NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Brett Kern's first football game was a memorable one to say the least.
Kern was six years old when he attended a playoff game between the Buffalo Bills and Houston Oilers on January 3, 1993. He started off in the upper deck at Ralph Wilson Stadium, but by the second half he was just a few rows from the field. Many of the Bills fans left when the team fell behind 35-3.
Then history happened, and Kern, decked out in his puffy Bills jacket, was there to witness it. In a game now known simply as "The Comeback" the Bills rallied to beat the Oilers 41-38 in overtime.
Titans Online looks back at the all-time series against the Buffalo Bills. (Photos: Donn Jones, AP)
Tennessee Titans running back Chris Johnson (28) runs for a touchdown against Buffalo Bills' Stephon Gilmore (27) during the first half of an NFL football game in Orchard Park, N.Y., Sunday, Oct. 21, 2012. (AP Photo/Gary Wiepert)
Tennessee Titans vs. Buffalo Bills on Sunday, Dec. 4, 2011, in Buffalo, NY. Photos by Donn Jones Photography
Tennessee Titans running back Chris Johnson (28) scores a touchdown in front of Buffalo Bills defenders George Wilson (37) and Aaron Williams (23) during the first half of an NFL football game in Orchard Park, N.Y., Sunday, Oct. 21, 2012. (AP Photo/Bill Wippert)
Tennessee Titans vs. Buffalo Bills on Sunday, Dec. 4, 2011, in Buffalo, NY. Photos by Donn Jones Photography
Tennessee Titans quarterback Marcus Mariota (8) passes in the first half of an NFL football game against the Buffalo Bills, Sunday, Oct. 11, 2015, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/James Kenney)
The Tennessee Titans and the Buffalo Bills line up for a play at the line of scrimmage in the first half of an NFL football game Sunday, Oct. 11, 2015, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Weston Kenney)
The Tennessee Titans and the Buffalo Bills line up at the line of scrimmage in the second half of an NFL football game Sunday, Oct. 11, 2015, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Mark Zaleski)
Buffalo Bills wide receiver Denarius Moore (17) fumbles as he is tackled by Tennessee Titans fullback Jalston Fowler (45) and inside linebacker Wesley Woodyard (59) in the second half of an NFL football game Sunday, Oct. 11, 2015, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Mark Zaleski)
Tennessee Titans running back Antonio Andrews (26) reacts after scoring a touchdown in the second half of an NFL football game against the Buffalo Bills, Sunday, Oct. 11, 2015, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/James Kenney)
Buffalo Bills wide receiver Denarius Moore (17) fumbles under pressure from Tennessee Titans fullback Jalston Fowler (45) in the second half of an NFL football game Sunday, Oct. 11, 2015, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Mark Zaleski)
Buffalo Bills wide receiver Denarius Moore (17) fumbles under pressure from Tennessee Titans fullback Jalston Fowler (45) in the second half of an NFL football game Sunday, Oct. 11, 2015, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Mark Zaleski)
Tennessee Titans defensive end Jurrell Casey (99) celebrates a sack in the first half of an NFL football game against the Buffalo Bills Sunday, Oct. 11, 2015, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Mark Zaleski)
Tennessee Titans outside linebacker Brian Orakpo (98) pursues Buffalo Bills quarterback Tyrod Taylor (5) in the second half of an NFL football game Sunday, Oct. 11, 2015, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Weston Kenney)
The Tennessee Titans and the Buffalo Bills line up at the line of scrimmage in the second half of an NFL football game Sunday, Oct. 11, 2015, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/James Kenney)
Tennessee Titans quarterback Marcus Mariota (8) is tackled by Buffalo Bills outside linebacker Nigel Bradham (53) in the first half of an NFL football game Sunday, Oct. 11, 2015, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Mark Zaleski)
Tennessee Titans vs. Buffalo Bills on October 17, 2012. Photos by Donn Jones Photography.
Tennessee Titans vs. Buffalo Bills on October 17, 2012. Photos by Donn Jones Photography.
Tennessee Titans vs. Buffalo Bills on October 17, 2012. Photos by Donn Jones Photography.
