Pro football will always be more mental than physical. Beyond the 4.3 speed colliding at all conceivable angles, wins and losses are determined between the ears.
So, let’s say hello to the 2022 Buffalo Bills.
An ultra-talented team — the odds-on Super Bowl favorites — have struggled for 2 1/2 games now. And they’re also fresh off one of the most insane finishes you’ll ever see in a sporting event. On this episode of the Isaiah McKenzie Show at Mister’s Bar & Lanes in East Aurora, NY, the team’s slot receiver relives the finish in painstaking detail. From Dalvin Cook’s 81-yarder to the goal-line stand to the overtime interception, it’s still hard to wrap your brain around this 33-30 Vikings win.
McKenzie can relate to Allen’s rut, too.
He lived it. He’s been down. He explains why exactly the sport is so mental and how Allen can snap out of this funk.
Everything is discussed this episode…
Buffalo’s second-half woes. Why does this look like a completely different team after halftime?
His plays from the game. Yes, he stepped out of bounds on Allen’s first interception. And, oh yes, he heard all of you screaming at home to get out of bounds on that field-goal drive at the end of the fourth quarter.
How suffocating is that feeling of pressure as a pro athlete? Fans, gamblers, the front office. As McKenzie explains, players feel the heat from all angles.
Justin Jefferson’s catch heard ‘round the world. Cam Lewis was understandably hurting after this loss — if the Bills DB knocks the ball down, the Bills win.
Isaiah McKenzie’s role the rest of the season. The Bills certainly could use a dependable receiver other than Stefon Diggs to shift this passing game to a higher gear.
How McKenzie met his girlfriend. (Cover your ears, kids.)
As always, the goal of this show is to take you beyond the press conferences and locker room. We want to bring you as close as possible to this league at Go Long. Live around Western New York? Come on out to one of our three remaining live shows at Mister’s. All dates are below.
You can watch or listen to the show right here at GoLongTD.com or within the Go Long Podcast feeds:
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Miss a previous episode from Season 2? Catch up below…
Ep 1: Inside the gender reveal and the beatdown of the L.A. Rams
Ep 2: What was running through the receiver's mind that final play?
Also: All episodes from Season 1 are archived on our site.
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We have three shows left! As always, McKenzie loves hanging out with the fans afterward. Mister’s Bar & Lanes is located at 206 Main St, East Aurora, NY 14052.
I’ll also have copies of “The Blood and Guts: How Tight Ends Save Football” to sign:
Monday, Dec. 12
Monday, Dec. 19
Monday, Jan. 9
Isaiah McKenzie Show, S2 Ep5: It's gut-check time for the Buffalo Bills