With all the talk about DT Ed Oliver being out with a torn bicep injury from last Sunday's incredible win over the Carolina Panthers, 40-9, the Buffalo Bills have signed 2025 seventh-round pick DT Tommy Akingbesote to the practice squad.
With a slew of other defensive tackles already placed on injured reserve, this signing will give the defense the lift it needs to play like they did last week against the Panthers. Let's hope that they continue to do so and contain these three Kansas City players in Week 9.
These three players need to be shut down for a Bills victory
QB Patrick Mahomes
There's no arguing with this player. The Bills respect a player of Mahomes' caliber, as he has already won three Super Bowls. Last year was a wake-up call for the decorated player like Mahomes, and while the Chiefs are only 5-3, they're starting to hit their stride at the right time.
The Bills' defense has struggled to get pressure on the quarterback this season. The way their defense is set up, they can bring pressure by rushing just four against Mahomes and avoid giving up the big play on the money down. The Bills are also built to stop the run, and with the way they contained RB Chuba Hubbard and RB Rico Dowdle in Carolina, they should be able to do the same with RB Isiah Pacheco out for this game.
The Bills still have to respect the greatness Mahomes has shown, and as always, QB Josh Allen will have to match him with his own greatness.
WR Xaiver Worthy
This stud wide receiver is one fast player. The thing that he can do that none of the Bills' receivers right now can do is create separation on go routes and take the top off of a defense. While the Bills like to play zone coverage to keep everything in front of them, they must play man, and this is where the Bills should put their rookie speedster, CB Maxwell Hairston, one-on-one on Worthy.
The second-year receiver is basically a mismatch nightmare for defenses, and the Bills will learn quickly, soon enough, that they will have to trade for their own defensive mismatch at receiver if they can't stop Worthy in this game.
WR Rashee Rice
If the Bills want to try to press their luck against a literal road runner opposite of Worthy, look no further than Mr. Rice. Much like Worthy, Rice is a speedster combined with great route-running and also has the wheels to create separation in one-on-one coverage. If Hairston is to cover Worthy, then CB Christian Benford should be on Rice.
The speedster is 6 feet 1 inch and has been getting back to his old self since coming off his six-game suspension. He's another type of wideout that the Bills could look for in the deadline to be able to have their own version of either Worthy or Rice come playoff time.
No matter what happens in this game, this is going to be another great classic match-up between Mahomes and Allen. It will be a measuring-stick game for the Bills to see where they're at in the passing game, as Kansas City knows they can't run the ball but has two big-play-making receivers in Worthy and Rice.