In the Patrick Mahomes era, the Kansas City Chiefs have showcased their dominance in the NFL by consistently racking up impressive statistics. From securing multiple AFC West division titles to making numerous appearances in the AFC Championship Game and clinching Super Bowl victories, the Chiefs, under the leadership of their superstar quarterback, have routinely outscored their opponents. However, one notable exception to this trend occurs when they face the Buffalo Bills during the regular season. This rivalry continued to unfold with the Bills' recent 28-21 victory at Highmark Stadium, marking yet another win against the Chiefs.
In this latest chapter of what many consider the NFL’s best rivalry, the Bills once again outperformed the visiting Chiefs, who exhibited signs of struggle right from the start. On the opening possession, Chiefs linebacker Drue Tranquill, typically reliable in pass coverage, stumbled while attempting to defend against Bills tight end Dalton Kincaid. This slip allowed Kincaid to secure a 23-yard pass from quarterback Josh Allen and score the first touchdown of the game. With this early momentum, the Bills set the tone for the match.
With this victory, Josh Allen improved his record against Mahomes to an impressive 5-1 in regular season matchups. Allen delivered another standout performance, throwing for 273 yards and a touchdown while also rushing for two additional touchdowns. For the Bills, this win improved their record to 6-2, keeping them just one game behind the surging New England Patriots (7-2), who have won six straight games in the AFC East.
Conversely, the Chiefs are grappling with more significant issues than simply falling short against their divisional rival. After a challenging 0-2 start to the season, the Chiefs (5-4) had managed to bounce back, winning five out of six games. However, their failure to keep pace with the division-leading Denver Broncos (7-2) and second-place Los Angeles Chargers (6-3) following this defeat raises concerns. Entering their bye week, the Chiefs find themselves in need of reflection and improvement.
The atmosphere in the Chiefs' locker room was understandably somber after the game. Mahomes, despite his personal success in playoff matchups against Allen (4-0), expressed concern over the current state of the team. He completed only 15 of 34 passes for 250 yards, with one interception and no touchdown passes, a stark contrast to his previous games where he scored three touchdowns in each. “We gotta get there first,” Mahomes remarked, emphasizing the need for the team to focus on their performance as they sit in third place in their division. “We gotta play better football.”
Prior to their trip to New York, the Chiefs had been performing well, especially after the return of Rashee Rice, their top wide receiver, who had been suspended. The team's offense had thrived, scoring 89 points during a three-game winning streak. Yet, during this crucial game, they made too many defensive mistakes that allowed the Bills to take a 21-13 lead at halftime. “A lot of mental mistakes,” said cornerback Trent McDuffie, highlighting the uncharacteristic errors that plagued their gameplay.
For the first time this season, the Chiefs faced significant challenges in pass protection. This has typically been a strength for Kansas City, but the absence of rookie left tackle Josh Simmons, who has been away from the team due to personal reasons, compounded their difficulties. With Simmons expected to return soon, the Chiefs have been relying on backup tackle Jaylon Moore, but his presence has not been enough to mitigate the impact of injuries on the offensive line. In a critical moment, starting right tackle Jawaan Taylor left the game with an ankle injury, leading to third-string lineman Wanya Morris stepping in—a move that did not bode well for the Chiefs' offensive strategy.
As the Chiefs enter their bye week, Mahomes stressed the importance of consistency. “We’ve had great moments before their bye, we’ve had bad moments. We gotta be more consistent as a team,” he noted. The Chiefs must quickly address their challenges as they prepare for the remainder of the season. The entire NFL will be watching closely, eager to see how the defending AFC champions rebound from this recent setback.
