Bengals’ Joe Mixon claims Cincinnati is ‘the big dog of the AFC’ ahead of Bill’s showdown

Bengals running back Joe Mixon has thrown down the gauntlet to the Buffalo Bills ahead of their football showdown Monday night at Paul Brown Stadium.

Aside from a titanic quarterback duel between Joe Burrow and Josh Allen, the game will in some ways help determine the No. 1 in the AFC’s upcoming playoff season.

Buffalo currently holds the coveted position, although it holds no greater significance for Mixon than just that.

Joe Mixon exuded confidence as he discussed the Bengals MNF game against the Bills

“At the end of the day people had to realize and understand that we are the big dog of the AFC and that is exactly what it is,” he said after Saturday’s practice session. “For something to happen, it has to go through us.”

The Bills have a 12-3 record and hold the head-to-head tiebreaker against the 12-win chiefs. Close behind are the 11-4 Bengals, who will be able to dig deep into the conversation for the conference top spot on Sunday.

This is not lost on Mixon.

“We know what our end goal is, and in order to reach that end goal, we have to get through Buffalo,” he said. “We have to keep a week each and everything else takes care of itself.”

Josh Allen was to be a huge problem for the Bills – both on the ground and in the air

Allen and Stefon Diggs will, of course, cause problems for the Bengals’ secondary, but Mixon sees Burrow and co. creating problems for the Bills’ back end throughout the enticing play.

“The best part is they have to play us honestly,” Mixon said. “If you want to cheat, whatever you want to do, we will make you pay for it.

“However you want to do it. That’s up to you, however you want to play it.’

Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow could improve his MVP chances with a stellar performance