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Bills General Manager Buddy Nix on Patriots, AFC: ‘They Don’t Scare Me’

The Buffalo Bills are looking at some high expectations — at least compared to what they've done in past seasons — and at least one member of the organization is embracing that fully.

Buffalo general manager Buddy Nix isn't just embracing those expectations, he's putting them on his team. He's got his work cut out for him, too, in a strong AFC, with the division rival Patriots leading the way.

Bring 'em on, Nix says.

"I like high expectations," he told the Toronto Sun. "I've never been many places where if you don't have 'em, that good things happen. So I think they oughta expect a lot of us. We expect a lot of ourselves. 

"New England, the AFC — they don't scare me. I think we can compete with any of 'em, and our intention is to try to win the division."

If Nix' Bills are going to chase down the Patriots and other expected AFC powers like Baltimore, Houston, Pittsburgh and Denver, they're going to have to start by winning more games than they lose. That sounds simple enough, but it's something that Buffalo hasn't done since 2004 when they finished 9-7. The Bills' playoff drought extends even further, with 1999 marking the last time Buffalo made the playoffs. 

"Well, I think anything short of going to the playoffs for me, personally, would be a big disappointment," Nix added.

The Bills do have reason for optimism, though. They made one of the offseason's biggest splashes by signing defensive end Mario Williams and also adding former Patriots pass rusher Mark Anderson.

Fist bump to Sports by Brooks for passing this along