Tennessee Titans vs. Buffalo Bills on October 17, 2012. Photos by Donn Jones Photography.
Tennessee Titans vs. Buffalo Bills on Sunday, Dec. 4, 2011, in Buffalo, NY. Photos by Donn Jones Photography
Tennessee Titans vs. Buffalo Bills at LP Field in Nashville, TN on November 15, 2009.
Tennessee Titans vs. Buffalo Bills on Sunday, Dec. 4, 2011, in Buffalo, NY. Photos by Donn Jones Photography
Tennessee Titans vs. Buffalo Bills on Sunday, Dec. 4, 2011, in Buffalo, NY. Photos by Donn Jones Photography
Tennessee Titans vs. Buffalo Bills on Sunday, Dec. 4, 2011, in Buffalo, NY. Photos by Donn Jones Photography
Tennessee Titans vs. Buffalo Bills at LP Field in Nashville, TN on November 15, 2009.
Tennessee Titans vs. Buffalo Bills on Sunday, Dec. 4, 2011, in Buffalo, NY. Photos by Donn Jones Photography
Tennessee Titans center Ben Jones right, waits to snap the ball against the Buffalo Bills during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 7, 2018, in Orchard Park, N.Y. (AP Photo/Adrian Kraus)
Tennessee Titans cornerback Adoree' Jackson (25) runs with the ball after an interception during the second half of an NFL football game against the Buffalo Bills, Sunday, Oct. 7, 2018, in Orchard Park, N.Y. (AP Photo/Adrian Kraus)
Tennessee Titans quarterback Marcus Mariota scrambles against the Buffalo Bills during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 7, 2018, in Orchard Park, N.Y. (AP Photo/Adrian Kraus)
Tennessee Titans quarterback Marcus Mariota (8) throws a pass from the pocket during the second half of an NFL football game against the Buffalo Bills, Sunday, Oct. 7, 2018, in Orchard Park, N.Y. (AP Photo/Adrian Kraus)
Tennessee Titans quarterback Marcus Mariota, left, talks to Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen after an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 7, 2018, in Orchard Park, N.Y. The Bills won 13-12. (AP Photo/Jeffrey T. Barnes)
Kern, who joined the Titans in 2009, once mentioned that fun fact to his former head coach, Mike Munchak, an offensive lineman with the Oilers back then.
"He was kind of like, don't speak of that again,'' Kern said with a smile. "And then he told me that I'd made him feel really old."
Seven seasons later, Kern watched from his house when the Bills lost to the Tennessee Titans in one of the NFL's most memorable plays – the Music City Miracle. On January, 8, 2000, Titans receiver Kevin Dyson fielded a lateral from tight end Frank Wycheck and raced for the game-winning touchdown to give the Titans a 22-16 win in the playoffs.
"I remember having a lot of extra homework that week in school,'' Kern said. "Our teachers were really upset."
Kern grew up a Bills fan, of course. He's from Grand Island, N.Y., which is located halfway between Buffalo and Niagara Falls, smack dab in the middle of Bills country.
"I really liked watching Jim Kelly and Thurman Thomas and Bruce Smith and Andre Reed,'' Kern said. "Steve Tasker, Don Beebe, all those guys, they were a fun team to watch. To see them go to four Super Bowls, it was pretty cool to see growing up."
Things have changed now.
Kern, in his seventh season with the Titans, hasn't received a great reception in recent trips to Ralph Wilson Stadium, when he returned as a member of the opposing team.
"I think most fans there don't know where I'm from and they hope I mess up,'' he said with a smile. "So far this week, I haven't gotten the text messages (from friends) of "I hope you play a lot this weekend" or "I hope you have a great season other than this game." I'll probably get it Sunday so I'm not going to look at my phone."
On Sunday, the Bills play the Titans at Nissan Stadium.
Kern said it will bring back memories, but he's a Titan now.
"It is always cool to go against your hometown team. Sometimes you have to kind of pinch yourself that first of all you are in the NFL, but you are playing against the team you watched growing up,'' Kern said.
"But now I am with the Titans, and it's a great organization. It's cool to go against your hometown team but I am a Titan and I'm thankful to be here."
