New team. Same Rex.
Rex Ryan developed quite a rivalry with the New England Patriots while coaching the New York Jets for six seasons. Very little has changed now that Ryan is coaching the Buffalo Bills. Bulletin-board material continues to fly, and Ryan still has his sights set on the Patriots.
“I don’t know if much has changed,” Ryan told reporters Monday, via The Buffalo News. “They’re still the hunted, in my mind. They’re the world champions, the ones you want to knock off. That hasn’t changed a whole lot.”
The Bills defeated the Indianapolis Colts 27-14 in impressive fashion Sunday. The Patriots, meanwhile, took down the Pittsburgh Steelers 28-21 in their Thursday night season opener.
The AFC East rivals’ Week 2 matchup should be a good test for both teams. The atmosphere in Buffalo figures to be electric.
“I don’t know if I did our fans justice. It’s the truth,” Ryan told reporters of the heightened fervor following his arrival and the Bills’ Week 1 win. “It was amazing for me, but it was also amazing for our players. They said they couldn’t hear themselves, but that’s perfect.
“I can’t wait to see what our fans are going to be like when you have the hated Patriots. I mean, this kind of rival coming into our stadium. I don’t think our fans need any more prompting.”
Bills fans chanted “We want Brady!” at the end of the win over the Colts, suggesting they’re more than ready to welcome — perhaps not so nicely — Tom Brady and Co. to Ralph Wilson Stadium. The crowd only adds to the intrigue of the matchup, though. The game itself is intriguing.
“Great coach, a Hall of Fame quarterback, that’s what makes it more difficult than anything else,” Ryan said of playing the Patriots. “We don’t have to worry about getting our team ready to play. The Patriots are the ones you want to beat. It’s not like we’re just now preparing for them.”
Ryan and the Patriots have a history. The next chapter in the feud officially begins this week.
Thumbnail photo via Andrew Weber/USA TODAY Sports Images
