Whenever the Buffalo Bills face off against the Kansas City Chiefs, the matchup is often highlighted as a clash between two elite quarterbacks: Josh Allen and Patrick Mahomes. This narrative is fitting, as the two signal-callers have collectively secured three regular season MVP awards and have delivered thrilling playoff shootouts. However, following their recent encounter, it has become clear that the key to overcoming Mahomes in the postseason may not solely rest on Allen’s shoulders. Instead, it’s the Bills’ defense that has the potential to tip the scales in their favor come playoff time.
In their latest matchup, the Bills showcased a formidable defense that completely stifled Mahomes, leading to his worst performance of the season. Mahomes completed just 15 of 34 passes for 226 yards and threw an interception during the 28-21 loss. This performance not only resulted in his lowest passer rating of the season at 57.2, but also marked the worst single-game completion percentage (44.1%) of his illustrious career. The 21 points scored by the Chiefs were their lowest since Week 2, breaking a streak of five consecutive games where they had scored at least 28 points against their opponents.
Reflecting on the victory, Allen noted, “They’re the pinnacle of what you want your franchise to be. They’ve been that for the last eight years. Any time you get a chance to play the best and you can come away with a victory, you’re going to be feeling pretty good.” This sentiment underscores the significance of Buffalo’s triumph over a team that has historically performed well against them.
A significant factor in the Bills’ success was their aggressive pass rush, reminiscent of how the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Philadelphia Eagles managed to defeat Mahomes in his two Super Bowl losses. The Bills managed to sack Mahomes three times, while also pressuring him on numerous occasions. Joey Bosa, the defensive end who joined the Bills on a one-year contract in March, delivered a standout performance, recording two sacks and pressuring Mahomes a total of ten times. According to NFL Next Gen Stats, the Bills pressured Mahomes on 52.6% of his dropbacks, a significant increase of 14.3% compared to their previous nine meetings.
“Just proud of everybody, the way we rushed,” Bosa expressed after the game, emphasizing his feeling of being “reinvigorated” in his first season with the Bills. This newfound energy and cohesion on defense will be critical if they hope to replicate this performance in the playoffs against the Chiefs.
Interestingly, despite their recent victory, the Bills have historically faced challenges in the playoffs against Kansas City. While Buffalo has won five consecutive regular-season games against the Chiefs, limiting them to an average of only 19.8 points in those encounters, the postseason has told a different story. In the four playoff games between Mahomes and Allen, Kansas City has averaged a staggering 34 points, outpacing the Bills’ average of 28.3 points in those matchups.
Heading into this latest game, Allen had actually performed better in playoff scenarios against the Chiefs compared to the regular season, boasting a higher completion rate and improved passer rating. The inconsistency has often been on the defensive side, which will need to be rectified for Buffalo to succeed in the playoffs.
As the season progresses, the question remains whether Buffalo and Kansas City will meet in the postseason for the fifth time in six years. Currently, both teams are not leading their respective divisions. If the playoffs were to start today, the Chiefs, sitting eighth in the AFC standings, would miss the postseason for the first time in Mahomes’ career. With plenty of football left to play before January, the upcoming trade deadline and potential injuries could significantly influence the playoff picture.
While Sunday’s victory is a promising sign for the Bills, it’s important to remember that similar performances have been seen in previous regular seasons. For Buffalo to finally conquer their primary obstacle on the way to the Super Bowl, it will require not just Allen’s stellar play but a concerted effort from the Bills’ defense to contain a quarterback of Mahomes’ caliber. As Buffalo coach Sean McDermott stated postgame, “We’re not where we need to be, but I saw the team come together, and when it got tough, they stood tall.”
