Balls and Goats

[HipKat]

NFL Week 9 staff picks: Bills-Chiefs is here, plus survival season for hot-seat coaches

The obvious headliner for Week 9 is Chiefs at Bills, while a number of coaches fight to keep their jobs.

www.nytimes.com

Travis Kelce and the Chiefs are looking lethal again. Now they head to Buffalo for a showdown. Jamie Squire / Getty Images

Off to a disappointing start? Team underwhelming at every turn? No signs of life in the locker room? Try Firing Your Coach, the hottest trend this fall season, and one that might be right for you!

There were earlier college firings, but Penn State really got things rolling when they paid James Franklin many millions to vanish from their sight. The Tennessee Titans were right on their heels. Brian Callahan was ousted in the same news cycle as Franklin, and while a high-profile college coach and a low-profile NFL one being axed aren’t usually correlated, the smell of pink slips is in the air, and that tends to have an effect.

One coach in a bad rebuild (Callahan) being canned might not give enough cover for other teams to ax their own underperforming figurehead, but a cluster of firings by prominent brands in the sport always seems to make the ones that follow in their wake look “decisive” rather than “hasty.” Or at least easier to sell as such.

So when LSU ungracefully fired Brian Kelly this week, it suddenly became a very bad time for coaches in tenuous spots to dump a game. A couple of them did, which means it’s time for a look at who is hanging on by their headset going into the second half of the season.

Here’s an unofficial power ranking of the hottest seats in the NFL:

Coaches on the hot seat​

1. Mike McDaniel​

The Dolphins just dogwalked what was the best pass defense in the NFL while their own defense held Bijan Robinson to 24 yards rushing and made Kirk Cousins look like someone discovering football for the first time. With that game top of mind, it’s easy to squint your way into an alternate reality for the Dolphins. After all, they lost by a field goal to the Panthers, a last-second field goal to the Chargers and had the bad break of having to play in a wet wind tunnel against the Browns. They’re only a couple of bad breaks from being 4-4, you’d say, maybe even 5-3 if the weather had been normal in Cleveland. But the reason McDaniel remains atop the list is that Miami has allowed 30-plus points four times. On top of that, they have looked and sounded dysfunctional and are, in fact, 2-6 in a division where such records are fatal. More on him in a moment.

2. Raheem Morris​

Biggest riser in the rankings, largely because his squad just got embarrassed by the trainwreck above. The Falcons are 11-13 under Morris, and Arthur Blank is no doubt fretting over the ongoing waste of Robinson’s most explosive years. Michael Penix Jr. is not blossoming as hoped, and the team has been unable to win close games the last two seasons. Add to that being shut out by the Panthers, back-to-back weeks of scoring just 10 points and Morris’ clock-management blunders, and a change in management is starting to look more warranted by the week.

3. Brian Daboll​

It’s not sporting to kick a guy when he’s down, but Daboll was in trouble long before losing Malik Nabers and Cam Skattebo. After a 9-7-1 debut, he’s led New York to an 11-31 record and watched former Giants Saquon Barkley and Daniel Jones become league leaders after leaving his squad. It’s entirely fair to blame some of Daboll’s struggles on ownership, but that same ownership is the one that decides who gets punished for the struggles.

4. Jonathan Gannon​

The Cardinals are in the middle of a five-game losing streak, which brings Gannon’s record in Arizona to a dismal 14-27. Granted, he was without Kyler Murray for half of 2023, but this is not the return that ownership was hoping for from the offensive weapons they have, and watching the broadcasts, it sure doesn’t seem like anyone in Arizona is experiencing anything like “fun” or “optimism.” The team already fined Gannon $100,000 this season for how he treated his player on national TV (an amount high enough that an owner said the team should have just fired him), and at this point, it’s unclear what another season would accomplish other than to further depress everyone involved.

5. Aaron Glenn​

A win against the Bengals may have been cathartic, but a one-point victory over a team without its franchise quarterback is not exactly a statement. The fact that it moved the Jets to 1-7 also takes some shine off the moment. Woody Johnson made it very clear he believes the fault lies with Justin Fields and not Glenn, but Johnson is also the current Worst Owner In The NFL belt holder and not exactly renowned for his consistency. Glenn should be afforded a little more time, but he’s on the list because these are the Jets, and if the team still has one win a month from now, Johnson (or his sons) could decide to change coaches.

What To Watch ​

For anyone weary of Kansas City’s success, the time has come to begin hibernating. Not only are the Chiefs more dynamic than they’ve been in several seasons, but the AFC is the weakest it has been in years. If “weak” feels too strong, perhaps you’d accept “inconsistent.”

The Bills are among the many traditional AFC powers showing warts this year, and feel far more overmatched against the Chiefs in Week 8 than their 5-2 record would suggest. A big part of that is the run defense, which ranks in the bottom half of the league. While Kansas City is not a power-run team, it does have the third-best EPA per rush and a success rate of 43.6 percent.

In short, the Chiefs are a mismatch for the Bills’ defense, and that’s before we get to what they do best. The Chiefs are humming along at +.20 EPA per pass, and have a staggering 1,203 yards after the catch so far this season. Buffalo can at least match strength for strength through the air, as their pass defense is among the league’s elite (especially against the deep ball).

For the most part, Buffalo has had little trouble scoring points in 2025, but play designs haven’t been the reason why. Allen has scrambled from the pocket 42 times without taking a sack this season, a streak that doubles the next closest quarterback. On those plays, he’s run 26 times for 250 yards and two scores, and thrown 16 times for six completions, 83 yards, two scores and a pick. But on eight designed runs, the MVP gained a total of seven yards and lost a fumble, a far cry from his career average of 4.6 yards per carry.

Bills receivers aren’t helping things either, forcing Allen to throw into tight windows more than 14 percent of the time. His 24 percent completion percentage in tight windows is the sixth-worst in the league.

Joe Brady seems hesitant to deploy James Cook as a solution despite his success. In the three games where Cook got 19 or more carries, he’s posted 100-plus yards and at least one touchdown. The Bills won all three. In the games where he had fewer caries, he did neither, and the Bills lost. Cook has been stuffed at the fifth-lowest rate in the league this season, but Buffalo vacillates between using him as their primary weapon and making him a background player.

Kansas City is vulnerable to the run and doesn’t pressure the quarterback particularly well, so Brady and the Bills will need Cook to make hay and pull defenders into the box if Allen is going to see cleaner passing lanes. Otherwise, it’ll be Allen’s godly improvisational skills against KC’s relentlessly efficient scheme.

