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From left, Ray Davis of the Buffalo Bills, actors Holland Roden and Matthew Daddario, and DeWayne Carter of the Buffalo Bills attend Hallmark's premiere screening of "Holiday Touchdown: A Bills Love Story" at the Aurora Theatre on Thursday, Nov. 13, in East Aurora. Behind them on Main Street are dozens of enthusiastic fans. (Photo credit: Arthur Mola/AP Content Services for Hallmark Media)

Buffalo fans will love 'Holiday Touchdown: A Bills Love Story'

by jmaloni

Tue, Nov 18th 2025 10:00 am

Mafia makes good in new Hallmark ‘Countdown to Christmas’ film; cast members reflect on time in WNY

Behind the Screens with Joshua Maloni

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Though no tables were broken, the Aurora Theatre could’ve doubled for the NFL’s Highmark Stadium last Thursday. Inside the historic film room and popcorn shop, it took less than 10 seconds for cheers to erupt as Bar-Bill, Bills Mafia, chicken wings and football were projected on the large screen. Immediately, patrons fell in love with “Holiday Touchdown: A Bills Love Story.”

Such was the movie crew’s goal.

When filmmakers and cast came to Orchard Park and East Aurora last summer, they sought to craft a love letter to Buffalo – a desire stemming from previous interactions with local football fans.

Just like Josh Allen at the goal line, those filmmakers scored in a big way. They masterfully captured the uncommon passion, frustration and camaraderie unique to Bills fans.

“Truly, it was the fans and the people of Buffalo,” that inspired the script, co-writer Vanessa Marano said. “When Hallmark approached us with the idea to do a Buffalo Bills Christmas movie, first and foremost, it was, ‘We want to get Buffalo right. We want to get this fandom right.’ Because it is one of the most passionate and devoted fandoms out there.”

Co-writer Danielle Morrow said, “When we got the opportunity to come out to Buffalo and visit the city and meet the people, it was really inspiring. We went to Bar-Bill, and that’s where the idea was conceived.”

“And that’s where the movie opens,” Marano said.

Writers Danielle Morrow and Vanessa Marano attend Hallmark’s premiere screening of “Holiday Touchdown: A Bills Love Story.” (Photo credit: Arthur Mola/AP Content Services for Hallmark Media)

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Tasked with spotlighting Bills Mafia, Marano and Morrow made multiple trips to Western New York to watch the team, talk with tailgaters, and then craft characters. They had an idea of what they might encounter, but found the fans “exceeding expectations,” Marano said.

“There’s no one who perseveres more in the cold, and in dedication. The way they showed up for filming was incredible.”

“They’re the epitome of 'ride or die,' these fans,” Morrow said. “The community is, literally, ‘We will do anything for each other, for this team.’ It was remarkable to see.”

That sentiment is shown in “Holiday Touchdown.”

In the “Countdown to Christmas” feature – premiering at 8 p.m. Saturday – lifelong friends and neighbors the Quinns and DeLucas set out to celebrate the season as is their tradition: in the stadium; decked out in red, white and blue; cheering on their team. When a Buffalo ornament arrives in the mail, pediatric doctor Morgan Quinn (Holland Roden) discovers her uncle Tommy (Joe Pantoliano) has been receiving such gifts for more than 50 years. In fact, it was a mystery Bills backer who kept the family afloat when Tommy was in the military.

Wanting to do something special for the man who took her in following her dad’s death, Morgan sets out to find Tommy’s angel. She enlists the help of friend and Bills VP of Stadium Development Gabe DeLuca (Matthew Daddario). As they scour the shelves of Vidler’s 5 & 10 looking for clues, Morgan and Gabe discover their own romantic feelings for each other.

Western New Yorkers who have watched and treasured Hallmark productions over the years now have one to call their own. Viewers will notice local businesses in “Holiday Touchdown” – as well as myriad local extras – and even a few Buffalo football legends.

MS NOW broadcast journalist Luke Russert has a cameo in “Holiday Touchdown.” He called it “a very uplifting movie. These are tough times for a lot of places in America, and this movie is very inspiring.”

Russert – whose late father, Tim, moderated NBC’s “Meet the Press,” and was a staunch Buffalo fan – said, “I think they also really understood the passion that the area has for the Bills, and trying to translate that onto the screen.”

From left: Caroline Aaron, Tracy Pollan, Matthew Daddario, Holland Roden, Patti Murin and Steve Schirripa attend Hallmark’s premiere screening of “Holiday Touchdown: A Bills Love Story” at 42 North Brewing Company on Thursday, Nov. 13, in East Aurora. (Photo credit: Arthur Mola/AP Content Services for Hallmark Media)

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‘Where else would you rather be than right here, right now?’

