Forget the Browns; Bills Mafia is strong in Cleveland

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.

• Buffalo natives and Westlake residents Mike Salomon and Jen Miller founded the group in 2018.
• It has more than 1,600 Facebook page members and hosts more than 300 fans at Around the Corner Saloon in Lakewood each week.

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.