ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. -- Rex Ryan heaped praise Monday on the New York Jets in advance of the Buffalo Bills' regular-season finale Sunday, when Ryan will have an opportunity to help keep his former team out of the playoffs.
“I think first off, it’s about getting the win,” Ryan said. “We know we’re facing a team that’s red hot. That team is probably as talented as anyone out there. When you look at it, even from a statistical standpoint, I think they’re sixth and eighth -- defense is sixth, offense is eighth in the league. This team is a complete football team. No surprise they have the record they have.
“But just to get a win, I don’t care if we’re playing East Carolina, you want to get a win, period. There’s no question about it. The spoiler role, I think is probably, maybe, I mean, who knows. But it’s to me, I think us just getting a win against a good football team would be great.”
When Ryan was asked if he had any added motivation to play spoiler for the team that he coached from 2009 through last season, Ryan simply said, “No” and then smiled at reporters.
Bills running back Boobie Dixon said Sunday after Buffalo’s win over the Dallas Cowboys that their finale against the Jets would be the Bills’ “Super Bowl” because of the chance to deal a blow to the Jets’ playoff hopes.
“I think guys do get revved up,” Ryan said Monday. “You’re playing against a team where you admire where they’re at. You wish that was you in that situation. It’s not. But this is your last shot at this this year. So you get to play against a team that has everything riding on it.
“We know we having nothing on it statistically -- we can’t advance from it or whatever. But it’s a lot for us being professionals. We’re gonna try our best to win this game.”
