Patriots linebacker Brandon Spikes earned the ire of several members of the Bills for a hit on tight end Scott Chandler in the first meeting of the year between the two teams and the bad blood has not gone away after Sunday’s 37-31 Patriots win.
Spikes drew a roughing the passer flag for a fourth quarter hit on Bills quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick that left Fitzpatrick without a helmet. Fitzpatrick was able to avoid injury and stay in the game, but he still had some harsh words for Spikes after the game.
“We’re not going to back down from anybody. Spikes is an emotional player,” Fitzpatrick said, via Shalise Manza Young of the Boston Globe. “I think he’s a punk at times. He took a cheap shot at Scott in the first game, and he was doing a lot of jabbering and talking and getting out there. Not one of my favorite players. Not high on my list.”
Bills center Eric Wood called Spikes, who will likely hear from the league this week, a “headhunter” who was trying to take Fitzpatrick out of the game. Since the two teams have already played twice, the Bills would need to get to the playoffs for a chance to pay Spikes back this season.
That means they will probably need to put their anger away until 2013 since the 3-6 Bills are likely done once the season reaches Week 17.