AFC Championship Preview Bills vs Chiefs

            AFC Championship Preview Bills vs Chiefs 

  In the 2020-2021 NFL Playoffs it really feels like we got every highly anticipated matchup we could of asked for. The defending Super Bowl champs Chiefs will be taking on the red hot Buffalo Bills. Remember no one circles the wagons like the Buffalo Bills. The Bills have been rolling since that DeAndre Hopkins Hail Mary grab over four of their defenders. That apparently really put a spark into the team. The Bills have been on an eight game winning streak since that catch. They’ve impressed me every single week since then. From Josh Allen who in my opinion is the runner up in the MVP voting. Stefon Diggs is a very bad man. Guess Kirk Cousins was holding him back even if it was a tad. The Bills offense showed against the Steelers and Colts it doesn’t matter how good your defense is they will score. Then when you doubt their defense they turn it around last week and their defense ooked great. They held the Ravens to 3 points and no runner on the best running team in the league ran over 50 yards. That defense was all over the field last week in the Divisional game against the Ravens. They took away Lamar Jackson’s big play ability. Their opponent though has been hot since Patrick Mahomes arrived on scene three years ago. The Chiefs have been the best team in football. So much to the point when they don’t win by 50 everyone starts to think there’s problem because we really haven’t seen any problems. After a 14-2 season the Chiefs took care of the Browns last week in the Divisional round after a bye week in the Wildcard round. They won the game 22-17 in a nail biter. They might have won the game but they lost Patrick Mahomes in the second half to what at the time they believed was a concussion. Now they believe that he could of suffered a pinch nerve that has concussion like symptoms but he still must go through concussion protocol throughout the week. He also suffered a toe injury which could be more major than the pinched nerve. It’ll affect his mobility if he can play. If it’s a turf toe it’s really a problem. Chiefs backup 11 year veteran Chad Henne had to come in and hold off the Browns. When he first came in he threw an interception which looked like he was throwing pop ups to the safety on a fly route. The Chiefs defense does what a Super Bowl defense should do and made plays when they needed them most. They stuffed the Browns and forced a punt. Fast forward to Myles Garret sacking Chad Henne on second down which was huge because the Chiefs were a first down from the game being over. Now it was 3rd and 14 if they run the ball it’ll click the clock down to 1:20 when the Browns get the ball, with no timeouts, still tough to score. On 3rd and 14th we found out Henything is possible as Henne runs for 13.5 yards on a throwing play to make it 4th and 1. Reid doesn’t just throw it in his  back pocket and trust his defense. The big red Chief calls a throw on fourth down. The announcer Tony Romo thought they were trying to drive the Browns offsides. They tricked everyone, ran a pass play, Henne hits Tyreek Hill on the flat for a one yard gain which is all they need, and put it in the books the Chiefs will move on. Henne did rebound very well from his opening interception. Nonetheless he is still no Mahomes. If the Chiefs don’t have Mahomes this isn’t a take about how amazing the Chiefs are and will contend with the Bills through the power of will and friendship even without Mahomes. No not at all the Chiefs will get torched, slaughtered by the Bills if Mahomes isn’t out there. Yes Andy Reid is an all time legend but Mahomes is the offense. The Chiefs have many weapons but they don’t really have a running game. A big way back up quarterbacks can win is through the running game. You can run the clock down and limit mistakes by the backup. The Chiefs don’t have a strong running game like that. Without Mahomes this isn’t the movie 300 it wouldn’t be entertaining we need Mahomes as NFL fans as well. 

   The Chiefs and Bills are a young goats showdown. The NFC has a generation of the 2010s goats going at it. Who knows we maybe watch one of many Patrick Mahomes vs Josh Allen AFC Championship matchups. These are the young goats going at it. The Chiefs are the number one offense and the Bills are the second. The Chiefs are the best team when throwing, the sixteenth best at running the ball,  and sixth in the league in points. The Bills are third best team at throwing the ball, 20th in rushing, and the best at scoring points. You see these offenses are so close. You would have to give the edge to the Chiefs based on one man Travis Kelce. The Bills don’t have a dynamic tight end like Kelce. Well to be honest if you’re not the 49ers who has George Kittle no one really does. The Chiefs beat the Bills in the regular season 26-17 back in October. However a lot of things have changed since then. For example the Bills since that game have been the best team in the red zone on defense. It’s very hard to score touchdowns against the Bills you settle for fields goals. Against Buffalo you need touchdowns. Kansas City actually struggles for a top scoring team in the red zone. They only rank 11th scoring touchdowns in the red zone. They are a big play team they don’t drive a lot. Remember this is all assuming Mahomes plays in my opinion the Bills can cause problems for the Chiefs offense especially if they can hold them to field goals and limit big plays. They are also very close on defense the Chiefs are ranked the 15th defense in the league, and the Bills are the 14th ranked. You see what I’m saying? These teams are super tight. They both have Pro Bowl quarterbacks with Mahomes and Allen, a great weapon with Tyreek Hill and Stefon Diggs, and a lack luster running game. Travis Kelce is the X factor for the Chiefs. If Kelce gets going their is really no one on the Bills that can really stop him. That’s the only real weapon that stands out that no one else has. The defenses are really close as well. Look at the starts the Chiefs have Frank Clark, Chris Jones, and Tyrann Mathieu. The Bills counter that with Tremaine Edmunds, Ed Oliver, and Tre'Davious White. These teams are so close. There’s only one thing I could see really hurting the Bills besides Kelce. That’s the running game. Their running game has been non existent in the playoffs. Devin Singletary really needs to step up more especially in this one. Two stats scare me for the Bills. The last meeting between these teams the Chiefs rushed for 250 yards and the Bills only rushed for 80. Yes a lot has changed but the running game can be the game changer. Then finally the Bills barley average 50 yards per game rushing in the playoffs. If the Chiefs can run the ball they’ll win guaranteed. That also means the Bills aren’t balanced they may put to much pressure on Allen who just became a superstar and who’s never been there before. Nonetheless the game is going to come down to the wire if Mahomes plays. It won’t be a 49-45 score though. Both teams will look to hold the ball because they respect the other offense. Expect the final score to be a 31-28 final. A lot of offense but not overwhelmed. If Mahomes play I see the Chiefs pulling this one out by a 31-28 score. Cant wait for this one should be a fun weekend of sports. 

By Matthew Doherty