Will the postseason reveal a different story for the Bills and Chiefs?
The Buffalo Bills’ fourth-down gamble paid off. The victory made Amari Cooper delighted with his new partner. In addition, the Bills became the AFC favorite following their statement win over the Chiefs. Here’s three reasons why.
The Bills spoiled the Chiefs’ quest for a perfect season on Sunday, defeating the two-time defending Super Bowl champions 30-21 thanks to quarterback Josh Allen’s fourth-and-two touchdown run. Khalil Shakir, Allen’s partner, kept an eye on his scamper.
“When Josh takes off, I find myself just watching, like, ‘Wow, he’s different,'” Shakir told me. “When he left today, I started yelling. I could not stop yelling. I was blanking in my thoughts.”
Yes, a fantastic victory for the Bills. However, the Chiefs are the primary reason the Bills are AFC favorites. The reason for being at the top of the list will come as no surprise, but that’s just how things work in the NFL.
The Kansas City Chiefs will not “threepeat”
First and foremost, the Chiefs will not win the Super Bowl again this season. Why? For starters, history has shown that it will not happen. However, the fundamental reason is that the Chiefs are not a dominant team. They’re finding ways to win. However, against the Bills, they were unable to exit the escape chamber. They had a late-game opportunity but were unable to locate Josh Allen, who scored the game-winning goal.
Patrick Mahomes then appeared cautious on the final drive as the Chiefs attempted a miraculous comeback. The effort is there for the Chiefs, but the path to a third consecutive victory is loaded with danger, and the Chiefs will fall to it, as others have before them.
One thing that makes it harder more difficult for the Chiefs is that the Bills are staying grounded despite their stunning victory. According to buffalobills.com, tackle Dion Dawkins stated that it is simply a win.
“It feels good to win, especially against a great team,” Dawkins told the crowd. “Whenever we face the Chiefs, we already know what kind of moment it will be. And while winning is wonderful, it is not the Super Bowl. The respect is there and high, but it’s a positive thing as we approach the bye week. It lifts everyone’s spirits and makes them grin.”
Head coach Sean McDermott shared Dawkins’ sentiments.
“This is not the finish line, as we talked in the locker room, this is the next game,” McDermott told the crowd. “We get to nine wins, it’s hard to do, so we’re extremely grateful for that, and looking forward to getting a little bit of rest here.”
Josh Allen also fell in line.
“That means we have nine wins,” Allen explained. “Last I checked, nine victories probably won’t get you into the playoffs. Going into this bye week, we get to relax a little bit, but we’ll come back ready, a hungry team, and just trying to go 1-0.”
QB Josh Allen is the man — finally
Allen seemed to have been the dude in waiting for some years. He started becoming “that guy” in 2020, his third season in the league. Allen’s 57-20 record as a starter dates back to that year. That’s quite substantial.
And this year, despite playing with fewer offensive weapons than usual, he seems better than ever. A recent deal for Amari Cooper changed things, but Allen has remained a guy on a mission nonetheless. He has thrown for 2,543 yards, 18 touchdowns, and five interceptions. He has also ran for 316 yards and scored five times.
According to cornerback Taron Johnson, his excellent work has been noticed by the Bills’ defensive players as well.
“I’m just proud of our guys,” Johnson explained. “Our offense—I mean, Josh is great. We’re just grateful to have a man like that on our team.”
And Bills head coach Sean McDermott demonstrated his belief in Allen by allowing the club to go for a first down rather than kicking a field goal for a five-point lead. Allen and the Bills demonstrated respect for Patrick Mahomes by going for it. Allen stated that the decision made sense, according to foxsports.com.
“Anytime you give the ball back to Pat and that offense down six with the game on the line, they like their odds in that situation,” Allen pointed out. “So we wanted to get six or seven to make it a two-score game.”
McDermott continued, “They’re just way too good not to go for it right there.”
This is Allen’s year. Yes, Allen has a 4-1 regular-season record versus Mahomes. However, he is 1-3 versus Mahomes in the playoffs. This year, everything will be different.
The Bills have a nicely balanced team
While Allen is a key focus, the Bills offer much more as a team. They have a strong ground game, averaging 119.2 yards per contest, with James Cook emerging as a standout in the backfield. Their offense ranks among the best in the NFL, scoring an average of 29.1 points per game, putting them in the company of top Super Bowl contenders like the Lions and Ravens.
Fortunately, the Bills don’t have to face the Lions to reach the Super Bowl. Though the Ravens handed them a 35-10 defeat in Week 4, this Bills team has evolved, and a potential rematch would present a different scenario. Lamar Jackson, known for his unpredictable postseason performances, would also pose a unique challenge.
The Bills’ defense has been impressive this season, ranking ninth in points allowed per game at 19.5. They excel against both the run and the pass. With linebacker Matt Milano’s return, the unit will become even stronger, making it difficult for teams like the Ravens to advance, particularly if the Bills secure home-field advantage.
Heading into the playoffs, the Bills will need a balanced approach to make a deep run. A defensive stop following an Allen touchdown drive could make all the difference.
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