 

[HipKat]

Why Bills-Chiefs will be huge for Keon Coleman and GM Brandon Beane’s trade deadline strategy

Plus, when Gabe Davis could get back on the field.

www.nytimes.com

When the 2025 NFL schedule came out, one of the crowning jewels of the 18-week slate was the one happening on Sunday in Orchard Park.​

Bills vs. Chiefs. With the games these two teams have had, it doesn’t need more of an explanation than that.​

As the two teams prepare for a clash that could speak volumes in the race for the AFC’s No. 1 seed, there are plenty of Bills subplots heading into the showdown. And once again, all eyes are on the Buffalo offense.​

Here’s our Bills notebook for Week 9.​

Sunday is massive for Keon Coleman​

​

Heading into the 2025 season, the Bills pinned their wide receiver hopes on the development of Keon Coleman. With Amari Cooper out of the way, all eyes were on Coleman. After a slow start to training camp, the second-year receiver finished the summer strong. He was routinely making plays in the final stages of camp between preseason games and built up a good rapport with Allen. It had teammates proclaiming that it was only a matter of time before Coleman broke out. It even looked like Coleman had taken that step the Bills were hoping for in Week 1 against the Ravens. As soon as the game got to the fourth quarter, and the Bills tried to erase a multi-score deficit, Coleman’s receiving went berserk. He put together seven receptions for 95 yards and one touchdown.​

Then it screeched to a halt. The more the sample size grows this season and the Bills’ offense evolves, the more it looks like that fourth quarter against Baltimore was the anomaly rather than who he is as a receiver right now. After Coleman busted out for 112 yards in his Week 1 game, he gained only 155 yards over his next six — a weekly average of 25.8 yards. His receiving metrics through the first six weeks of the season are not promising, even with the spike in Week 1, and all of the key production elements have gone down from what they were when Coleman was a rookie. And that’s even with an uptick in two places where they needed him to improve to generate more for them.​

​

Despite Coleman’s target rate rising from 17.6 percent in 2024 to 20.2 percent in 2025, and his catch rate jumping from 50.9 percent last year to 69.2 percent this season, he has seen a notable decline in several key areas, according to TruMedia and Pro Football Focus.​

​

It’s one thing to see the decrease in stats, but pointing out where Coleman is in relation to the rest of the NFL is worth noting. And even with Week 1, Coleman ranked in the bottom half of the NFL in all four categories. Without Week 1, he has been one of the least productive receivers in the NFL. These ranks are out of 111 qualifying receivers who have run at least 100 routes this season.​

​

And for those wondering about Coleman’s 2024 ranks, out of 143 qualifying receivers, he ranked 12th in air yards per target, 19th in receiving yards per target, 45th in EPA per target and 50th in yards per route run.​

​

The Bills set the table for him to be that guy for their offense — to be the one who put them over the top and create a two-dimensional attack. It has instead gone the opposite way. If this trend continues, the team deserves some blame for picking him instead of some of the others from a talented receiving class, but Coleman also deserves a fair share of blame, too. He has not leveled up his game enough to this point. The separation hasn’t improved on the initial routes, and when plays break down, he hasn’t done enough to make himself consistently available for Josh Allen. Coleman has also run more routes than any other receiver on the team, and has been targeted only two fewer times than Khalil Shakir. On top of that, Coleman was benched for the first series against the Patriots for disciplinary reasons. He was also benched as a rookie in 2024 for the entire first quarter of their Week 3 game.​

​

The focus on him hit a new intensity this week when Steve Smith, an outstanding receiver during his 16-year NFL career, devoted time to breaking down Coleman’s game on an episode of 89 with Steve Smith Sr. and James Palmer.​

​

The added layer to Smith being the one to criticize Coleman is that Bills general manager Brandon Beane was with the Panthers for all of Smith’s 13-year career. There is, without question, a relationship between Smith and Beane, which could have made the point that much tougher to hear, but Smith didn’t hold back.​

​

“Well, the short version: nothing,” Smith said when asked what he’s seen from Coleman since his big Week 1 performance. “I haven’t seen anything from him because he hasn’t had the opportunities, because the opportunities don’t make themselves available. He just doesn’t get open fast enough. Josh Allen looks his way. There’s a few times when it’s press coverage, Josh looks over there, but Josh gets off of him very fast….That means he’s taking too long. That means the quarterback doesn’t have confidence in your ability to get there.”​

​

Smith also alluded to what he thought was a lack of confidence by body catching a target rather than Coleman catching with his hands and heading upfield, like, as Smith said, he used to do in his college stops at Michigan State and Florida State.​

​

“Now what we’re seeing him do with the Buffalo Bills? He ain’t the guy,” Smith said. “Can’t get separation. Can’t get off the jam. Doesn’t have it.”​

​

Although no context was given for Coleman’s Wednesday night post on X, it came out on the same day as Smith’s episode about him, leading many to connect the two. The post was Coleman’s first on the platform since mid-July.​

​

https://twitter.com/x/status/1983696593120588265

On Thursday, Coleman didn’t offer much when asked if he heard Smith’s comments and what his reaction was to them.​

​

“Nah, no comment on that. Next question,” Coleman said.​

​

The receiver was then asked how he thinks he’s handled things during his NFL career so far, with an allusion to not wanting to comment on Smith. Coleman addressed that part of the question first.​

​

“I don’t even really know what he said, you know what I’m saying? So that’s why I said ‘no comment,'” Coleman clarified.​

​

Off-field matters aside, the Bills have also said they want to get Coleman more involved. To this point, the team has basically used Coleman exclusively at X receiver, but with them needing production of any kind in the passing game, you can’t rule anything out at this point. There have been many, including Smith, who have been very vocal that Coleman may be best working from the slot, and it wouldn’t be a surprise if they tried to get his 2025 jump-started by attempting to feed him some easier targets over the middle of the field from that role. That doesn’t mean he’s taking snaps away from their best target in Khalil Shakir, who operates as their slot receiver, but if they go through with it, it could mean they move Shakir outside on the handful of reps when Coleman lines up inside.​

​

Without question, the Bills’ predictability on offense makes it far easier for opponents to defend, even with Buffalo’s excellent offensive line and running game. An external receiver of some kind seems increasingly necessary for the Bills to get to where they want to go in Allen’s final season of his 20s. Opportunities to win a Super Bowl are never guaranteed year over year, making it a difficult balancing act between short-term and long-term.​

​

But make no mistake, Sunday is a potentially huge moment in Coleman’s career, also in the short and long term. It will be his last showing before the last impactful player acquisition point of the 2025 season — the NFL trade deadline at 4 p.m. on Tuesday. If the Bills don’t see much more from Coleman during the Chiefs game than he had shown the previous six games, it could factor into the level of receiver Beane is looking to target, and how much the Bills could be willing to spend at the deadline to fortify their ailing passing game outside of the numbers.​

