Frank Reich is currently known as the head coach of the Indianapolis Colts.
But even Reich appears to realize he’ll forever be known as a member of the Buffalo Bills.
On Saturday, Reich will be on the other sideline, but what he did for the Bills 28 years ago is the reason why he’ll always have a legacy. It that long ago when Reich led the biggest comeback in NFL history against the Houston Oilers.
That moment also caused Reich to recently drop some pretty positive views on the Bills earlier this week.
While admitting yes, he wants to win and end Buffalo’s season in the Bills-Colts Wild Card matchup, he certainly still has love for western New York.
“Obviously, it’s a special place,” Reich said. “But this is a business trip. Fortunately, I’ve been back to Buffalo a few times since as a player and as a coach. I feel like I’ve gotten all that out of my system. It’s unique, because it’s the playoffs.”
“I love Buffalo, will always love Buffalo, will always be a Bills fan – except for this Saturday, for sure. On Sunday, though, they did us right,” Reich added.
With the Colts’ win over the Jaguars combined with Buffalo’s win vs. the Miami Dolphins in Week 17, Indy made it to the postseason. Because of that, Reich also shared that he texted Buffalo head coach Sean McDermott following the Bills’ win to thank him.
While Reich and McDermott evidently are friendly, as the game inches closer this week, Reich looks to be stealing one out of McDermott’s playbook.
In his career in Buffalo, McDermott has made the playoffs twice before this season. Both of those times, he was able to play the “Bills against the world’ card. Not so much now since his team is the favorite and No. 2 seeded team facing the No. 7 seed Colts.
In light of this, Reich’s been welcoming the “underdog” role.
“The pressure is not on us. We should be loose, aggressive and freed up to play our best game of the year. No one is going to give us a chance,” Reich said.
Not so fast, Frank… Sean’s got his own lines, too.
In a bit of a rebuttal, McDermott kind of countered Reich’s message with his own “not so fast” dialogue.
“They’re better than their record and their record is good,” McDermott said via video conference this week.
McDermott does kind of have a point… the Colts did win 11 games, after all…
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