Cincinnati Bengals running back Joe Mixon. Sam Greene / USA TODAY NETWORK

Bengals RB Joe Mixon makes bold declaration ahead of playoffs

The Bengals (12-4) are one of the hottest teams in the league heading into the playoffs. However, RB Joe Mixon believes they're the best.

"We the big dogs of the AFC and everybody knows that," Mixon told reporters. "We going to take everybody's best shot, but they better be ready to take ours."

It's a bold statement to make before the playoffs have even begun, but the Bengals have backed up their words with their play all season.

Cincinnati ranks seventh in points per game (26.1) and eighth in total yards per game (360.5), per ESPN.com. Although, the Chiefs and Bills both rank in the top two spots in each category.

The Bengals already defeated the Chiefs 27-24 in Week 13, but they haven't gotten their shot at the Bills due to the cancelation of their Week 17 matchup.

Cincinnati takes on Baltimore first in the wild-card round where it's favored, but Mixon's remarks go beyond that to every other team in the AFC.

"It can be bulletin board material for anybody, but the facts are the facts," Mixon added. "We know when we take the field, ain't nobody touch us if we on our game."

The Bengals may just get their shot at the Bills, and you better believe they'll get everybody else's best shot as well.

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