​

Josh Allen had a solid rapport with Gabe Davis before Davis left the Bills via free agency.Gregory Fisher / USA Today

So what about Gabe Davis?​

​

As the focus on the receiver room gets even more intense, the Bills made one small move on Wednesday by bringing wide receiver Gabe Davis off the practice squad injury list to the 17-player practice squad. Davis, who is coming back from a long-term knee injury that ended his 2024 season with the Jaguars, went through the paces of practice throughout the week. Considering this was his first week of practice in almost a year, expecting the Bills to throw him into a game on Sunday seems like it’s asking a bit too much.​

​

However, it’s difficult to ignore his presence and the rapport Davis had with Allen during their four years together before Davis left via free agency. It certainly seems like, regardless of whether the Bills make a trade for a receiver next week or not, Davis is trending toward finding his way back to playing time for the Bills in 2025.​

​

What that role looks like is going to depend on how this receiver room evolves through the trade deadline and Coleman’s development — Davis and Coleman play the same position in the Bills offense. However, there’s no doubt that the healthier Davis looks, the more tempting it will be to make him a part of their game plan. This week might not be the week, but don’t be surprised if it’s closer than you think.​

​

Bills projected practice squad elevations: DT Phidarian Mathis, CB Dane Jackson​

​

Bills projected inactives: WR Joshua Palmer, OT Chase Lundt, DE Landon Jackson, DT DaQuan Jones, LB Shaq Thompson, CB Ja’Marcus Ingram, KR/PR Brandon Codrington​

​

Prediction: Chiefs 31, Bills 23​

​

Whenever the Bills get an opportunity to play the Chiefs during the regular season — which is often — they usually get a chance to see how their team stacks up to a seemingly inevitable contender as long as Patrick Mahomes is healthy. Working in several new pieces, the Bills put together their most complete defensive performance of the season against the Carolina Panthers. However, going up against the Panthers and a backup quarterback is one thing, but Mahomes and his group of receivers is an entirely different and far more difficult challenge. The Chiefs have become the most dynamic passing attack in the NFL once again, with Mahomes having an MVP-level season.​

​

The Bills will undoubtedly be challenged in ways this new collective group of defenders has yet to experience. The most significant question for this specific opponent is how the secondary will respond to the plethora of receiving options Mahomes has at his disposal — all with different skill sets. Between Travis Kelce, Rashee Rice, Xavier Worthy, Hollywood Brown, JuJu Smith-Schuster and others, the Bills secondary, most notably, cornerbacks Tre’Davious White and Maxwell Hairston, and safeties Jordan Poyer and Jordan Hancock, will be stress tested by Chiefs coach Andy Reid.​

​

If the Bills were to slow Mahomes and the Chiefs offense, they need their defensive end group to have one of their best games of the season. The weak link of the Chiefs’ offensive line is offensive tackle, with Jaylon Moore at left tackle and Jawaan Taylor at right. With so much in flux at defensive tackle for the Bills this week following Ed Oliver’s injury, the Bills’ edge rushers performing well is paramount to their cause. It’s generally unwise to blitz Mahomes, putting more pressure on the front four to keep Mahomes uncomfortable, and along the way, helping the secondary in a difficult matchup. Greg Rousseau, Joey Bosa, A.J. Epenesa and Michael Hoecht will need to play a big role.​

​

Ultimately, I think we’ll see some progress from the Bills’ passing offense to help keep the Chiefs from completely putting all their attention on stopping the Bills’ rushing attack, but perhaps not the step forward the Bills would hope for. I think they’ll be able to move the ball, and may have to settle for more field goals than they’d like against the Chiefs. As the teams stand now, there are too many questions for me about the defense and how they stack up to the Chiefs’ current passing offense to expect a full slowdown of Mahomes. It should be a close game for much of the evening, but I think the Chiefs will beat the Bills in the regular season for the first time since 2020.​

 

[Victor7]

Keon could go out there and go 10 for 155 yards with 2 scores and we would STILL need to get a WR. It would be the exception and not the rule for Keon to go off.

So far through season and a half there is very little evidence to think he'll be a serviceable WR at any point, let alone the WR1 we desperately need. We have to make a move regardless.

 

[Bill Polar]

The defense will keep it close for a half. I have zero faith in Coleman and Joe Brady will decide that Cook will be a great decoy. He will get 5 carries and they will throw a screen pass to him that will net -2 yards.

 

[Bill Polar]

I'd say fine by me, well win the one that matters in January but I am not sure this team will get to January. It has way too many glaring flaws and they will all be on full display on Sunday

 

[Victor7]

The defense will keep it close for a half. I have zero faith in Coleman and Joe Brady will decide that Cook will be a great decoy. He will get 5 carries and they will throw a screen pass to him that will net -2 yards.

Over under on the number of WR screens Brady calls up?

Line is 5.

 

[sukie]

When Brady designs a game plan that has Josh throwing passes with air yards over six… nudge me. I will be a sleep until then. And before any of you say the S word. This WR group caught a lot of balls for a lot of yards last year and it wasn’t Amari Cooper.

 

[HipKat]

Get ready to see a lot of Allen and Mahomes on Sunday's broadcast

Josh Allen and Patrick Mahomes won’t only be competing on the field Sunday but also for the attention of viewers to the many brands they are representing.

buffalonews.com

Josh Allen and Patrick Mahomes won’t only be competing on the field Sunday but also for the attention of viewers to the many brands they are representing.
Viewers of Sunday’s game will certainly get their fill of Buffalo’s Allen and Kansas City’s Mahomes when the Bills host the Chiefs at 4:25 p.m.


Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen and Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes are two of the most popular pitchmen in the NFL.
Joshua Bessex, Buffalo News

The star quarterbacks appear in a total of 10 TV ads currently airing, so they will be quite visible during the game broadcast and when commercials air during breaks.
That’s no surprise considering Mahomes and Allen are the two top earners in the NFL, including raking in the second and third most sponsorship dollars of any of the league’s players, according to Forbes.

Mahomes makes an estimated $28 million of his $78 million in annual earnings off the field, while Allen collects an estimated $15 million of his $73 million annually through brand partnerships and other investments.

Allen, the reigning MVP, has been picking up some sponsorship momentum this season, appearing in 124 commercial airings, while Mahomes has appeared in 86 going into this week, according to TV ad data measurement company iSpot.

