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Bills quarterback Josh Allen greets Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes at Highmark Stadium on November 17, 2024.
The Buffalo Bills have officially reached Chiefs Week, their now-annual regular-season meeting with Patrick Mahomes and their rivals from the AFC West.
The stakes are always high when the Kansas City Chiefs arrive on Buffalo’s schedule, but this year could be even more important as both teams have fallen out of the lead in their respective divisions. Bills quarterback Josh Allen is ready for the challenge, offering some big praise of his quarterback counterpart this week — and getting some love from Mahomes in return.
Josh Allen Needs to Raise His Game
Speaking to reporters on Wednesday, Allen shared praise for Mahomes and said the two-time MVP forces him to up his game.
“Anytime you’re playing against a good team and a good quarterback, you have to play at the top of your game in order to win a football game,” Allen said. “Not that you don’t go out there and try to play your best all the time, [but] there is a heightened sense of awareness to that of understanding who’s on the other side of the football. But yeah, you wanna go out there and our goal is to try to score on every drive and that’s what we try to do.”
Allen has had plenty of success against Mahomes in the regular season, leading the Bills to wins in each of the last four years, but the Bills are 0-4 against the Chiefs in the playoffs including a loss in last year’s AFC Championship.
The Bills come into this year’s game against the Chiefs 5-2, having recovered from back-to-back losses by blowing out the Carolina Panthers last week. The Chiefs started the season 0-2 but have since steadied the ship, getting top receiver Rashee Rice back from a six-game suspension and winning five of their last six games.
The loser of this week’s game could fall out of the playoffs entirely if the Jacksonville Jaguars win their game, underscoring the importance of this year’s contest.
Patrick Mahomes Returns the Favor
Mahomes also had plenty of good things to say about Allen, telling reporters that the reigning MVP is a nightmare for his team to defend. Mahomes added that he believes Allen is only improving and said the Bills quarterback forced him to be better.
“To be that size and to be able to move like that, he’s done so many great things as far as throwing the football,” Mahomes said. “The way he’s able to extend plays and be close to the sideline and make these big-time throws down the field, that stuff is special. He’s gotten better and better each and every year. I think that’s something that I’ve seen in him and something I try to do for myself as well. He’s a great football player.”
While their rivalry on the field has only gotten more heated, Mahomes and Allen have been on friendly terms away from the gridiron. The two teamed up for a televised golf match where they faced — and ultimately lost to — fellow star quarterbacks Tom Brady and Aaron Rodgers.
Joe Flacco’s Heartfelt Gesture: Paying It Forward to the Diner That Helped Him Dream
In the small town of Corona, California, a gesture of generosity has not only saved a beloved local diner but also brought a tear to the eyes of its owners and customers alike.
Joe Flacco, the 40-year-old quarterback for the Cleveland Browns, recently paid $87,000 to save Sunny’s Diner, a family-run establishment that had supported him during his high school years when he needed it most.
Sunny’s Diner, a fixture in the community for decades, had been struggling to stay afloat, burdened by debts from the financial toll of the pandemic and rising operational costs. When Flacco, a seasoned NFL veteran and one of the Browns’ most experienced players, learned that the diner was on the verge of closing, he knew he had to act. With no fanfare, Flacco quietly wired the money to cover the diner’s debt, ensuring its survival. But his generosity didn’t stop there.
Flacco wanted to give something more—a symbolic gesture that captured the essence of what Sunny’s Diner meant to him. When he visited the diner after making the payment, he presented a handmade sign, which now proudly hangs on the wall of the diner. The sign reads:
“A home for those who fueled my dreams every morning.” Maria and Tony Alvarez, the couple who owns the diner, were overwhelmed with emotion when they saw the sign, which Flacco had dedicated to the place that had helped him when he was a struggling high school student.
For three years, while attending Audubon High School, Flacco had visited Sunny’s Diner every morning before school. Coming from a modest background, he relied on the warm hospitality and free breakfasts offered by the Alvarez family. “We saw something special in Joe,” Maria Alvarez recalls. “He was always polite, always focused. We just wanted to help him keep going.” The kindness of the Alvarezes allowed Flacco to focus on his dreams of becoming a professional football player. He would have pancakes, eggs, and a side of encouragement before heading off to school, and the diners’ unwavering belief in him fueled his determination on the field.
Now, a major league star, Flacco’s act of kindness has come full circle. By saving the diner that helped him rise, he’s not only ensured Sunny’s Diner can continue operating, but he’s also breathed new life into the community staple. The sign, a tribute to the role the diner played in his journey, has become a local point of pride, with many patrons stopping to read it and reflect on Flacco’s remarkable gesture. The sign has sparked a wave of support for Sunny’s Diner, with local businesses offering to help, and social media posts flooding platforms with the hashtag #SunnysDiner.
The community has rallied behind the diner, sharing the story of Flacco’s selflessness and creating a renewed sense of pride in their local gem. The diner’s Facebook page has seen a surge in engagement, with customers posting photos of their meals and the sign, spreading the heartwarming story of how a football star never forgot the kindness that helped him dream.
Flacco’s story is not just about a famous athlete giving back; it’s about the power of small, meaningful acts of kindness. His own journey to success has been marked by his vulnerability, including openly sharing his struggles with mental health and challenges in his career. He has become a beacon of hope for many, not just for his football talent, but for his compassion and willingness to uplift others.
The Alvarezes have expressed their gratitude, not just for the financial relief, but for the renewed sense of purpose that Flacco’s gift has given them. “We always thought we were just feeding people,” Maria says. “But Joe showed us we were doing more than that. We were helping dreams come true.”
As the sign at Sunny’s Diner now stands, it serves as a testament to the profound impact that generosity, both big and small, can have on the lives of others. Flacco’s act of paying it forward ensures that the diner will continue to be a place of hope, encouragement, and, most importantly, a home for those who dream.
For Flacco, the diner wasn’t just a place to eat—it was a lifeline, a place that believed in his potential when few others did. His return to Sunny’s, not just as a patron, but as a savior, is a full-circle moment in his journey. As customers come and go, they will always remember that this diner isn’t just a place for pancakes and coffee—it’s a place where dreams were fueled, and kindness was returned tenfold.
