In the second half of Saturday's playoff matchup between the Buffalo Bills and the Baltimore Ravens, the Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson took a nasty hit on the turf. It turned out to be a game-ending concussion.
There was a smattering of callous cheers that Jackson had left the game and all but guaranteed the Bills the win. But the larger response to Jackson's injury was totally a class act. Bills fans immediately began donating to Jackson's favorite charity, "Blessings in a Backpack."
Bills fans started donating to Lamar Jackson’s favorite charity overnight after he left the AFC divisional game with a concussion and the Ravens lost.
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) January 17, 2021
Amazing ??
(h/t @RickRitterWJZ) pic.twitter.com/XKnc3yhRKO
Bills fans started donating to Lamar Jackson’s charity after the QB’s injury against Buffalo.
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) January 17, 2021
Salute, #BillsMafia
(h/t @RickRitterWJZ) pic.twitter.com/sMNBxMdHOJ
"Blessings in a Backpack," as described by ESPN, is a mission that helps feed needful elementary school children on the weekends. Representatives say the charity has received tens of thousands of dollars since Saturday's game.
"It started around 11:30 last night and our donation box just started flooding with donations from Bills fans for Lamar. It's just been overwhelming -- in the best possible way," said Nikki Grizzle of "Blessings in a Backpack," whose mission is to mobilize communities, individuals and resources to provide food on the weekends for elementary school children across America who might otherwise go hungry.
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The Baltimore Ravens and "Blessings in a Backpack" showed the Bills Mafia their gratitude.
Respect, @BuffaloBills and #BillsMafia https://t.co/MHRCe5XKJt
— Baltimore Ravens (@Ravens) January 17, 2021
Thank you, @Knop917 for inspiring #BillsMafia to give to Blessings in a Backpack in honor of @Lj_era8! https://t.co/g4gFqHtkOr
— Blessings in a Backpack (@BlessinBackpack) January 17, 2021
This isn't the first time the Bills Mafia has practiced some philanthropy. When quarterback Josh Allen's grandma Patricia passed away last year, fans responded by raising over $1 million for Oishei Children's Hospital, after which the hospital set up the Patricia Allen Fund.
The Bills beat the Ravens by 17-3 on Saturday, thanks in part to some 3rd quarter heroics by cornerback Taron Johnson, who pulled off a 102-yard interception slash touchdown. The team now heads to the AFC Championship Game for the first time since 1993. Should they win that game, they'll be headed to Tampa.
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