“Part of why advertisers work with big-name athletes like Josh Allen and Patrick Mahomes is the brand association that comes from big matchups like this Sunday’s,” said Tyler Bobin, director of brand analyst solutions at iSpot. “After years of overwhelmingly emphasizing Mahomes, advertisers have appeared to spread the ball around a bit more this year, and Allen has been among the primary beneficiaries there.”

Allen has become one of the most popular pitchmen in the NFL and is currently representing seven brands that are now running ads on TV, according to iSpot. That includes commercials with Pepsi, New Era Cap Co., Wonderful Pistachios, Gatorade, SoFi, Pizza Hut and Snickers.

The number of commercials Allen appears in now outpaces all other NFL players, according to iSpot. Philadelphia Eagles running back Saquon Barkley is next with six ads.

Meanwhile, Mahomes, a three-time Super Bowl champion and two-time MVP, has the NFL’s best array of sponsorships, according to Forbes. That includes three spots currently airing, most notably a longtime brand relationship with State Farm, as well as Oakley and Invisalign.

The Bills signed Allen to a six-year, $330 million deal in the offseason and the contract set an NFL record for guaranteed money at $250 million. He’s tied for second in the NFL for salary with an average annual value of $55 million.

In the offseason, Allen also reached a deal to develop branded content with Skydance Sports and became invested in Cashmere’s venture capital fund. He also jumped from Nike to New Balance in a lucrative deal during training camp.

Mahomes agreed to a record-setting 10-year, $450 million extension in 2020, but because of the signings that have occurred since, he’s now 14th among quarterbacks with his contract’s average annual value at $45 million, according to Forbes.

After reworking his deal in the offseason, Mahomes is making $50 million on the field this season and is scheduled to get a nearly $7 million raise with his salary and bonuses next year.

The only player who has outpaced Allen and Mahomes in off-the-field dollars is Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce, who’s earning an estimated $30 million, according to Forbes, and a lot of that is because of his New Heights podcast, which has brought on his fiancée, singer Taylor Swift.

Allen may be at his busiest working on a new campaign with Wonderful Pistachios and elevating his relationship with New Era Cap.

He’s made four commercials for Wonderful Pistachios that are running throughout the NFL season. In “Ice Breaker” and “Melt Down,” Allen consults a fellow football player encased in ice after an ice bath to hold back on snacking. In “High Five” and “Taped Up,” Allen’s teammate is wrapped in a giant ball of athletic tape to keep him from reaching for unhealthy snacks.

Allen brings his star power and playful approach to the ads, as well as a heartfelt connection to pistachio farming. His family’s farm in California’s Central Valley produces pistachios for the brand. He’s also started a scholarship program with Wonderful Pistachios.

“Josh showed up ready to work, and I have to admit, I was impressed we managed to squeeze a season’s worth of content into a single day,” Diana Salsa, vice president of marketing at Wonderful Pistachios, said in a news release. “Turns out, he’s as good at hitting comedic timing as he is at hitting wide receivers.”

Allen has also expanded his long-standing partnership with New Era, becoming the first ambassador to receive an investment stake in the company and earning a new title as its first “Director of Billustration.”

In collaboration with Oishei Children’s Hospital and the Patricia Allen Fund, Allen is wearing this season nine unique 9Forty Billustration team caps that have been specially customized by patients during the tunnel fit walk at each Bills home game and then auctioning them off after the game. The auctions have fetched as much as $17,150.

Another popular spot has featured Allen starring in Pepsi’s “Tailgate Crashers,” where he joins forces with Minnesota Vikings star receiver Justin Jefferson and the duo trades jerseys for Pepsi jumpsuits to crash tailgates and make sure coolers are stocked with Pepsi.

Mahomes’ State Farm commercials are among the most popular and one of the longer-standing spots of any professional athlete with a brand. He has promoted the company since 2019, adding him to the long-running “Jake from State Farm” campaign.

According to Forbes, Mahomes earns between $3 million and $5 million annually from State Farm alone, making it one of the most valuable non-apparel deals in sports endorsements.

He’s also added to his long list of sponsors by recently partnering with Airbnb and Hublot and agreeing to autograph Panini trading cards. Additionally, he has equity stake investments in other teams like MLB’s Kansas City Royals, Major League Soccer’s Sporting Kansas City and the National Women’s Soccer League’s Kansas City Current.

 

[HipKat]

https://buffalonews.com/sports/professional/nfl/bills/article_c02d5453-fec5-4ae9-9684-d8cce75c8348.html#tracking-source=home-top-story

1. Tell it like it is​

Many players and coaches on both teams will downplay the importance of this regular-season matchup. Bills left tackle Dion Dawkins is a little more blunt. “Yeah, I look at it like it's another game, but realistically, from having all the history that we've had, you go into these games just with that extra thought, we've been sparring and battling with these guys for years and years and years and just knowing that, but it doesn't change anything,” Dawkins said Thursday. “It doesn't change the overall anger or it doesn't get you off of your pivot. It just keeps you focused, extra focused, where it's like, alright, the Chiefs are here, cool, they're the real deal, alright. … This is not just a regular boxing match.”


Bills quarterback Josh Allen and Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes last met on the field in the AFC divisional playoffs in January.
Joshua Bessex, Buffalo News

2. Stifle Spags​

Kansas City defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo is one of the greats. Bills quarterback Josh Allen said the two try to check in after games due to their mutual respect. Bills head coach Sean McDermott echoed that respect. “Spags is a great coach,” McDermott said. “He makes it really hard. He tests your protections constantly, it seems like. There's some people who do it in certain situations. Spags does it all the time. And so our level of communication is the first step for us in order for us to execute. Because he does a really good job with moving (defensive tackle) Chris Jones around. He's a once-in-a-lifetime player, and so that draws a lot of attention from people.”

3. Stay the course​

Get ready for them to go for it. The Kansas City Chiefs are 14 of 17 on fourth down this season, which is the best eight-game start for any NFL team in the last 45 seasons. They’ve also gone for it on fourth down at the highest percentage of any team this season. The Bills' defense, depleted as it is, has to be ready for the extra play. “Certainly, we've got a big one on our hands coming up here this week,” defensive coordinator Bobby Babich said Monday. “A team we're familiar with, an opponent we're familiar with.” The Bills' defense needs to use that familiarity to their advantage and sniff out plays as quickly as they can.

4. Meeting of the minds​

McDermott’s familiarity with Kansas City coach Andy Reid has the Bills' coach ready once again for this meeting. Both know each other’s tendencies and will try to use that to their respective advantage, but that means getting creative with play calling. “I have great respect for Andy and learned a lot from him as you guys know, and we’ve gone up against each other a number of times now and there’s been great battles, and I think that’s one of the reasons you do this is the competition,” McDermott said. “You look forward to the competition, and no different this week. We know what’s in front of us. We know the challenge that’s in front of us.”

