Jan 20, 2023 - Sports

Forget the Browns; Bills Mafia is strong in Cleveland

Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen holds up a football and peace sign to fans in a stadium.

At least someone has a good football team. Photo: Jason Hanna/Getty Images

The Browns missed the playoffs (of course, they did), but some Clevelanders still have something to root for this NFL postseason.

What's happening: Cleveland's Bills Backers, a local chapter of Buffalo Bills fans, has become ground zero for Bills Mafia in Northeast Ohio.

Zoom out: Bills Backers chapters are in every state and several countries, including Germany, Italy and the U.K.

What they're saying: Michael Barnes, a lifelong Browns fan, joined the Bills Backers with his wife, Laverne, a Buffalo native.

  • "They're two blue-collar communities that prioritize family and hard work," he says. "That's why I have such an appreciation for Buffalo, and my wife has the same appreciation for Cleveland."

What's next: The Buffalo-Ohio connection continues Sunday when the Bills take on the Cincinnati Bengals in the divisional round of the NFL Playoffs.

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