'Look Out!' Manning Scouts Buffalo vs. Steelers: 'The Team Nobody Wants to Play!'
It is sort of a goofy cliche, this thing about "The Team Nobody Wants to Play!'' I mean, all the teams in the NFL playoffs are of quality ... and at the same time, logically, the top two seeds in their respective conferences, with home-field advantage, are of the highest quality.
So you "don't want to play'' them. And if you could get away with it, I suppose you "don't want to play'' anybody that's any good. But that's not an option, so ...
We go with the cliche. And Peyton Manning, in that category, goes with the Buffalo Bills.
"I'm not sure anybody wants really to play the Bills right now because they're not sure what they're going to get,'' Manning said. "They are hoping to get the inconsistent.''
Bills Mafia is aware of that last characterization. Indeed, the Bills were once 6-6 and reeling - even having to endure talk about a changeout of head coach Sean McDermott - before rallying late to capture the AFC East crown (for the fourth straight year) and the No. 2 seed in the playoffs.
They're now the No. 2 seed in the AFC and will face the Pittsburgh Steelers at home on Sunday afternoon in what figures to be inclement weather.
Is all of that an advantage? Sure. Is it as great an edge as being the Baltimore Ravens, who are the No. 1 seed and get the bye this week? Logically, of course not. But Manning is addressing a particular wildcard here as it relates to "inconsistency.''
"If the (opponents) get hot Josh Allen, Manning said, "look out!''
