When Sunday morning arrives this weekend, all of the attention in the NFL world will be focused on the 4:25PM ET matchup between the Kansas City Chiefs and Buffalo Bills. It’s Patrick Mahomes vs. Josh Allen in what should be yet another thriller between two of the league’s top quarterbacks.
The Bills are 8-2 while the Chiefs are at a perfect 9-0. Buffalo might truly be the last team on the Chiefs’ schedule that could end their undefeated streak. However, the Bills are looking to not only beat them this Sunday, but also in the playoffs if given the opportunity.
Even though the Bills have been playing better football than the Chiefs the last month, Kansas City is undefeated for a reason and they have won in every fashion possible this year. Whether it be winning by double digits, no more than a one-score possession, or even blocking a field goal as time expired, Kansas City is the best team in football until proven otherwise.
The Bills have a great chance to end the Chiefs’ undefeated streak, but it won’t come easy. Buffalo will have a handful of concerns that they will have to potentially deal with and if it gets out of control for them, there is a real chance that Kansas City will be celebrating their tenth win on the year in front of Bills Mafia.
3 major concerns for Buffalo Bills vs. Kansas City Chiefs
Bills defense defending the run
Buffalo’s biggest weakness is defending the run. Now they will have to find a way to slow down Kareem Hunt, and even potentially Isiah Pacheco (if he is cleared to play from injury). The Chiefs have been up-and-down with their rushing attack but they are going up against a Buffalo defense that has given up 100+ rushing yards in six games.
If Bobby Babich can’t get the defense adjusted to stop the run, this will put the Bills at a major disadvantage and keep Josh Allen off the field.
Josh Allen getting rattled by Chiefs’ defense
Allen has had his up-and-down games against the Chiefs, but in the regular season meetings alone, he has 11 total touchdowns to just 4 turnovers. He is 3-1 against the Chiefs and he will be looking at add a fourth win to his record. However, this Chiefs defense might be the toughest he has played yet.
In the first three weeks of the season, the Chiefs pass-defense was giving up only 247 yards per game. From Week 4 and on, they have been surrendering just 186 yards. Defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo has really come up with a fantastic defensive scheme to limit opposing offenses. Not to mention, Kansas City’s defense has only allowed 100+ rushing yards in two games this year.
It’s not common for Allen to get rattled a lot, but the Chiefs have done it before. If Allen starts to feel pressure early on and make careless mistakes, it could be a very long day for the Bills.
Bills’ offensive health
It’s surprising to think that the Bills are 8-2, on a five-game winning streak despite all of their injuries that they have had to deal with. They’ve had a rotation of injuries on the entire roster, but their wide receiver room has taken a bit of a hit. This past week, Buffalo played without Keon Coleman or Amari Cooper.
Sean McDermott has already ruled out Coleman for this week, but there is a chance that Cooper can play after missing the last two games. Even though McDermott preaches the next man up mentality, the Bills will need all the help they can get in order to end the undefeated record of the Chiefs.