Last year, the Bengals’ run to the Super Bowl caught most of the football world off guard. They won’t be sneaking up on anyone this time around—and, based on the words from their star running back, that’s just the way they prefer it.
Joe Mixon threw down the proverbial gauntlet on Thursday, three days before Cincinnati’s wild-card round matchup with the division rival Ravens. Fresh off a 27–16 win over Baltimore in Week 18, Mixon had a clear message for Sunday’s opponent and any other team standing in the way of the Bengals and the Super Bowl.
“We’re the big dogs of the AFC, and everybody knows that,” Mixon said.