The Buffalo Bills needed to win. A loss all but eliminates them from playoff contention and the calls for Coach McDermott's firing would only intensify. Instead, the team did just enough to pull out the victory against the Kansas City Chiefs and keep their playoff hopes well intact. Their chances of making the playoffs rose to 39% after the win and the day's results.
Are there still some things to clean up, yes. Was there some questionable playcalling, perhaps? But at the end of the day, getting the win is all that matters. Getting a win in the conference, against the Kansas City Chiefs is a huge win in so many ways and is the sort of win that can propel this team the rest of the way, as they continue their fight for a playoff spot.
This isn't the same Chiefs team we've seen in past seasons, but they are still one of the top teams in the league and even though the Bills didn't move up the playoff seeding, they still sit at 11th, the gap has closed and now we have six teams sitting at 7 - 6, vying for playoff spots. I'm looking forward to putting together this week's AFC power rankings too. I think they just might move up from last week's rankings.
This game certainly had the feel of a playoff game and for the Bills, it was just that. While it hurts the Chiefs, they still sit at 8 - 5 and first place in the AFC West. However, with the Broncos winning again, the Chiefs hold only a one-game lead over the Broncos. But I'll break down the playoff picture later this week, after the Dolphins game but for now, let's take a look at my five thoughts on this Bills win.
Josh Allen likely won't win league MVP but he should
Josh Allen put in another MVP performance this week, this time against the Kansas City Chiefs and one of the better defenses in the NFL. The stat line doesn't necessarily jump off the screen at you, but he consistently avoided the Chiefs' pressure and blitzes and made things happen. His pass to Latavius Murray for 21 yards as he was falling backward out of bounds, was a thing of legends.
Allen finished the game completing 23 of 42 passes, for 233 yards and a touchdown. He also added 32 yards rushing with another touchdown. He's currently second all-time in games with at least one passing and rushing touchdown. I'll add this though, if the Bills go on to win these final four games of the season, I think it thrusts Allen back into the MVP talk but let's worry about what's more important. If this team finds a way into the playoffs, no one will want to face Josh Allen.
Bills' defense finally got a stop to preserve a Josh Allen game-winning drive
Call it luck or whatever you want, but at the end of the day, Toney lined up offsides and the Bills got a stop against the Chiefs on that final drive. I know things might have been different had Toney not lined up offsides, but we can also say the Bills defense would have gotten a stop in overtime against the Eagles had the catch and fumble from A.J. Brown been called properly.
Besides, the Chiefs ran three more plays after that, and the Bills stopped all three plays. Mahomes was 0 for 3 on those last three pass attempts. One thing I'll add regarding late-game situations is I know a lot of fans are all over Coach McDermott but he's making the decisions he feels is best and only because they haven't worked out, fans think he's sucks. But if things work out for the better, no one says a thing. You know what they say about hindsight.
James Cook is becoming a massive weapon in the Bills' offense
My only complaint with James Cook, and it's not even his fault, is the team seems to get away from him at points in games. Cook was huge in the passing game in the first half, scoring on a 25-yard touchdown pass from Josh Allen. Cook finished the game with ten carries for 58 yards while adding five receptions on five targets and another 83 yards, to go along with the touchdown.
Allen attempted 42 passes in this game and normally I don't have an issue with Allen throwing passes, but Cook seemed unstoppable, averaging a healthy 5.8 yards per carry. The Bills need to lean a little more into him, I'd even make him more of a focal point in this offense, similar to the way the Bills of the '90s utilized Thurman Thomas. I would love to see Cook getting 20-plus targets every game.
Where is Stefon Diggs
During the first six games of this season, Stefon Diggs surpassed the 100-yard mark in five of them, which also included five touchdowns. It's now been seven straight games without a 100-yard receiving day from Stefon Diggs and during that stretch, he's scored only three touchdowns. Over the last four games, he's totaled only 159 yards and 17 receptions. Deonte Harty had more receiving yards in this game against the Chiefs than Diggs.
He's also been credited with four drops on the season, not counting this Chiefs game, in which I know there was at least one on the screen pass late in the game on the Bills' final drive. In this game, Diggs was targeted 11 times, more than any player in the game for either team. He caught only four of them for 24 yards. I'm not sure what the problem is but the team needs their number one wide receiver to be a factor in these games again and with the emergence of Kincaid, Shakir, and Cook in the passing game, one would think things should open up a bit for Diggs.
Joe Brady play calling on final drive was Ken Dorseyesque
Let me start by saying I wonder if the calls would have been different if Diggs caught that screen pass and got some yardage. Regardless, once the Bills got down to the Chiefs' 27-yard line, the plays were a called run play by Ty Johnson, a Chiefs penalty, and then four straight incomplete passes. The Bills ran six plays at that point, resulting in six yards, five of which were the result of the Chiefs penalty.
In that spot, I'm running the ball and killing the clock. Fortunately, the defense was able to get the job done and keep the Chiefs out of field goal range, and secure the win. But I feel in that moment, Joe Brady should have been calling James Cook's number. Cook averaged 5.8 yards per carry in the game and the Bills could have run the clock down and kicked the game-winner as time expired, rather than setting up the drama that ensued on Kansas City's comeback attempt.