The Buffalo Bills are not going to the postseason this year, but they get a chance to play spoiler next week against the AFC East division rival New York Jets. With the Bills eliminated from postseason contention, they can block any chance the Jets have of making the playoffs by knocking them off in the final week of the regular season, and you do not need to look very far to see if that is serving as motivation for the Bills. Running back Boobie Dixon is calling this weekend’s game the Bills’ Super Bowl.
“We got something to play for now,” Dixon said. “We been having something to play for — that’s our respect and our pride. We always want that. But to send them home packing — that would be great.
“We’re not going to the playoffs, so the Super Bowl is next week for us. I know we’re gonna have a lot of guys jacked. We already know what’s on the line.”
Richie Incognito isn’t quite going to Super Bowl level with the motivation, but he’s on board too.
Richie Incognito on #Jets game: "This will be a playoff game for us." | https://t.co/a8cLMMsfuu #NYJ #Bills
— WFAN Sports Radio (@WFAN660) December 28, 2015
The Jets can clinch a wild card spot in the AFC playoffs with a win over the Bills on Sunday. They also know their former head coach, Rex Ryan, will stop at no cost to get his Bills to be the last, and most difficult, hurdle standing in the way of the Jets.
“It is going to be a tough one. They are not going to be playing for a playoff spot, but [Rex Ryan] will have those guys ready to go and fired up,” Jets linebacker Calvin Pace said.
Perhaps Dixon should have thought about that statement just a little bit more before jumping to the hyperbole. After all, the Bills are infamous for their performance in the Super Bowl, losing four straight in the 1990s. Heck, they even made a 30 for 30 about it. If this is the Bills’ Super Bowl, then congratulations to the Jets.
[ESPN]