A5
THE ASTORIAN • SATURDAY, JANUARY 29, 2022
SPORTS
Buff alo’s destiny derailed in dramatic loss at Kansas City
Poyer and the Bills
still looking to
win the big one
J
ust as the Oakland
Raiders felt after los-
ing the “Immaculate
Reception” game in 1972,
and the Minnesota Vikings
felt after dropping the famed
“Hail Mary” game in 1975,
so to are the Buff alo Bills
feeling this week, follow-
ing their 42-36 overtime loss
Sunday to the Kansas City
Chiefs, in one of the greatest
post-season games in NFL
history.
In fact,
the Bills are
likely feel-
ing the low-
est they’ve
felt in a long
time, after
GARY
coming
HENLEY
oh-so-close,
yet again.
As in, 13 seconds close.
After taking a 36-33 lead
late in the fourth quarter in
the AFC divisional playoff
at Arrowhead Stadium, all
the Bills had to do was keep
the Chiefs from driving 40
yards in less than 13 sec-
onds to kick a game-tying
fi eld goal, to send the game
to overtime.
As many of us watched in
disbelief, Patrick Mahomes
drove the Chiefs 43 yards,
kicker Harrison Butker
booted a 49-yard fi eld goal
to tie the game, and Kan-
sas City took the opening
kick in overtime and drove
another 75 yards for the win-
ning score, right into the his-
tory books.
It’s likely that Jordan
Poyer — the Astoria High
graduate and Buff alo’s All-
Pro safety — is also feeling
pretty low this week. But,
buck up Jordan. Your day
will come.
At one time, the destiny
for the Kid from Astoria was
to lead the Fishermen foot-
ball program to their fi rst
ever state title. Along with
other talented athletes in
December 2008, mission
accomplished.
Then the goal became
to fi nish his high school
career with another state
title in baseball, like the one
the Fishermen won in June
2009.
From there, Poyer’s des-
tiny was to play big time
college football. Which he
did for four years at Ore-
gon State University, fi nish-
ing with All-American status
in 2012.
The next step was the
Buff alo Bills
Jordan Poyer, selected as a
fi rst team member of the 2021
Associated Press All-Pro team.
Ed Zurga/AP Photo
Buff alo Bills free safety Jordan Poyer kneels on the fi eld after Sunday’s loss in Kansas City. The Chiefs won the dramatic game
in overtime, 42-36.
next level — to the NFL,
where Poyer was a seventh
round draft choice of the
Philadelphia Eagles in 2013.
Poyer made the fi nal cut,
then the Eagles released him
after just three games. Not
smart, Philadelphia.
Picked up by the Cleve-
land Browns, Poyer spent
(or, endured) three years
with the Browns, who are
still seeking their destiny,
whatever that might be. Sev-
enty-seven years as an orga-
nization, the Browns have
yet to play in a Super Bowl.
Poyer took one step
closer to his ultimate des-
tiny in 2017, when he signed
a free agent contract with
Buff alo.
With an 0-and-4 record in
previous Super Bowls, Poy-
er’s destiny became tied in
with that of the Bills — to
win a Super Bowl.
After a long absence from
the post-season, the Bills
have spent the last three
years knocking on destiny’s
door, which includes a 2021
AFC Championship loss at
Kansas City, and now a dra-
matic overtime playoff loss
to the Chiefs.
But with the core of their
team returning next fall, the
Bills will be back, knock-
ing louder than ever on des-
tiny’s door.
“I want to win a Super
Bowl,” Poyer told T he Asto-
rian last summer, “and do it
with the guys that I’m with
now. It’s defi nitely been a
fun ride, but we’re not done
yet. The job’s not fi nished.”
Interviews, historic
losses, lessons learned
With Sunday’s loss,
Poyer joins a sort of infor-
mal list I’ve kept: “Defen-
sive backs I’ve interviewed
who were on the fi eld for
famous plays.”
Years after their pro
careers were over, I had
the chance to interview
two Dallas Cowboy defen-
sive backs (Mike Gaechter
and Mel Renfro) who were
on the fi eld in 1967 when
Green Bay’s Bart Starr
scored on a quarterback
sneak to win the famed “Ice
Bowl.”
A few years later, I had
interviews with a couple
more former Cowboy safe-
ties (Dennis Thurman and
Charlie Waters), who were
on the fi eld when Joe Mon-
tana and Dwight Clark
hooked up for “The Catch,”
to help San Francisco beat
Dallas in the 1982 NFC
Championship. The Nin-
ers went on to beat Cincin-
nati in Super Bowl XVI, 40
years ago.
Likewise, Poyer was on
the fi eld Sunday for the last
play, when Mahomes hit
another future No. 87 Hall
of Famer, Travis Kelce, for
the winning touchdown in
overtime.
Thurman took the high
road after Dallas’s loss to
the Niners in ‘82, telling
me, “What a great game
that was, and to have been a
part of that was fun. It took
a magnifi cent play by two
great football players, Mon-
SCOREBOARD
PREP SPORTS SCHEDULE
TUESDAY
Boys Basketball — Astoria at Sea-
side, 6 p.m.; Willamina at Warrenton,
7:30 p.m.; Knappa at Vernonia, 7:30 p.m.
