The fans have returned and the tailgating has begun for the Buffalo Bills season opener against at Highmark Stadium.
We're back
Ken "Pinto Ron" Johnson at his tailgate prior to the Buffalo Bills and Pittsburgh Steelers game at Highmark Stadium on Sunday, Sept. 12, 2021.
Red and Blue man
Hunter Nerber, on shoulders, and Justus Stahrr, of Syracuse, create some excitement as they run through the crowd as Red and Blue Man.
First game
Chris Marks, of Newtown Connecticut, carries his 15-month-old daughter Miriam on his shoulders and swings her around for some fun. It's her first Bills game.
Friends and family
A group of friends from five different states poses for a group shot. Bills fans are back in full force tailgating before the season opener against the Pittsburgh Steelers at Highmark Field in Orchard Park, Sunday, Sept. 12, 2021.
Bills tailgating
Brendan McKinnon, of Lakeview, dons the red and blue face paint.
Josh look a like
James Mealy of Jamestown is dressed in a full football uniform with a Josh Allen jersey.
The Bills fan show up
A full house is pumped up during the season opener at Highmark Stadium in Orchard Park, Sunday, Sept. 12, 2021.
Little off the top
Justin Hawkins gives a haircut to Dylan McMillion with his red, white and blue beard in the parking lot before the game with the Steelers at Highmark Stadium in Orchard Park Sunday, Sept. 12, 2021.
The games begin
Tailgaters play corn hole prior to the Buffalo Bills and Pittsburgh Steelers at Highmark Stadium on Sunday, Sept. 12, 2021.
Chef Poo
Chef Poo cooks at a tailgate prior to the Buffalo Bills and Pittsburgh Steelers at Highmark Stadium on Sunday, Sept. 12, 2021.
The Pinto
Nate Hallin and Mark Shephard cook on the Pinto during tailgate prior to the Buffalo Bills and Pittsburgh Steelers at Highmark Stadium on Sunday, Sept. 12, 2021.
Dressed for success
Crystal Angel wears her Bills gear in the parking lot before the game with the Steelers at Highmark Stadium in Orchard Park Sunday, Sept. 12, 2021.
Chicken is grilling
Tom Sheen turns some chicken as he tailgates in the parking lot before the game with the Steelers at Highmark Stadium in Orchard Park Sunday, Sept. 12, 2021.
Pregame
Bills fans tailgate in the parking lot before the game with the Steelers at Highmark Stadium in Orchard Park Sunday, Sept. 12, 2021.
Good catch
Someone throws Dan Reid a beer as cars file into the parking lot before the game with the Steelers at Highmark Stadium in Orchard Park Sunday, Sept. 12, 2021.
Lines of fans
Bills fans file into the parking lot before the game with the Steelers at Highmark Stadium in Orchard Park Sunday, Sept. 12, 2021.
Preparing the tent
Bills fan Faye Hatfield puts up a Bills flag for her tailgate in the parking lot before the game with the Steelers at Highmark Stadium in Orchard Park Sunday, Sept. 12, 2021.
Suiting up
Bills fan John Rajski puts on a Josh Allen jersey as he tailgates in the parking lot before the game with the Steelers.
Tailgating returns
Buffalo Bills fans packed the parking lots early for the game between the Buffalo Bills and the Pittsburgh Steelers at Highmark Stadium in Orchard Park, Sunday, Sept. 12, 2021.
Pregame fun
Buffalo Bills fans packed the parking lots early.
Flying the flags
Fans prepare for the game with the Buffalo Bills and the Pittsburgh Steelers at Highmark Stadium.
Crowds arrive
Buffalo Bills fans packed the parking lots early for the game between the Buffalo Bills and the Pittsburgh Steelers, waiting to enter Highmark Stadium.
Flag match
Buffalo Bills flags fly before the Pittsburgh Steelers game at Highmark Stadium.
Game-day bike
Khalil Harris, 2, of Buffalo, with his grandmother Toccaira Blair rides his motorized bike in the parking lot before the game at Highmark Stadium in Orchard Park, Sunday, Sept. 12, 2021.
Let's get ready
Buffalo Bills fans packed the parking lots early for the game between the Buffalo Bills and the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Together again
Buffalo Bills fans pack the parking lots at Highmark Stadium before the game.
Like father like son
Bill Klein and his son Bill Klein Jr., of Deerfield, made the trip for the Buffalo Bills season opener at Highmark Stadium in Orchard Park.
Watch now: Buffalo Bills fans dance and sing before game
Chicken wings
John Lauricello cooks chicken wings as he tailgates prior to the Buffalo Bills Pittsburgh and Steelers at Highmark Stadium on Sunday, Sept. 12, 2021.
Pizza Pete
Pizza Pete makes file cabinet pizza at a tailgate prior to the Buffalo Bills and Pittsburgh Steelers at Highmark Stadium on Sunday, Sept. 12, 2021.
Competition in the parking lot
Anthony Gianfreda Zach Finch play cornhole prior to the Buffalo Bills and Pittsburgh Steelers at Highmark Stadium on Sunday, Sept. 12, 2021.
Party time
Buffalo Bills fans sing the Bills mafia song at a tailgate prior to the Bills playing the Pittsburgh Steelers at Highmark Stadium on Sunday, Sept. 12, 2021.
Sanitizer on the ready
Hand sanitizer is available for Bills fans before they enter gate at Highmark Stadium in Orchard Park Sunday, September 12, 2021.
