Slow your roll, Jacksonville. Wings and Bills Mafia beat your beaches

The Buffalo Bills' playoff run starts in Jacksonville on Sunday as they're set to take on the Jaguars in the first round.

While quarterbacks Josh Allen and Trevor Lawrence will battle it out on the field, the real contest takes place off of it as we put the cities of Buffalo and Jacksonville in a head-to-head contest based on where you'd rather spend a playoff weekend.

It's a no-brainer, though, as the City of Good Neighbors easily takes home that crown. They have a nationally-loved food named after them, for goodness sake! But in case you weren't already sold, here are several more reasons why.

Our colleagues at the Jacksonville Florida Times-Union, however, have a different winner in mind. See what they have to say here.

Weather: It makes us tougher

Sure, sunshine is nice, but there's nothing more magical than waking up to a fresh layer of sparkling snow on your front lawn.

Besides, digging out after multiple once-in-a-lifetime blizzards brings us together and makes us tougher and more prepared to face any and all adversity that comes our way, just like our team.

And have you ever experienced the joy a snowball celebration brings after a touchdown in Jacksonville? We think not.

Food: Wings, wings and more wings

One word: Wings. OK, maybe four − wings and blue cheese − because you can't have one without the other.

And in case that's not enough, which we find very hard to believe, Buffalo is also known for fare you can't find anywhere else. Beef on weck sandwiches, sponge candy, Loganberry, cup pepperoni, peanut sticks, charcoal broiled hot dogs, spaghetti parm ... need we say more?

While Jacksonville might have us beat in the seafood category, we have a James Beard nominated barbecue spot right in downtown, Food Truck Tuesdays in Larkin Square during the summer months and breweries on every block.

Tailgating culture: It's in our blood

Say what you will about table jumping, but there's nothing more freeing than the seconds spent airborne between the back of a truck bed and a plastic folding table. And where else do you get to watch someone so passionate about their team that they willingly get covered in a shower of ketchup and mustard?

Plus, we can't go two steps down Abbott Road in Orchard Park without hearing the call of our people − "Hey-ey-ey-ey!"

Anything less than that is just plain boring. Yes, we're looking at you, Jacksonville.

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Overall vibe: Bills Mafia reigns supreme

While both Buffalo and Jacksonville have fans that dress like their mascots, Bills Mafia can bring both the style and the intimidation. You also won't find a neighborhood anywhere in Buffalo without Bills signs stuck in the yard or flags with the charging buffalo logo flying high.

When members of the unique fanbase meet in the wild, they even have their own language as they offer up a mutual "Go Bills!" And they're the nicest people you'll meet − raising thousands for players on opposing teams multiple times without a second thought.

While the outcome of Sunday's game may still be uncertain, there's one thing already written in stone: Bills Mafia is a different breed and they'll fill EverBank Stadium like they've done in so many other places before.

As they say, Buffalo is New York's team, so we have a whole state supporting us.

Emily Barnes reports on consumer-related issues for the USA TODAY Network’s New York Connect Team, but occasionally, as a certified member of the Mafia, tries her hand at covering the Bills and their fans. Follow her on X and Instagram @byemilybarnes. Get in touch at [email protected].

This article originally appeared on Rochester Democrat and Chronicle: Bills vs Jaguars is a battle of small markets, but Buffalo stands out