KC Chiefs-Bills starts with Mahomes vs. Allen, but these players could factor in, too
Patrick Mahomes seems to relish facing other good, young quarterbacks like Lamar Jackson, Baker Mayfield, Justin Herbert and Josh Allen. The Chiefs will have played all four this season after Sunday night.
Jackson and Herbert notched their first victories against Mahomes this season. Is Allen, who comes into Arrowhead Stadium 0-2 against Mahomes (both losses came in games last season) poised for a breakthrough, too?
Besides Mahomes and Allen, these players could help decide the outcome of this Sunday Night Football thriller in KC.
Chiefs wide receiver Josh Gordon
Who knows? Will Gordon even be active? If he is, the Chiefs won’t hesitate to look for him, and he’ll give them a different type of target: a big-bodied receiver. This could make the Chiefs’ offense even more potent, especially in the red zone. Gordon is 30 years old, but because of his six suspensions he has played in only 63 NFL games. That’s 15 fewer than Tyreek Hill, who entered the league four years after Gordon.
Chiefs linebacker Anthony Hitchens
It’s increasingly important that Hitchens not only play a good game but call a good one, as well. The Chiefs have had communication problems all season and it’s Hitchens’ job, along with safety Tyrann Mathieu, to get his teammates lined up properly. That’s been increasingly difficult as opponents have played uptempo against the Chiefs.
Bills tight end Dawson Knox
The Chiefs didn’t see Knox in the 2020 regular season because of an injury, but he played in the AFC title game and chipped in six receptions for 42 yards and a touchdown. Knox leads the Bills with four touchdown receptions this year and has been a reliable target in the red zone. Oh, the Chiefs aren’t getting many red zone stops this season, allowing touchdowns 80% of the time teams reach their 20.
Bills defensive tackle Gregory Rousseau
The Bills did what good teams do after a great season ended in disappointment: They focused on the aspect of their game that got them beat in the playoffs. Against the Chiefs in the AFC Championship Game, it was the pass rush. Mahomes threw for 325 yards, three touchdowns and no interceptions. Getting some heat on Mahomes is a priority for the Bills. Rousseau has two sacks and two quarterback hurries through four games.
This story was originally published October 8, 2021 at 2:20 PM.