After taking a much needed and restful bye week, the Buffalo Bills (6-6) will prepare for a familiar opponent. For the fourth consecutive season, the Bills will take on Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs.
Before their bye week, the Bills battled it out with the Philadelphia Eagles in what is a candidate for game of the year where the Eagles defeated the Bills 37-34 in overtime. Buffalo's playoff chances took a big hit with this loss and now they will have to travel to Arrowhead to face the Chiefs, who are in a battle for the number one spot of the AFC playoff picture.
Since Allen and Mahomes have been in the league, the Bills and the Chiefs have faced off five total times (two playoff games). These games are never a disappointment and there is no reason why this should not be another potential game of the year.
Here are the five things to know going into the Buffalo Bills Week 14 matchup.
5.) Buffalo Bills are 2-1 vs. Mahomes in regular season
Out of the five games that Allen and Mahomes have faced off against each other, it has been Allen that has had the best of him in the regular season. In October of 2021, the Bills went into Kansas City and dominated the Chiefs 38-20.
It had been the first time the two teams faced off against each other since the Chiefs defeated in the AFC championship game the previous postseason. Then just a year and six days later, the Bills once again went to Arrowhead and squeezed out a close 24-20 victory over the Chiefs. It was cornerback Taron Johnson who made a game-winning interception to secure it for Buffalo.
4.) Josh Allen has dominated the Chiefs in last two regular season meetings
Along with those wins, quarterback Josh Allen has been one of the big reasons why the Bills came out victorious. In the 2021 matchup, Allen threw for 315 yards and 3 touchdowns with no turnovers. He also added 59 yards on the ground with a touchdown. In last year’s matchup, Allen completed 67.5% of his throws for 329 yards and 3 touchdowns. It should also be noted that in these two games combined, Allen has only been sacked once.
Allen will yet again face the pressure in front of the loud crowd Arrowhead, but he has shown to embrace that type of environment and excel. With the Bills coming into this game with more pressure, Allen will be looked at to save them once again.
3.) Bills’ defense has not given up 200+ passing yards in previous three games
In their last three games played, the Bills have taken on quarterbacks Russell Wilson, Zach Wilson/Tim Boyle, and Jalen Hurts. Wilson is having a bounce back year as compared to last year. Hurts is in the conversation as the potential season MVP, and the Jets’ quarterback situation is just an overall mess. Despite the Bills going 1-2 during this stretch, their passing defense has been exceptional overall. They allowed just 178 passing yards against Wilson, 92 yards against the Jets, and 193 yards against Hurts.
The lowest amount of passing yards that Mahomes has thrown for against the Buffalo defense is 225 yards back in 2020, where the Chiefs defeated the Bills 26-10. Mahomes has only thrown for under 200+ yards twice this season (Week 9 vs. Miami Dolphins with 185 yards, and Week 11 vs. Philadelphia Eagles with 177 yards). While it is unlikely that the Bills’ defense holds Mahomes under 200 passing yards, anything is possible and Buffalo has played great situational football at times this season.
2.) Chiefs’ run defense has given up seven consecutive games of 100+ rushing yards
For the first time this season, the Bills lost a game where they rushed for over 100 yards against the Eagles. Buffalo ran for 173 yards but ultimately came up short in overtime. In previous games where they ran for over 100 yards, they went unbeaten.
While the Chiefs’ defense has vastly improved this season compared to previous seasons, the run defense has given up seven consecutive games of 100+ rushing yards. Since Week 6, Kansas City has given up on average 127 yards on the ground, and have also given up 100+ rushing yards in 10 out of their 12 games.
The Bills’ offense has a new identity under Joe Brady. They look like themselves in their last two games, especially when it comes to running the ball. Against the New York Jets, Buffalo ran for 130 yards and then ran for 173 yards against the Eagles.
They have scored 30+ points since Brady took over the play-calling. In order to keep Mahomes off the field, the Bills will need to play keep-away and run the ball. They have success when they can establish the run and they will need to take advantage of that vulnerable run defense for Kansas City.
1.) Patrick Mahomes has only lost five December games in career
Despite having a not-so Mahomes-like season this year as compared to his career, Mahomes is still the best quarterback in the league with the way he can extend plays and keep the Chiefs in games. He has been the Chiefs starting quarterback for six seasons, but did play the last regular season game of his rookie season against the Denver Broncos (in which the Chiefs won 27-24).
In games in December, Mahomes has played in 24 games and has only lost five of those games. His losses in December came against the Los Angeles Chargers and Seattle Seahawks in 2018, the Cincinnati Bengals twice in 2022 and 2023, and the Green Bay Packers this past week.
While the Bills have beaten Mahomes in two of their last three regular season meetings, Mahomes has played fantastic in the last month of the season which puts pressure on Buffalo more than it already is.