– Katherine Fitzgerald, News Sports Reporter

 

[HipKat]

Bills numbers to know: 4 trends to watch when Buffalo faces Kansas City​

Bills numbers to know: 4 trends to watch when Buffalo faces Kansas City

A look at four trends to watch when the Bills host the Chiefs on Sunday.

buffalonews.com

A look at four trends to watch when the Bills host the Chiefs on Sunday.

9​

Over his past three games, Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes has thrown nine touchdowns with two interceptions. He has completed 73.9% of his passes in two games since wide receiver Rashee Rice returned from a six-game suspension. In five regular-season games against Buffalo, Mahomes is 1-4 with 10 touchdown passes and seven interceptions.
Ed Zurga, Associated Press

25.8​

With Josh Allen under center in five regular-season games, the Bills are averaging 296 yards and 25.8 points per game. Allen has 13 touchdowns and three interceptions in those games. In the playoffs, Buffalo is 0-4 while averaging 327 yards and 28.3 points. The defense has been an issue in the postseason, with the Bills surrendering 34.8 points per game in four matchups since 2020.
Harry Scull, Buffalo News

100​

The Chiefs rank 11th in the NFL in rushing yards allowed per game (100), but, according to Next Gen Stats, they are 18th in expected points allowed per rush. Kansas City's defense is 18th in yards before contact per rush attempt and 16th in yards after contact per rush attempt. The Chiefs have allowed 20 rushes of 10-plus yards, but they haven't allowed one since Detroit had runs of 13 and 15 yards in Kansas City's 30-17 win in Week 6. In the AFC championship game, Bills running back James Cook rushed for 85 yards on 13 carries and caught three passes for 49 yards.
Harry Scull, Buffalo News

2.5​

Rice's average yards per target is only 2.5 because the Chiefs are mostly throwing short passes to the 6-foot-1 receiver. He's gained 95 yards after the catch in two games, and he has 16 catches for 135 yards and three touchdowns. Rice has lined up in the slot on 18 of his 59 snaps. According to Sumer Sports, the Bills rank 22nd in the NFL in yards allowed (418) to receivers who were lined up in the slot. They have used nickel personnel — five defensive backs with two linebackers — at a rate of 62.7%, nearly 18% lower than last season.
Colin E. Braley, AP File

 

[HipKat]

Bills-Chiefs: Who you got? Buffalo News writers make their predictions for Sunday's game​

Bills-Chiefs: Who you got? Buffalo News writers make their predictions for Sunday's game

See who the Buffalo News staff predicts will win Sunday's Bills-Chiefs matchup.

buffalonews.com

Jay Skurski​

The eyeball test makes it feel like the Chiefs are a better team right now, even if their record and the stats don’t entirely back it up. The Chiefs are a different team with receiver Rashee Rice in the lineup. It’s their defense, though, that has really been on a heater, allowing just 24 points total in the past three games. Can the Bills’ rebuilt defense do enough to slow quarterback Patrick Mahomes, who is the MVP favorite? Can Buffalo’s offense match points, especially with a sputtering passing game? I’m not confident in either of those things happening. Chiefs, 34-25.



Running back Ty Johnson and the Buffalo Bills host the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday in one of the biggest games of the season to date.
Harry Scull Jr./Buffalo News

Katherine Fitzgerald​

I felt this game would be closer before the Taron Johnson news. The Bills nickel cornerback is now questionable for the game, with a groin injury that popped up on Friday. The Bills' defense is already depleted, and that makes stopping Kansas City quite a tall task. I'm not as worried about the offense – I think they can keep up and get the passing game going in this matchup. But if the defense can't get stops, Kansas City will win this regular-season meeting behind quarterback Patrick Mahomes. Chiefs, 31-24.

Lance Lysowski​

The Chiefs aren't as unbeatable as NFL analysts suggest. You can use play-action passes to take advantage of their slow linebackers. They've allowed just seven points over the past two games, but those wins were against the Raiders and Commanders. Marcus Mariota, Washington's backup quarterback, had some success against Kansas City. And let's not act like this version of Kareem Hunt can run like the backs that have given the Bills fits this season. This will be close if Buffalo can stop the run and set the edge to prevent Patrick Mahomes from scrambling. In the end, the Bills are too thin at multiple spots on defense to win this game. Chiefs, 36-27.

Steve Trosky​

Great teams can right the ship when the seas get rough. The Chiefs did it after beginning the season 2-3. Can the Bills follow suit? Buffalo had a strong showing against the Carolina Panthers coming off the bye week, but Kansas City is a different animal. The Bills' defense will have to force turnovers to stay in this game and the team will have to keep penalties at a minimum. A lot will have to go right for the Bills to win this one. I'm not sure the defense can hold the Chiefs under 30 points. Chiefs, 37-31.

 

[HipKat]

Bills vs. Chiefs is always a big one – but this year, the stakes feel even higher. Here's why

The Bills can say Sunday's matchup against the Chiefs is just another game all they want. But we all know that’s not true. Anytime these teams take the field, it’s memorable. It’s special. It’s also hugely important.

buffalonews.com

Josh Allen’s go-to line is that the Buffalo Bills’ biggest game is always the next one on the schedule.

But does the team’s starting quarterback really, truly believe that? Especially this week, when the opponent is the big, bad Kansas City Chiefs?

“Still holds true,” Allen said Wednesday during his weekly news conference.

Sure, Josh.

Nickel cornerback Taron Johnson struck a similar tone.

“Every game, I’m focused on that game so much, that I don’t really feel the ‘extra-ness’ of it,” he said. “I’m still going through my same process. I’m preparing like how I would for anybody else.”

Sure, Taron.

That’s all well and good, but the Chiefs aren’t just “anybody else.” They are the rock in the Bills’ shoe. They are the riddle for which there is no answer, specifically in the postseason. They are the measuring stick for the rest of the AFC, just as they have been for the entirety of the partnership between coach Andy Reid and quarterback Patrick Mahomes.

So the Bills can say it’s just another game all they want. But we all know that’s not true. Anytime these teams take the field, it’s memorable. It’s special. It’s also hugely important.

So that sets the stage for 4:25 p.m. Sunday inside Highmark Stadium.