Long walk
Bills fans walk up Abbott Road before the game with the Steelers at Highmark Stadium in Orchard Park Sunday, September 12, 2021.
Dressing for the game
Anthony Trifilo at a tailgate prior to the Buffalo Bills and Pittsburgh Steelers at Highmark Stadium on Sunday, Sept. 12, 2021.
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Selfie time
Jennifer Pemmacchio (left) and Alia Allen take a selfie prior to the Buffalo Bills and Pittsburgh Steelers at Highmark Stadium on Sunday, Sept. 12, 2021.
Kid car
Andrew Lebuff drives his bills kids car in the tailgate prior to the Buffalo Bills and Pittsburgh Steelers at Highmark Stadium on Sunday, Sept. 12, 2021.
License to cheer
A Bills license plate in a tailgate prior to the Buffalo Bills and Pittsburgh Steelers at Highmark Stadium.
Red and blue
Jacob Gauda tailgates prior to the Buffalo Bills Pittsburgh Steelers at Highmark Stadium on Sunday, Sept. 12, 2021.
Corn hole game
Phil Petkovsek and Mike Hill play cornhole as they tailgate prior to the Buffalo Bills and Pittsburgh Steelers at Highmark Stadium on Sunday, Sept. 12, 2021.
Head and shoulders
John Gonsalez carries his daughter Miray prior to the Buffalo Bills and Pittsburgh Steelers game.
Family affair
Keith Lampkin walks with his family prior to the Buffalo Bills and Pittsburgh Steelers at Highmark Stadium on Sunday, Sept. 12, 2021.
Los Bills
Pancho Billa son Ginobili Castro at tailgate prior to theBuffalo Bills Pittsburgh Steelers at Highmark Stadium on Sunday, Sept. 12, 2021.
Fry time
Falesha Moultrie and Regina Brown make french fries during a tailgate party.
Bills buss
Bills fans Charlotte Brant, left and Kristin Hochmuch, right, enjoy the view from the top of the Bills bus in the parking lot before the game with the Steelers at Highmark Stadium in Orchard Park Sunday, September 12, 2021.
Game day news
Michael McKernan reads the Buffalo News in the parking lot before the game.
Bills tailgating
Josh Falter, left, Justin Losel and Henry Pieszala, yell to others Bills fans who are making their way toward the stadium.
Bills tailgating
Jessica Morrow, right, of Depew plays corn hole and on left is Angie Lucas, of Webster.
Bills tailgating
Matt Peters of Springfield Mass. is wearing his Bills sunglasses.
Bills tailgating
Dan Grace, of Rochester, tosses a football with a friend.
Bills cheese steak
Matt Lee, of Hamburg, who always makes Philly cheesesteak sandwiches when tailgating, gets pumped up with his friends.
Bills tailgating
Matt Lee, of Hamburg, always makes Philly cheesesteak sandwiches when tailgating.
Season ticket holder
Aaron Baylor shows off that he's a season ticket holder as he and other fans wait to get into the stadium through Gate 2.
Waiting to enter
Fans wait to get into the stadium through Gate 2.
Playing catch
Fans in the stands play catch with Buffalo Bills wide receiver Stefon Diggs before the game at Highmark Stadium.
Taking the field
Bills owner Terry Pegula walks on the field before the season opener.
Waving to the fans
Buffalo Bills owner Kim Pegula waves to fans.
Pumped up
Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen (17) gets pumped up before the game at Highmark Stadium.
Cheering fans
Fans get pumped up before the season opener at Highmark Stadium in Orchard Park, Sunday, Sept. 12, 2021.
Bills Steelers pregame
Bills fans get pumped up before the opener against the Pittsburgh Steelers
Allen for MVP
Bills fans get primed before the opener at Highmark Stadium in Orchard Park, Sunday, Sept. 12, 2021.
Fans unite
Fans hold up a flag before the game at Highmark Stadium in Orchard Park, Sunday, Sept. 12, 2021.
Full house
Bills fans are pumped up.
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Watch now: Tailgating Bills fans are fired up
Gov. Kathy Hochul attends the Buffalo Bills home opener against the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday, Sept., 12, 2021, at Highmark Stadium in Orc…
Frustration boiled among those following the game on Twitter, venting about offensive coordinator Brian Daboll's fourth-down call and displaying shock that reality did not meet expectation.Â
Ken "Pinto Ron" Johnson won't be turning himself into a drip painting canvas as he's doused with ketchup and mustard prior to the Buffalo Bills season opener this year.
The game's result had more to do with the Bills’ shortcomings on offense and questionable play-calling than anything Pittsburgh did.
Allen was off target basically all afternoon, as the Bills’ high-powered offense from a year ago never showed up in a 23-16 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Here’s the big-picture analysis of the Bills’ season-opening, 23-16 loss to the Steelers.
Here is a quarter-by-quarter look at the Bills' loss to the Steelers on Sunday.
Grading the Buffalo Bills after their 23-16 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday at Highmark Stadium:
"Those fans are awesome. They were loud. It was very, very loud," Roethlisberger said after the game.
Here’s a look at some of the key plays in the Bills’ 23-16 defeat, starting with the decisive special teams turnover.
Recap the Buffalo Bills' season-opening loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers with The Buffalo News' digital coverage.
The Buffalo Bills take on the Pittsburgh Steelers to kick off the 2021 NFL season in Orchard Park.
