Here is who national experts predict will win Kansas City Chiefs-Buffalo Bills game
For the first time this season, the pundits aren’t mostly in the Chiefs’ corner for a Kansas City game.
The Chiefs, 2-2, play host to the Buffalo Bills, 3-1,at Arrowhead Stadium on “Sunday Night Football,” and nationals experts from around the country are nearly split on who they think will win.
In fact, of the 71 NFL media members named below, 36 believe Buffalo will win. The Chiefs are the pick from 35 of those pundits. Here is the breakdown for the game, which kicks off at 7:20 p.m. and will be broadcast on KSHB (Ch. 41)
A 31-24 Chiefs victory is the prediction from Gregg Rosenthal of NFL.com. This is part of what he wrote: “ The Ravens finally slayed their Chiefs demons earlier this season on Sunday night, and the Bills have unquestionably looked like a more complete team this year. But when push comes to shove, I believe Josh Allen is the quarterback more likely to make a game-changing turnover in a game where possessions are so valuable.”
The Bills will prevail 36-28 says Fox Sports’ Colin Cowherd. Here is what he said: “This could be a blowout. We’ve got to be honest about Kansas City. … The Bills have really tried to patch up their defensive front. It is working. Takeaways are first in the league, passer rating defense is first in the league. The Chiefs’ win against the Eagles last week, it was Kansas City’s first win by more than six points, since Week 8 last year. They can’t stop anybody! Thirty-first in scoring defense, they’re allowing almost 7 yards a play. … I like Buffalo here, and I think they can win by more than this.”
A 31-28 Chiefs win is the prediction from Bill Bender of the Sporting News. This is part of what he wrote: “The Bills lead the league with a +7 turnover ratio, and the Chiefs have been loose with the football. Josh Allen has been great, too. The Sunday Night Football spotlight gives us another fantastic finish, however, and Patrick Mahomes leads the game-winning drive this time.”
A Buffalo victory is the prediction from the New York Times’ Emmanuel Morgan. Here is part of what he wrote: “In prime time, the Bills (3-1) can display that effectiveness, especially if they limit Kansas City receiver Tyreek Hill. The Chargers and the Ravens each limited Hill to less than 100 yards, a major factor in both of Kansas City’s losses. After losing to Kansas City (2-2) twice last season, Buffalo may now have a blueprint for securing an upset.”
A 38-31 Chiefs victory is the prediction from Yardbarker’s Chris Mueller. This is a snippet from his story: “Kansas City’s fatal flaw is easy to identify; the Chiefs are wretched on defense, ranking 31st in the league in points allowed. Their problems are exacerbated in the red zone, where opponents scored touchdowns on 11 of 12 trips in the first three games. Steve Spagnuolo’s defense did better against Philadelphia, allowing touchdowns on just 50 percent of the Eagles’ trips. They’ll have to be markedly better against a Buffalo offense that appears fully functional and dangerous.”
Six of the eight CBS Sports writers believe the Bills will win: Pete Prisco, Jason La Canfora, Dave Richard, Jamey Eisenberg, John Breech and Ryan Wilson. Picking the Chiefs: Will Brinson and Jared Dubin. Prisco predicted a 30-28 Bills victory. This is part of what he wrote: “The Bills lost to the Chiefs twice last season, but have addressed their biggest issue in those losses, which is pass rush. I think they’ve done enough there to slow Patrick Mahomes some and Josh Allen and the Bills will go into Arrowhead and pull off a big upset.”
The Chiefs will win, say the two Pro Football Talk writers. Mike Florio sees a 31-30 final score. He wrote: “The Bills are currently the best team in the NFL, but they’re getting the Chiefs at a very bad time in a very bad place. They’ll cover, but the find-a-way Chiefs find a way to win.” Michael David Smith predicted a 27-20 win. He wrote in part: “The Bills, who have been absolutely dominant against subpar quarterbacks the last three weeks, finding that it’s not so easy to dominate against Patrick Mahomes.”
The two writers for Syracuse.com are split on who will win. Matt Parrino, who sees a 44-41 Bills win, wrote in part: “Even if the Bills pressure Mahomes, he still may get his. I’m calling for a shootout. Josh Allen has a game.” Ryan Talbot, picking a 38-35 Chiefs win, wrote in part: “I think the Bills can pull off the upset, but until I see it happen, I’m going with the team that has been the class of the AFC for the past few seasons in a nail-biter.”
The Bills were the pick from six of the eight Athletic writers: Chris Burke, Mark Kaboly, Ben Standig, Michael-Shawn Dugar, Katherine Terrell and Nick Kosmider. Picking the Chiefs: Tashan Reed and Ted Nguyen.
Five of seven writers at USA Today picked the Chiefs: Jarrett Bell (34-31 final score), Nate Davis (27-23), Mike Freeman (35-30), Mike Jones (40-35) and Mike Middlehurst-Schwartz (38-31). Picking the Bills are Jori Epstein (34-32) and Lorenzo Reyes (35-30).
Just three of 10 pundits at ESPN think the Chiefs will win: Emmanuel Acho, Rob Ninkovich and Kevin Seifert. Picking the Bills are Matt Bowen, Domonique Foxworth, Laura Rutledge, Seth Wickersham, Mike Clay, Jeremy Fowler and Dan Graziano.
Six of the 10 members of the Dallas Morning-News see the Chiefs winning: Michael Gehlken, Dana Larson, Damon Marx, David Moore, Kevin Sherrington and Calvin Watkins.Going with the Bills are Tim Cowlishaw, Craig Miller, Newy Scruggs and Jean-Jacques Taylor
Three of The Star’s five writers picked Buffalo to win: Sam McDowell, Blair Kerkhoff and Herbie Teope. Picking the Chiefs: Vahe Gregorian and Sam Mellinger.
A Chiefs victory is the prediction from three of the four Athlon Sports writers: Rob Doster, Bryan Fischer and Ben Weinrib. Going with the Bills: Aaron Wilson.
Three of the five Sports Illustrated writers went with the Chiefs: Gary Grammling, Jenny Vrentas and Mitch Goldich. Picking the Bills are Conor Orr and Albert Breer.
A Chiefs win is the call from three of Audacy’s five writers: John Healy, Jordan Cohn and Jesse Pantuosco. Picking Buffalo: Dan Mennella and Tim Kelly.
