Even though it's a home game Sunday instead of a trip back to Buffalo, Houston Texans quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick says the Bills and Bills fans will always hold a special place for him.

That's what makes this Sunday's game against Buffalo stand out for him.

“Four years of my life being in Buffalo, I had a great time. Great city, great people. It's going to be extra special for me going against some of my friends, guys that I'll be friends with far after football,” Fitzpatrick (Harvard) said.

Fitzpatrick, who was the Bills starter for most of his time there. He was let go in Buffalo after the 2012 season and signed with Tennessee, where he spent one season before being released and signing with the Texans. Fitzpatrick said he is still familiar with many players on the team, but the Buffalo defense has changed systems. He said their familiarity with each other is probably a wash.

“I'm familiar with a lot of guys on the back end, but it's a different defense now. It's a whole different philosophy from when I was there,” he said. “There's a familiarity with some of the guys on their team, so that may be a little bit of a help there, but on the flip side of that, they're very familiar with me and going against me in practice every day. So that's probably a wash.

“It's one of those things where I'm comfortable knowing some of their guys from going against them for so long, and they're probably comfortable with me.”



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