This will be the 10th time facing the Kansas City Chiefs for Bills quarterback Josh Allen.
Harry Scull Jr., Buffalo News

The Bills enter at 5-2, a half-game ahead of the 5-3 Chiefs in the AFC overall standings. A Buffalo victory puts the Bills up 1½ games over Kansas City, with the Chiefs on bye in Week 10 and the Bills visiting the floundering Dolphins. Beat the Chiefs and then the Dolphins, and suddenly the Bills are 6-2, and for all practical purposes, they're three games ahead of the Chiefs with the head-to-head tiebreaker.

Lose, and the Bills are a half-game behind the Chiefs in the standings, but because of the head to head, that’s more like 1½ games. It’ll probably feel like more than that, too.

The Chiefs come into Orchard Park as 2½-point favorites – a reflection on how they’ve looked during a three-game winning streak in which they’ve outscored opponents 89-24, and on the Bills' inconsistency dating to a sloppy Week 4 win against New Orleans. While the Bills enter Week 9 following an easy 40-9 victory at Carolina, that performance alone didn’t do enough to erase the stain of what has been a tough stretch, particularly for the passing offense.

Allen has not looked true to MVP form. The wide receivers haven’t often been open, leading to intense speculation about what general manager Brandon Beane might do to address that problem before the Tuesday trade deadline.

The running game has made up for that at times, especially against the Panthers, but it figures to be a challenge for James Cook to duplicate that kind of performance against the Chiefs. Kansas City hasn’t given up 100 rushing yards to an individual player since Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson gained 122 in the 2024 season opener. That’s a streak of 27 straight games, including the playoffs, which is the longest in the NFL.

The last time Kansas City gave up 100 rushing yards to an individual running back was on Christmas Day in 2023, when the Raiders’ Zamir White gained 145.

What’s at stake​

Back-to-back losses ahead of the bye week not only knocked the Bills out of their usual perch atop the AFC East; it also dealt a blow to the team’s pursuit of the No. 1 seed in the AFC. Currently, Buffalo has an 88% chance of making the postseason, according to ESPN’s Football Power Index, but just a 51% chance to win the AFC East – a virtual coin flip with the Patriots. The Bills’ chances of earning the No. 1 seed, and the bye week in the playoffs that comes with it, are at just 14% – the same percentage given to them to make it to the Super Bowl.


Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen throws a pass against the Kansas City Chiefs during their meeting Nov. 17, 2024, at Highmark Stadium.
The Bills won this meeting 30-21 but lost the AFC championship game 32-29 on Jan. 26 at Kansas City.
Harry Scull Jr., Buffalo News

The Chiefs, meanwhile, have the same 88% chance of making the playoffs, along with a 47% chance of winning the AFC West. Kansas City’s chances of earning the No. 1 seed are at 15%, but their Super Bowl chances are much higher at 24%. The winner of Sunday’s game will see a spike in those numbers, particularly in the quest for the all-important No. 1 seed.

That's something the Bills have never had under Sean McDermott, and it should remain the goal for this season. Beating Kansas City would go a long way toward making that possibility a lot more realistic.

“You never want to make a big game bigger than what it is,” Bills safety Jordan Poyer said. “Obviously, yeah, everybody outside of here is going to talk about the Chiefs and the Bills. Us inside – it is our next game, understanding we respect every opponent that we play and understanding the opponent that we are facing.”

The Bills’ remaining 11 opponents, including Kansas City, have a winning percentage of .481, which gives them the No. 20 remaining strength of schedule in the NFL (in other words, it's relatively weak). Buffalo’s toughest games after the Chiefs are home against Philadelphia and Tampa Bay and on the road at New England and Pittsburgh.

The Chiefs, meanwhile, have the No. 4 remaining strength of schedule, a path that includes two games against the Broncos, as well as home dates with the Colts and Chargers.

The Bills’ only competition in the AFC East, the Patriots, have the easiest remaining schedule – a reality that only adds to the importance of Sunday’s game for the Bills. Realistically, the Bills can probably only lose once or twice more this season if they want the No. 1 seed, and neither of those losses can come to the Chiefs or Patriots.

So beating the Chiefs is critical. But not only for what it would mean in the standings.

The collective psyche of Bills Mafia might need it even more.

The reality is, the Bills haven’t looked like a Super Bowl team for most of the season. Certainly that was true from Week 4 through the team’s bye.


Bills running back James Cook stretches for the goal line on fourth down after absorbing a hit by Chiefs linebacker
Nick Bolton during the AFC championship game Jan. 26 at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City.
Joshua Bessex, Buffalo News

A familiar foe​

Beating Kansas City would go a long way toward reversing that. It’s something the Bills have done plenty of times before in the regular season, including the last four times they’ve met. Of course, the Chiefs are so deeply ingrained in the heads of Bills fans that there is a segment of the fan base that has deluded themselves into believing that losing to the Chiefs in the regular season would be acceptable, because then it might finally mean getting past them in the playoffs. Of course, in reality, those two things aren’t related. Nor do the results of previous matchups in this rivalry matter all that much for this year’s meeting.

“Every game is different; every year is different,” Allen said. “Everything presents itself in a different way. Nothing that happened last year or the year before, or the year before that carries over or matters this week.

“They've got a lot of guys that returned from last year's squad, but they got some new guys. They're doing some different things, we're doing different things. We’ve got to come out and the best football that we can play.”

That usually happens for Allen against Kansas City. In his nine career games against the Chiefs, the Buffalo quarterback has 24 total touchdowns against just five interceptions. Of course, Mahomes has been every bit Allen’s equal, with 22 total touchdowns and just three interceptions, throwing for 273.9 yards per game.

“He is who he is,” Bills coach Sean McDermott said of Mahomes. “I mean, he’s an incredible player. He’s had a huge impact on this league, and you see kids wearing the jerseys, you see kids wearing Josh’s jersey. When you grow up watching players like Josh and like Patrick, they impact their communities, and they impact the world, really, because of who they are and how they do things, so certainly a ton of respect for him.”

After a slow start to the season without receivers Rashee Rice and Xavier Worthy, Mahomes has been on a heater recently. He’s tied for the NFL lead with the Rams’ Matthew Stafford with 17 touchdown passes, and he has thrown for at least three TDs in his past three games. Mahomes has only extended such a streak to four straight games twice in his career, in 2018 and 2021.

The Bills and Chiefs will play Sunday for the 10th time, including the postseason, since the start of the 2020 season. No other non-division matchups have happened more than six times in that span.

“We've seen a lot of different versions of the Chiefs,” Bills defensive coordinator Bobby Babich said. “You feel like it's a division game, almost. You feel like you're going to play them twice a year.”

This version of the Chiefs has something in common with those of the past. Tight end Travis Kelce is Mahomes’ favorite target. He leads the Chiefs with 474 receiving yards, and his average of 12.8 yards per catch is his best in the past five seasons.

