NFL Divisional Round Preview: Buffalo Bills vs Kansas City Chiefs

By Stephen Ur

The Kansas City Chiefs and Buffalo Bills will meet once more in the postseason, but this time, they will meet in Josh Allen’s backyard as the Chiefs will play their first road playoff game in the Patrick Mahomes era.

These two teams have given us some classic matchups, both in the regular season and postseason. In fact, their playoff matchup from the 2021 season, played in Jan. 2022, was so controversial, the NFL had to change their rules about overtime in the postseason.

When these two teams met last, it seemed as if the Chiefs had scored the go-ahead touchdown with just over a minute left, but wide receiver Kaderious Toney was called offsides. There was controversy on that play, as well, as the Chiefs claimed the officials didn’t let him know he was offside prior to the ball being snapped. Nonetheless, the Bills held on for the win in that game.

Now, Kansas City will be looking to advance to their seventh consecutive AFC Championship Game. With a Houston Texans win over the Baltimore Ravens, the Chiefs would host their seventh consecutive conference title game, as well. If the Ravens win, the Chiefs will be on the road for that game.

Both the Chiefs and Bills are coming off impressive victories in ill-weathered wild card games against. AFC East teams. The Chiefs defeated the Miami Dolphins 26-7 in a game in which the temperature at kickoff was -4 degrees, making it the fourth coldest game in NFL history.

The Bills had their game against the Pittsburgh Steelers postponed to Monday because there was so much snow covering New Era Field. Even at kickoff of this game, the seats were so badly covered with snow, the NFL and the Bills allowed fans to sit wherever they wished, the first time in NFL history that was allowed at a game.

Both teams come into this matchup with not only two of the best quarterbacks, but also with some of the best offensive players. Both running backs, James Cook for the Bills and Isaiah Poccheco for the Chiefs, have had impressive seasons.

Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce has proven to be one of the top tight ends in the NFL, and both Bills tight ends, Dalton Kincaid and Dawson Knox, scored in the wild card win over the Steelers, so they, along with wide receivers Stefon Diggs and Nate Davis, could prove to be a strong passing game for Buffalo.

The game between the Bills and Chiefs is set to kick off at 6:30 p.m. ET on Sunday. The game will be broadcasted by CBS.