Kansas City Chiefs vs. Bills: Who has the edge on offense, defense in Sunday showdown?
Plenty of season remains after the Chiefs and Bills clash on Sunday Night football at Arrowhead Stadium this weekend. But this one has carried a big-game feel since the NFL schedule was announced.
“The thing that I love about it is we have an opportunity to play against a team that’s striving to go to the Super Bowl,” Chiefs offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy said. “You always want that competition to be at a high level. So our guys are focused, they’re making sure that they’re preparing with a purpose.”
The teams met twice last year, with the Chiefs winning in Buffalo during the regular season then defeating the Bills in the AFC Championship Game at Arrowhead. But these Bills have that Kansas City 2019 feeling. A year after the Chiefs fell to the Patriots in the AFC title game, they went on to win the Super Bowl.
Could that be in store for Sunday’s winner? Perhaps. But in the short term, there is another advantage: The winner will own a tie-breaker for playoff seeding in the conference, if it comes to that.
Here’s how the game might play out.
When the Chiefs pass
All of the questions about the Chiefs’ second wide receiver and who will replace Sammy Watkins seem somewhat misguided. The Chiefs haven’t had problems finding targets. They’ve schemed Tyreek Hill and Travis Kelce well enough for each to have big games this season, and Mecole Hardman has contributed with his speed. Still, the Chiefs signed Josh Gordon as an additional target for Patrick Mahomes — and you can look for Gordon to play against the Bills. Buffalo has recorded 13 sacks this season.
Edge: Chiefs
When the Chiefs run
The Chiefs’ run game has sure looked different over the past two games. Clyde Edwards-Helaire has surpassed 100 yards in consecutive games for the first time in his career and the offensive line has done its job springing running backs to the second level. Buffalo picked its poison during the regular season and held Mahomes in check while letting Edwards-Helaire rush for 161. The Bills are surrendering a mere 68 yards per game and have allowed one rushing touchdown. The Texans rushed for just 48 last week.
Edge: Chiefs
When the Bills pass
Josh Allen’s ratings and percentages are down compared to last year, but a quarterback should be measured by how many points he puts up, and the Bills have gone for 35, 43 and 40 since their season-opening loss to the Steelers. There are not short of targets with Stefon Diggs, Cole Beasley, Emmanual Sanders and tight end Dawson Knox, who leads the team in touchdown receptions, with four. Buffalo can generate plenty of passing offense and the Chiefs must get crafty with blitzes to generate pressure. Chiefs defensive end Chris Jones didn’t practice Wednesday-Friday because of a wrist injury.
Edge: Bills
When the Bills run
Devin Singletary leads the way but didn’t have a good game against the Chiefs in either game last season. Part of that was because the Bills were playing catch-up. The bigger threat is the tuck and run ability of Allen, who leads the Bills at 5.4 yards per carry. And running quarterbacks have been an issue for the Chiefs.
Edge: Bills
Special teams/coaching/intangibles
Isaiah McKenzie returns punts and kicks for the Bills and has a 75-yard kickoff return already this season. Look for Harrison Butker to put his kickoffs in the end zone. Will either punter see the field? It didn’t happen in the Chiefs-Eagles game last week, and the Bills have punted only 10 times in four games. Bills head coach Sean McDermott has helped build one of the NFL’s top teams and Buffalo has staying power. But Arrowhead at night, it makes a difference, which could come in especially handy for a Chiefs defense that needs all the help it can get.
Edge: Chiefs
This story was originally published October 8, 2021 at 1:58 PM.