Buffalo, N.Y. (WBEN) - The NFL Playoffs have arrived, and excitement continues to mount in Western New York with the Buffalo Bills set to host the Denver Broncos this Sunday afternoon at Highmark Stadium.
Acting Buffalo Mayor Chris Scanlon feels the Bills have the right recipe for success in this matchup.
"We see this energy around the team the last handful of years, it's incredible to see," said Scanlon during a playoff rally held at Seneca One Tower on Thursday. "You see people not just in the City of Buffalo, but around Western New York, when you're traveling, you see people in airports that are fired up about the Bills. They've got their gear on, and it's just incredible to see this team means so much for the people of this region. It really is one of the ways we identify ourselves, and to see their success this year and the last handful of years has been tremendous."
Of course Scanlon feels the Bills will ride the momentum they've had all season to victory on Sunday.
"Yeah, it's a playoff game. Everyone's good in the playoffs. They're there for a reason, so I'm looking forward to an entertaining game," Scanlon said. "I think we've got a fantastic team, the way the offense spreads the ball around and our defense is very opportunistic, they create a lot of turnovers."
As for Bills radio color analyst and former longtime center Eric Wood, he sees Buffalo as the better team against the Broncos.
"They have more experience, especially at the quarterback position, where Denver brings in a rookie [Bo Nix]," said Wood at Thursday's playoff rally. "Denver's defense is elite, but the strength of our teams are offense, and I feel like being at home will give us an advantage there as well, to where the Bills should get out of here with a victory."
What is Wood's ideal path for the Bills to make it to the Super Bowl in New Orleans come next month?
"Give me the easiest possible route," he admitted. "Would it be storybook to beat [Patrick] Mahomes, beat [Lamar] Jackson, get to the Super Bowl and win it all? Yes, but if those teams get knocked off earlier then having to play the Bills, I won't be mad about it."
Kickoff on Sunday is set for 1 p.m. EST.