Girls Basketball — Astoria at Sea-
side, 7:30 p.m.; Willamina at Warrenton,
6 p.m.; Knappa at Vernonia, 6 p.m.
WEDNESDAY
Girls Basketball — Perrydale at Jew-
ell, 5:30 p.m.
Boys Basketball — Perrydale at Jew-
ell, 7 p.m.
BASKETBALL
COACHES POLLS
4A Boys
(First place votes in parentheses)
1. Junction City Tigers (9) 133
2. Marshfi eld Pirates (3) 126
3. Cascade Cougars (1) 104
4. Philomath Warriors 103
5. Stayton Eagles 78
6. Seaside Seagulls 71
7. La Grande Tigers 44
8. Banks Braves 38
9. Henley Hornets 22
10. Corbett Cardinals 14
Others: Baker 10.
2A Boys
1. Salem Academy (6) 105
2. Western Christian (1) 94
3. Knappa Loggers (4) 93
4. Illinois Valley Cougars 78
5. Jeff erson Lions 76
6. Kennedy Trojans 73
7. Bandon Tigers 39
SEVENDAY FORECAST FOR ASTORIA
TODAY
SUNDAY
MONDAY
8. Regis Rams 30
9. Heppner Mustangs 26
10. East Linn Christian 23
WIAA (WASHINGTON)
RANKINGS
WEDNESDAY
LVII.
Despite the heartbreak-
ing loss for Poyer and the
Bills, I still “Bill-ieve” that
Buff alo’s — and Poyer’s —
destiny is to eventually win
a Super Bowl.
As he told Buff alobills.
com after Sunday’s game,
“I think everything that
happens in life is a lesson.
We’ve got to learn from it
and use that. I know we said
that last year. I don’t want
to say it again this year. But
it’s something you’re going
to have to feed off in the off -
season and continue to learn
from.”
But, he added, “This
one’s going to hurt for a lit-
tle while.”
Poyer, All-Pro safety
On the plus side to the
We’ve gone ABOVE & BEYOND to make
sure you are COMFORTABLE & SAFE
at your next dental visit.
We have Infection Control Procedures
in place for your safety & ours.
** In addition to a filtration
system, external vacuum
systems, air purifiers,
and foggers, we have
added negative pressure
to all operatories. The
safety and comfort of
our patients has always
been a priority at Klemp
Family Dentistry. We are
very proud of these
innovations. Thank you
for your continued
confidence in all of us.
Thank you Diamond Heating and JJ
Electric Service LLC for completing our
negative pressure system.
2B Boys
Team, record
1. Kalama Chinooks 12-1
2. Chief Leschi Warriors 12-1
3. Ilwaco Fishermen 13-1
4. Okanogan Bulldogs 15-2
5. Napavine Tigers 12-2
6. Coupeville Wolves 11-0
7. Libery (Spangle) Lancers 11-2
8. Columbia (Burbank) Coyotes 15-1
9. Adna Pirates 12-4
10. Brewster Bears 12-5
TUESDAY
tana to Clark, to knock us
off .
“You look back and
say, if there was one play
you could have over again,
you’d take that one, and
see how it would fall the
next time. But you can’t do
that in sports, and that’s the
beauty of it. You have to
move on.”
For what it’s worth, Ren-
fro and Waters each fi n-
ished their careers with two
Super Bowl rings. Thurman
played in a Super Bowl,
and was Buff alo’s defen-
sive coordinator in 2015 and
2016.
In this case, Jordan Poyer
and the Buff alo Bills aren’t
going away. They will be
right back next season, des-
tiny still intact, challeng-
ing for a spot in Super Bowl
Excellence in challenging conditions.
Diane G.
I saw the highest standard of health safety practices in effect
during my hygienist appointment today—much higher precau-
tions than I’d seen in a local hospital when having tests last
month. The new sanitation equipment and attention to patient
safety at Klemp Family Dentistry is in keeping with a dental
practice I consider cutting edge with respect to all my dental
needs. It’s wonderful having a world class dental practice here
at the coast, one where I can have procedures performed for
which I used to have to travel to a specialist in Portland. I have
been a patient of several local dentists in the past, but none
had the skill and, more importantly, the attention to patient
comfort that Dr Klemp provides.
KLEMP FAMILY DENTISTRY
1006 West Marine Drive, Astoria
(503) 468-0116
www.klempfamilydentistry.com
THURSDAY
FRIDAY
REGIONAL FORECAST
Shown is today’s weather. Temperatures are today’s highs and tonight’s lows.
Seattle
50 42
48 39
Some sun, then
clouds
Rain
46 39
47 34
46 37
48 39
51 39
A little rain
A couple of
showers
Showers
possible
Chance of a
shower
Chance of a
shower
Aberdeen
Olympia
49/41
47/40
Wenatchee
Tacoma
Moses
Lake
UNDER THE SKY
TODAY'S TIDES
Astoria through Thursday
Tonight’s Sky: Venus emerges
into southeast morning sky
before sunrise.
