The Buffalo Bills looked like a very good football team the last time they visited Arrowhead Stadium. While a lot has changed for both teams since the last meeting between Buffalo and the Kansas City Chiefs, the Bills showed they are still a very good team with a jaw-dropping performance against the New England Patriots in the Wild Card round.
As the Chiefs gear up to host the Bills again, they’re hoping for different results this time around than the lopsided defeat they suffered in October. For the Chiefs, they can hope to leave those results behind as part of their early season woes. However, the Bills are looking sharp these days, beyond just the Patriots game, and have good reasons to carry that confidence back into K.C. once again.
In order to get a better read on the kind of competition we should expect on Sunday evening in the Divisional Round, we spoke with our friend Brandon Croce, site expert over at Buffalowdown, to tell us more about the state of the Bills these days and how things have changed since the last meeting.
The Bills looked unbelievable in the opening round. How much of that is their ability to play on another level and how much was it Patriot-specific?
Something changed for the Bills at halftime against the Bucs in Week 14. In the first half they were getting blown out but came back to force overtime (a game they ultimately lost). However, after that game, they have gone on a five-game win streak and looked much more consistent during that stretch on both sides of the ball. The performance on Saturday night was a culmination of that consistency, and while I think it helped to play the Patriots three times over the past seven weeks, this is usually an advantage that Bill Belichick is able to capitalize on. I think they are finally playing at the level many thought they could at the start of the year.
What’s different for the Bills offense since the last time the Chiefs saw them?
It is easily the run game, and particularly Devin Singletary. The Bills had been utilizing a running back by committee for most of the season by splitting time between Singletary and Zack Moss. However, over the past six games Devin Singletary has played 75% or more of the offensive snaps in five of those games (he only had 75% or more offensive snaps in one of the first 12 games). The increase in playing time has also meant more production as he now has seven rushing touchdowns in the past five games. The Bills offense finally has more of a run/pass balance which opposing defenses haven’t been able to slow down.
What about the defense?
The biggest change on the defense is in the secondary and the absence of Tre’Davious White. The Bills lost the former All-Pro corner on Thanksgiving night to a season-ending knee injury. He plays such a big role on this defense as he regularly aligns across from the opposing team’s best receiver. While Levi Wallace and Dane Jackson have done a good job, they really haven’t been tested. The Bucs was definitely their biggest challenge but with games against the Panthers, Jets, Falcons, and two against the Patriots, there isn’t that top receiver like Tyreek Hill. It is going to be interesting to see how Leslie Frazier creates his game plan to try and protect the inexperience on the outside at cornerback.
What is the confidence factor for Buffalo at this point given their regular season win over the Chiefs and their performance in the Wild Card round?
The Kansas City Chiefs are the top team in the AFC, and they own that honor with two straight trips to the Super Bowl. It was good to see Buffalo get that win against Kansas City earlier in the season but I think everyone knows there is a big difference between a regular season win and a playoff win. The Chiefs also are playing much better than they were the last time these two teams met. The Buffalo Bills should feel good about where the team is and how they are playing but I don’t think it is going to mean over-confidence or they are going to come into Arrowhead Stadium and get an easy win.
Any final predictions?
I think this game is shaping up to be an instant classic with Patrick Mahomes and Josh Allen playing some of their best football. Both teams are coming off blowout wins and I think is one game that is going to come down to one of the final possessions.