Western New York became an unexpected and pleasant surprise for the “Holiday Touchdown” cast.

“People who live in Buffalo love Buffalo and want to talk about it,” said actress Tracy Pollan, who plays Morgan’s mother. “I had never been here before. Coming to do this movie was the first time I was here, so I didn’t know what to expect. But I immediately was so happy being here. I thought that the community was really welcoming, and obviously the Buffalo Bills community was so excited. That was really special.”

“It was so great,” said actress Patti Murin, who play’s Morgan’s sister. Murin went to Syracuse University and has a friend in Western New York, “so I sort of knew what the vibe was going to be. But being here, it really was phenomenal. Everyone was just so excited that the movie was filming in town – and everyone knew about it. Wherever you went, if you happened to mention it, they would just be like, ‘Oh, my god!’ Because it’s a movie that’s filming here. …”

“And it’s about the Bills – and it’s Hallmark!” Pollan said. “So, it had all of the elements that people were so excited about.”

Actors Steve Schirripa and Caroline Aaron – representing the DeLuca side – couldn’t believe the fan turnout for a scene shot inside Highmark Stadium in May, nor the crowds that lined Main Street in East Aurora last week to celebrate the “Holiday Touchdown” screening.

“Thousands of people that came out – we saw their vans and peoples’ cars are decorated. It’s quite amazing to look at,” Schirripa said.

“I’ve never seen anything like that,” Aaron added. “There was no whining; no complaining.”

“It’s not like that in New York City,” Schirripa noted. “The fans there aren’t like the fans here. … Here, they’re very, very passionate.”

Russert said, “It just shows that the Bills fans are the best in the world – I would say – of all four professional major sports in America. When we were filming the movie in May, there were a few thousand extras at Highmark Stadium, and it was a horrifically cold night for May. Sideways rain. It got down into the 30s. The director loved it, because he said, ‘Oh, this what December in Buffalo looks like!’

“Even though it was that cold, people showed up. A lot of them were shirtless. They brought the energy – until 2 in the morning. The filming went quite late.

“It just showcases the passion.”

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Of the local fandom, Roden said, “I want what they have!”

Daddario echoed that, and added, “I think everybody who’s a fan of something wants … the same energy and enthusiasm as the Buffalo Bills fans have. I want what they have. I think that’s true. I’m jealous of it. I want to join it!”

While in town, the film stars also visited the John R. Oishei Children’s Hospital, met fans at a Hallmark store in West Seneca, and attended the Bills game on Sunday.

“I love that all of the publicity team at Hallmark really thought of all the nooks and crannies, and, ‘How can we reach out to the Buffalo population and really get to know them on a personal level?’ ” Roden said. “That’s why we’re here for several days. It’s not just about rolling out the movie; it’s about spending time in Buffalo.”

“I think Hallmark has done a very good job of looking local, to Buffalo,” Daddario said. “It makes sense, considering the film. The film … is a love letter to Buffalo. I think that this film really is for Buffalo in a lot of ways; it’s for the fans of the Bills. I think that, what we’re focusing on while we’re here, is to look at the people of Buffalo and show them that we made this movie for them. I want to see them enjoy this film. I hope they like it. I hope they feel like it celebrates their city. That’s really what I want out of it.

"So, I’m glad that we’re doing a lot of local news and a lot of local places, and we’re seeing Buffalo. We’re not just doing it all from L.A. or doing it all from somewhere else. We’re doing it from Buffalo, and I think that’s appropriate.”

“They’re the ones who make Buffalo what they are, and what it is,” Roden said of the people of Western New York. “I think it's important to be connected to that. And not just from an on-camera standpoint, but actually in the community.”

Hallmark partnered with the NFL for the first “Holiday Touchdown” movie in 2024 – one centered on the then-Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs. The film was the network’s top-rated feature.

“This movie is going to do huge numbers,” Russert said of Buffalo’s version.

Like a typical Bills fan, he added, “We’re going to beat the Chiefs movie in the ratings. I guarantee that! (laughs)”

“Holiday Touchdown: A Bills Love Story” premieres at 8 p.m. Saturday on the Hallmark Channel, and will then be available to stream on Hallmark+.

East Aurora rolled out its holiday best for the Nov. 13 premiere of “Holiday Touchdown: A Bills Love Story.” The Hallmark Channel’s “Countdown to Christmas” feature airs at 8 p.m. Saturday and will repeat throughout the holiday season.