Astoria / Port Docks
Temperatures
High/low ................................ 59/31
Normal high/low .................. 50/38
Record high .................. 60 in 1988
Record low .................... 15 in 1957
Precipitation
Thursday ................................. 0.00”
Month to date ...................... 13.47”
Normal month to date ......... 9.36”
Year to date .......................... 13.47”
Normal year to date ............. 9.36”
Forecasts and graphics provided by
AccuWeather, Inc. ©2022
Time
High (ft.) Time Low (ft.)
10:01 a.m. 9.3 4:09 a.m. 3.9
none
5:37 p.m. -0.6
Cape Disappointment
9:39 a.m. 9.4 3:18 a.m. 4.3
11:47 p.m. 7.1 4:42 p.m. -0.8
Source: Jim Todd, OMSI
Hammond
SUN AND MOON
Sunrise today .................. 7:42 a.m.
Sunset tonight ............... 5:16 p.m.
Moonrise today .............. 5:59 a.m.
Moonset today .............. 2:10 p.m.
New
First
Full
Last
9:52 a.m. 9.6 3:43 a.m. 3.9
11:54 p.m. 7.3 5:02 p.m. -1.1
Warrenton
9:56 a.m. 9.7 3:53 a.m. 4.0
11:58 p.m. 7.5 5:21 p.m. -0.5
Knappa
10:38 a.m. 9.5 5:10 a.m. 3.4
none
6:38 p.m. -0.5
Depoe Bay
Jan 31 Feb 8 Feb 16 Feb 23
8:52 a.m. 9.6 2:46 a.m. 4.3
11:01 p.m. 7.2 4:14 p.m. -1.1
City
Atlanta
Boston
Chicago
Dallas
Denver
Honolulu
Houston
Los Angeles
Miami
New York City
Phoenix
San Francisco
Wash., DC
Sun.
Hi/Lo/W
38/26/s
22/11/sn
21/18/pc
67/40/s
51/22/s
81/67/s
61/41/s
69/47/c
59/38/pc
22/13/sn
73/47/pc
60/45/pc
29/16/c
53/34/s
25/12/pc
29/17/pc
69/44/s
52/26/s
79/66/s
68/49/s
73/48/s
59/43/s
28/20/s
70/45/pc
58/49/pc
35/24/pc
Weather (W): s-sunny, pc-partly cloudy,
c-cloudy, sh-showers, t-thunderstorms,
r-rain, sf-snow fl urries, sn-snow, i-ice.
39/27
Kennewick Walla Walla
33/23 Lewiston
32/24
45/28
Hermiston
The Dalles 35/27
Enterprise
Pendleton 40/22
36/25
40/32
La Grande
37/23
50/35
NATIONAL CITIES
Today
Hi/Lo/W
Pullman
34/22
46/34
Salem
33/26
Yakima 31/21
Longview
50/42 Portland
48/36
Spokane
27/22
48/38
49/40
Astoria
ALMANAC
2021-22 season, Poyer can
fi nally call himself an “All-
Pro.” His fans in Clatsop
County have known that
for years.
For the longest time,
Poyer would show up on
the most underrated lists.
No longer. Poyer made the
NFL’s Associated Press
fi rst team all-pro team this
season, as one of the top
two safeties in the game,
along with Kevin Byard of
Tennessee.
Despite making the
NFL’s All-Pro fi rst team,
selection to the Pro Bowl
game still eludes Poyer.
Even as Sunday’s
announcers, Jim Nantz and
Tony Romo, questioned
during the game, refer-
ring to Poyer and teammate
Micah Hyde, “how do you
have two all-pro safeties,
and zero pro bowlers on
your defense?”
Poyer’s statistics and
accomplishments are there,
for all to see. The rest is
out of his hands.
As Poyer also said last
summer, a Pro Bowl selec-
tion “would be nice, just to
have that at the end of the
day. I know what I’ve done
in the league, people know
and see what I’ve done. I
just want to keep bettering
myself, and everything else
will fall into place.”
Corvallis
48/33
Albany
48/30
John Day
Eugene
Bend
52/35
55/26
46/24
Ontario
30/13
Caldwell
Burns
36/13
34/18
Medford
58/30
Klamath Falls
51/18
City
Baker City
Brookings
Ilwaco
Newberg
Newport
Today
Hi/Lo/W
30/10/s
57/41/s
50/45/c
48/30/pc
54/42/pc
Sun.
Hi/Lo/W
29/20/c
53/44/c
46/43/r
43/36/r
49/41/r
City
North Bend
Roseburg
Seaside
Springfi eld
Vancouver
Today
Hi/Lo/W
56/39/s
55/36/s
50/42/pc
54/34/s
48/33/pc
Sun.
Hi/Lo/W
54/42/c
54/41/c
47/40/r
49/38/r
42/37/r