"They're tough," Babich said. "They're tough to go against."

Bills fans know that all too well. Like it or not, the challenge has arrived.

 

[HipKat]

NFL Week 9 storylines: Josh Allen vs. Patrick Mahomes, Part 10; red-hot Colts get tested

Two of this generation's premier quarterbacks square off again with Allen looking to improve on his 4-1 regular-season mark vs. Mahomes.

www.nytimes.com

Josh Allen is 4-1 against Patrick Mahomes in the regular season but 0-4 in the playoffs. Timothy T Ludwig / Getty Images

With eight weeks in the books, and the ninth on tap, the NFL has reached the midway point of the regular season.

Unlike some previous years, so much remains up in the air around the league. Some contenders still find themselves on shaky footing. Some surprise teams still have their toughest tests ahead of them. And the trade deadline looms on Tuesday, meaning teams could make last-ditch efforts to help their situations.

Thursday night’s action represented the continuation of what the Baltimore Ravens hope is a climb back to respectability and contention with a dominant 28-6 win over the Miami Dolphins, who responded on Friday by mutually parting ways with general manager Chris Grier (though coach Mike McDaniel is said to be safe, for now).

Sunday’s action features nine games in the early slot, three late-afternoon games and the Sunday night contest between the Seattle Seahawks and Washington Commanders, and the weekend wraps with Monday night’s game between the Arizona Cardinals and Dallas Cowboys.

Here’s a look at some of the most compelling storylines to follow this week.

AFC powers face off​

This game should have been the “Sunday Night Football” contest. Not only is it the premier game of the week, it also represents one of the heavyweight bouts of the entire season. In a game that most likely will serve as a playoff preview (Divisional round? Conference championship?) Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs will travel to Buffalo to take on Josh Allen and the Bills.

This is the 10th meeting between this generation’s leading quarterbacks. Allen owns a 4-1 record against Mahomes and company in regular-season meetings. However, Mahomes has won all four playoff games against Allen and the Bills.

The Chiefs enter this game riding a three-game winning streak and appear to have regained contender form now that Mahomes’ arsenal has returned to full strength. Since getting wide receiver Rashee Rice back on the field along with Xavier Worthy, Hollywood Brown, Travis Kelce and JuJu Smith-Schuster, the Chiefs have averaged 29.7 points per game while attacking with balance, having topped the 100-yard game in the rushing department in each of those outings. The improved effectiveness on offense has also helped a defense that delivered uneven performances to start the season. The Chiefs have surrendered just 24 points in the last three games combined and have three takeaways during that span as well.

Despite his superior regular-season record in this series, there will be plenty of pressure on Allen because the Bills lack similar well-rounded firepower on offense. After opening the season at an impressive clip while averaging 33.25 points during a 4-0 stretch, the Bills have experienced a dramatic dropoff. They managed only 17 points per game during a two-game losing streak (falling to the New England Patriots and Atlanta Falcons) and then returned from their bye with a 40-9 blowout against the struggling Carolina Panthers. Allen will have to put on the cape once again to both keep up with Mahomes and help the Bills avoid falling further behind the AFC East-leading Patriots. (Chiefs at Bills, 4:25 p.m. ET, Sunday, CBS).

True test for Indy?​

The Indianapolis Colts remain the biggest surprise of the season. They roll into Week 9 with a 7-1 record (the best in the NFL) and a four-game winning streak (second-longest right now), and quarterback Daniel Jones is being mentioned in MVP discussions. It feels wise to avoid getting overly caught up in Indianapolis’ success, however. Although impressive, of their seven victories, only two have come against teams with winning records (Denver Broncos — 1-0 at the time and 6-2 now; Los Angeles Chargers — 4-2 at the time, 5-3 now). The Dolphins, Tennessee Titans (twice), Las Vegas Raiders and Cardinals have a combined 7-23 record. The Colts’ lone loss came against the Los Angeles Rams (5-2).

Now, the Colts head to Pittsburgh, where they take on a squad that leads its division and looked like a playoff team until running into the Green Bay Packers last week. How will Shane Steichen’s team do against stronger competition? The Steelers enter this game eager to bounce back from an embarrassing loss to Green Bay. Mike Tomlin’s defense has key areas to shore up, but it has talent on every level. That unit will have its hands full with Jonathan Taylor, however, who leads the league with 850 rushing yards and 12 touchdowns, and like Jones, is worthy of MVP consideration. Indianapolis’ defense has given up its fair share of yards (345.1 per game; sixth most). However, the unit has held opponents to just 19.3 points per game (sixth fewest). Last week, Aaron Rodgers and the Packers stalled repeatedly after they crossed midfield and had to settle for four Chris Boswell field goals. To get back on track, the Steelers will have to do better than 1-for-10 on third downs. (Colts at Steelers, 1 p.m. ET, Sunday, CBS)

Texans’ groove vs. Broncos’ streak​

Another AFC matchup with intrigue takes place in Houston, where the Broncos lay their five-game winning streak on the line against the 3-4 Texans. It’s a clash between Bo Nix and C.J. Stroud, two of the brightest young quarterbacks in the league, and a pair of formidable defenses.

The Broncos have won in just about every way imaginable: blowouts, squeakers, ugly slog-fests, dramatic comebacks. They have beaten some of the top teams (Colts and Philadelphia Eagles) while embarrassing playoff hopefuls like the Cincinnati Bengals (yeah, Joe Burrow was hurt) and the Cowboys. Nix has had some ups and downs this season. Can he deliver against a Texans defense that has held opponents to a league-low 14.7 points per game and only 178.4 passing yards and a 70.7 passer rating (also a league low)?

Which Texans offense will show up? The unit that has struggled out of the gates, or the group that last week torched the San Francisco 49ers for a season-high 475 yards (318 passing, 157 rushing) while helping Houston win its third game in the last four outings? First-year offensive coordinator Nick Caley appears to be finding his rhythm as a play caller, and Stroud has posted his three best completion percentages of the season while on this 4-1 stretch. The Texans also have averaged 151 rushing yards in their three victories.

