinguish the flames, it might have been smart to stop with the blaze-based shenanigans but Bills Mafia was not done! A second duo lined up their jump and leaped toward the table. They missed, which was probably for the best because no additional fans caught on fire.