Josh Allen and Buffalo Bills I’ve known all season that the road to the Super Bowl runs through Kansas City. Show Allen & Co. They are able to beat the Chiefs with a 30-21 win in Buffalo in Week 11.
But the postseason was a different story.
Patrick Mahomes He owns a 3-0 record over Allen in the playoffs, including a 27-24 win at Buffalo in the AFC Divisional Round last season. For the second time in four seasons, the Bills and Chiefs will face off in the AFC title game. This year, the Bills-Chiefs game will be played at Arrowhead Stadium.
“This is what we worked for,” Allen said of facing Mahomes and the Chiefs again. “It’s an opportunity to play another week. We don’t want our season to end with a loss. This gives us a chance to keep going.”
Here’s a closer look at the star-studded showdown in the AFC Championship.
Seed No. 1: Kansas City Chiefs
Biggest power: Of course, Mahomes is the straw that stirs the drink for Kansas City. His unique ability to execute at the end of games is a major reason why the Chiefs have won 16 straight games by one score dating back to last season. Mahomes had a career passer rating of 98.2 in the fourth quarter and overtime during the regular season. This jumps to a passer rating of 108.6 in the playoffs. With one of the most decorated quarterbacks in NFL history paired with a future Hall of Fame coach in Andy Reid, it will be difficult for the Chiefs to pull off an unprecedented third straight Super Bowl win. Winners of nine straight AFC West division titles dating back to 2016, the Chiefs own the No. 1 seed for the fourth time during Mahomes’ tenure. Kansas City has appeared in six AFC Championships and four Super Bowls (winning three) since taking over in 2018.
Is Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes officially ready to triple-peat?
The biggest question mark: Can the Chiefs stick to the football? They haven’t given up a turnover in eight games, but they fumbled twice in their win over houston texas Last week, I was able to get both back. During the 2024 regular season, Mahomes threw 11 interceptions, ninth in the NFL, but has just two interceptions in six AFC Championship games. The Bills had 16 picks during the regular season — tied for fifth-most in the league — and three takeaways in their win over Baltimore Ravens Last week. In the playoffs, where every possession is precious, Buffalo’s ability to steal possession from the Chiefs will be crucial.
X factor: While Kansas City’s success starts with Mahomes, defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo comes in second. Spagnuolo, the first coach in NFL history to win four Super Bowls as defensive coordinator, once again assembled one of the best defenses in the league. The Chiefs allowed 19.2 points per game in 2024, No. 4 in the NFL. Since the start of the 2023 season, Kansas City has the No. 1 ranking in scoring and total defense in the league. To beat the Chiefs in the postseason, opponents must figure out how to consistently move the football against one of the best defensive minds in the game. Last week, the Chiefs fired the Houston quarterback C.J. Stroud Eight times and brought the Texans to 14 points.
Seed No. 2: Buffalo Bills
Biggest power: Allen led one of the most explosive offenses in the NFL, finishing with 42 total touchdowns in 2024, joining the Aaron Rodgers As the only players with 40 or more total touchdowns in at least five NFL seasons. Running backwards James Cooka Pro Bowl snub who finished with 1,009 receiving yards and tied for a league-high with 16 rushing touchdowns, provided balance on offense. With WR1 Stefon Diggs Traded last offseason, the Bills finished with a league-high eight players with multiple touchdowns in 2024. Khalil Shaker He led Buffalo with 76 receptions for 821 yards during the regular season. Last week against the Ravens, Shakir had a team-high six receptions for 67 yards.
The biggest question mark: In defeat Lamar Jackson, Derrick Henry & Co. Last week, Buffalo did a good job of shutting down one of the most explosive running offenses in the league. But in the regular season, the Bills struggled against playoff teams, going 2-3 against teams that reached the playoffs. They allowed 108 more yards per game against current playoff teams and averaged 33 points, the fourth-most ever by a playoff team. Buffalo needs a strong performance from the defense to get past Mahomes and the Chiefs.
X factor: Allen had his best year avoiding turnovers, and tied Buffalo for the fewest giveaways (8) in any season since 1990. The Bills had a turnover margin of plus-24 — the best margin of any team in the NFL since 2012. At the end Last week against the Ravens, the Bills won the turnover battle 3-0. If Allen & Co. Of winning this battle this week against the Chiefs, it would greatly boost their chances of reaching the Super Bowl for the first time since 1994.
prediction: Expect another close game ending in the final possession between these two teams. The game can revolve around whichever attack has the ball last. But it’s tough to face Mahomes in the postseason, based on the success Kansas City has had in the past. Chiefs 30, Bills 27
Eric D. Williams has covered the NFL for more than a decade Los Angeles Rams For Sports Illustrated, the Los Angeles Chargers For ESPN and Seattle Seahawks For the Tacoma News Tribune. Follow him on Twitter at @eric_d_williams.
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