The Texans haven’t faced a defense like Denver’s, however. Nobody gets after the quarterback like the Broncos, who boast 36 sacks. And Denver has held foes to just 18.9 points per game. If you’re expecting offensive fireworks, you may be disappointed. If you’re a fan of defensive struggles, get your popcorn. (Broncos at Texans, 1 p.m. ET, Sunday, Fox)


J.J. McCarthy will have plenty of pressure on him when he returns to the lineup against the Lions.Luke Hales / Getty Images

J.J. McCarthy’s return​

The Minnesota Vikings rolled the dice this season as they allowed Sam Darnold to depart in free agency and pinned their hopes on second-year pro J.J. McCarthy. However, the young quarterback had an up-and-down first two outings as a starter and then missed the next five games because of a high ankle sprain. Carson Wentz posted a 2-3 record as Minnesota’s starter, and in addition to struggling mightily in last week’s outing, Wentz also suffered a season-ending shoulder injury. Now, the Vikings turn back to McCarthy as they try to snap a two-game losing streak while facing the Detroit Lions.

McCarthy will likely have some rust to knock off as he faces a Lions defense led by the newly extended Aiden Hutchinson (four-year, $180 million deal signed this week). It’s important for McCarthy to quickly work through his reads and get rid of the ball and settle into a rhythm. Decision-making ranked among his early struggles, so he must do a better job of taking care of the football.

As far as comeback games go, McCarthy couldn’t have asked for a more pressure-packed situation. He and the Vikings have little margin for error. The young quarterback and his teammates must keep pace with a Lions offense that averages 30.7 points and 357.1 yards per game and a Detroit team that boasts a 3-0 record at home. Kevin O’Connell and his assistants must do everything possible to support their young quarterback. However, the Vikings struggle in the rushing department, averaging just 93.9 yards per game (25th in the NFL) and Minnesota’s defense has gotten gashed by opposing running backs, yielding 130.4 ground yards per game. (Vikings at Lions, 1 p.m. ET, Sunday, Fox)

Tyler Shough’s debut​

First-year head coach Kellen Moore decided to pull the plug on the Spencer Rattler experiment and now turns to second-round pick Tyler Shough as the Saints head to Los Angeles to face the Rams, who boast a 5-2 record and a tough defensive front. It’s not an ideal situation for Shough, but after going away from Rattler midway through last week’s game, Moore felt like giving Shough his first start was the best move.

Under Rattler, the Saints managed just 16 points per game and ranked 26th in total offense. New Orleans also ranked second-worst in turnovers (12). Shough will try to do a better job of taking care of the ball, but he could also struggle while playing behind one of the worst lines in the league. The Rams entered the week ranked second in the NFL with 26 sacks through seven games, and opponents have converted only 34 percent of third downs for first downs (fourth-lowest in the league).

Shough looked like a rookie last week against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers as he completed just 17 of 30 passes for 128 yards and failed to direct a single scoring drive. But the Saints are hoping that a full week of practice with the starters will help position their young QB to give them a spark. (Saints at Rams, 4:05 p.m. ET, Sunday, Fox)

 

[Bill Polar]

Balls:

Josh, this is the best I have seen him since the Ravens game
Cook, let James Cook!!!!
Kincaid
Shakir
Bosa
Secondary

Goats:
Strength and conditioning team

j

 

[HipKat]

NFL Week 9 takeaways: What We Learned from Sunday's 12 games

Buffalo Bills
6-2
FULL BOX SCORE

• REWATCH: Chiefs-Bills on NFL+ Premium

1. Bills’ defense made the critical plays. A Buffalo defense missing key members on every level of the unit rose up with its biggest performance of the season in beating the Chiefs. The Bills won the battle in the trenches, sacking Patrick Mahomes three times and holding him below 50% completions for the first time in his NFL career. Time after time, the Bills made timely stops. Christian Benford's touchdown-saving tackle before halftime saved four points. Cole Bishop had a tackle for loss and a pass breakup on consecutive plays. Joey Bosa had a critical sack in the fourth quarter, leading a vibrant rush group. The Bills allowed a fourth-and-17 completion and the TD drive (and two-pointer) that made it a seven-point game, and Mahomes had the ball in his hands with a chance to win. But rookie Maxwell Hairston got his first NFL interception in his second game, picking off Mahomes’ deep heave with just over four minutes left, then knocked down Mahomes’ final pass in the end zone. Mike Hoecht (Achilles) getting hurt was among the few negatives. The Bills’ defense has looked massively improved the past two games, even with key members out.
   
   
2. Chiefs defense couldn’t pick up the slack. Can the Chiefs win games against top competition if Patrick Mahomes and his offensive line aren’t in top form? Coming into this game, the defense had stacked three straight strong performances, but on Sunday, the Bills were able to convert too frequently on third downs (7 of 12) and in the red zone (3 for 3). Kansas City had gone 27 straight games, including playoffs, without allowing a 100-yard rusher, but James Cook broke the century mark. Josh Allen also completed 23 of his 26 passes for 265 yards and a TD, and he converted several key runs for first downs. Is it possible the Chiefs just aren't good enough in the front seven right now? They did have back-to-back sacks late in the game to force a punt and give Mahomes a chance, and there’s no looking past the offense’s struggles. But on a day when the defense needed to be stout, it withered too often.
   
   
3. Bills leaned on tight ends to fuel offense. When Josh Allen needed a big play Sunday, he went to his tight ends. The group had meager production last week against the Panthers but helped give Allen more than half his passing yards against the Chiefs. Dalton Kincaid led the way, catching all six of his targets for 101 yards and the first-quarter TD that got the Bills going. He also had a 47-yard catch to set up the go-ahead score in the second quarter and converted a late third down to help drain the clock. Dawson Knox and Jackson Hawes also got involved with catches of 30 and 18 yards, respectively, and each of them (especially Hawes') helped generate yards as run blockers, too.

Next Gen Stats Insight for Chiefs-Bills (via NFL Pro): Patrick Mahomes’ 40-yard pass to Hollywood Brown down to the Buffalo 1-yard line traveled an air distance of 47.5 yards. The Bills held the Chiefs to a field goal.

NFL Research: Josh Allen has 47 career games with one or more passing TDs and one or more rushing TDs, which is the most in NFL history.

 

[HipKat]

Balls
Bills D
Hairston
Bosa
Bishop
Hoeck - sucks he's gonna be toast

Bills O
Josh
Cook
Spencer
'Caid
Shakir

 

[sukie]

Strength and conditioning doesn’t prevent an Achilles tear.

 

[sukie]

Josh was ridiculously accurate today. He was having fun.

Cook and Kincaid played sick

Hoecht and Groot were disruptive. Bosa has to be surgically removed from Mahomes. If it wasn’t a sack it was a big hit.

Bishop had his best game

O line gave Josh time and opened holes

Shakir solid as usual

 

[Direbills]

Strength and conditioning doesn’t prevent an Achilles tear.

Of course it helps. Probably a PED injury.

 

[sukie]

NFL Achilles tears occur more frequently on artificial turf than on natural grass