Bills vs Chiefs predictions: Writers are mixed on AFC showdown

The time for prep is over; it is time for some good old-fashioned gridiron action. The Kansas City Chiefs play host to the Buffalo Bills in the latest chapter of an old matchup. The Bills and Chiefs have played each other five times since the 2020 season, with the Chiefs losing two of the three regular-season matchups. Kanas City wins when it matters most, bouncing Buffalo from the playoffs twice in that span.

How will injuries affect this week's game? Which Josh Allen will show up in Arrowhead? Will Kansas City continue their dominance over AFC opponents this season? There are plenty of storylines to follow, but the game will happen soon enough. Just watch and wait for the fireworks.

Here is what our writers are predicting for Week 14 between Kansas City and Buffalo.

Tyler Brown
The Bills showed what they were capable of in Week 12 against the Philadelphia Eagles and came up short. Josh Allen is just as dangerous as ever, and while they are wounded, they are desperate, sitting at 6-6 with five games to go. I do not expect the Chiefs to lay down, and history would tell us Patrick Mahomes does not lose two games in a row very often. With that being said, the recent struggles and injuries to the Kansas City defense will be too much to overcome with the current state of the offense and Buffalo's firepower. The Bills' defense is very bad, so it could be a coming-out party for the Chiefs' offense, but I got the Bills to win.
Bills 27, Chiefs 24

Price Carter
The Chiefs don't lose often, and they rarely lose twice in a row, but this feels like a chance for it to happen. The Bills are a truly desperate team that will need to do anything and everything they can to win. They do several things the Chiefs have struggled with, including running the ball and passing the ball out of heavy formations. The Bills defense isn't very good after some key injuries, but will the Chiefs offense even be able to take advantage of it? This game is going to come down to whether Josh Allen turns the ball over and if the Chiefs can do anything with those turnovers.
Bills 27, Chiefs 20

Matt Conner
The Bills are the team feeling the most desperation here, and I’m not sure these Chiefs are going to turn things around until the linebackers start to heal. Say what you will about Buffalo's season but no one will want to play them (or KC) in the postseason.
Bills 30, Chiefs 21

Greg Florkowski
Sunday, the Bills come to town in a must-win game for both teams. The Bills are fighting for their season, and the Chiefs are trying to get their end-season run started. This game will be close, but the Chiefs will get the train back on the tracks.
Chiefs 24, Buffalo 21

Lyle Graversen
The Chiefs offense has definitely had its fair share of struggles this season, and now they will be without Isiah Pacheco. So why am I predicting KC to put up 30 points in a win this week? Three reasons: the Bills defense has been ravaged by injuries; their coaching has become a distraction lately with firings and unfavorable reports about head coach Sean McDermott; and finally, it feels like we're due for a Patrick Mahomes scorched earth game. Mahomes outduels Josh Allen, and the Chiefs win a close one.
Chiefs 30, Bills 27

Anthony Hatton
While things aren't exactly going right for the Chiefs, they happen to be playing a Bills team that is truly in desperation mode. Kansas City is still striving for first place in their conference, with their playoff ticket pretty much guaranteed. Buffalo, on the other hand, needs a road win just to stay in the playoff hunt. For a team with championship aspirations to be knocked out of postseason play this early, there could be catastrophic changes on the coaching staff and roster. For the sake of fight-or-flight scenarios, Buffalo will have to win a close one on the road.
Bills 21, Chiefs 20

Jacob Milham
Each team's record may be worse than anticipated, but this is a must-win for both Buffalo and Kansas City. The Bills need to win to simply stay in postseason contention, as their playoff chances dip to 7% with a loss this week. Kansas City is skidding right now after a surprising loss in Green Bay. Buffalo is coming off the bye, and they have been undefeated following their bye week since 2015. Couple that with key injuries to Kansas City, this is Buffalo's game to lose on paper. Fans will need to be raucous, and Patrick Mahomes needs some magic to win this week.
Bills 27, Chiefs 26

Charles Robinson
The Chiefs have given us reason to doubt them so far in 2023, without question. If there's one thing about this Chiefs team, though, it's that they have shown up to play in big games. Even in the loss to the Eagles, the Chiefs were the more physical team. It will boil down to the Chiefs playing a clean game. Can that happen? We will see Sunday, but the feeling I'm getting from 1 Arrowhead Drive is that the team is more apt to show up pissed off this week than they are to get pissed off again. Nothing is familiar about Josh Allen bringing out some Mahomes magic to kick off the home stretch of the season.
Chiefs 27, Bills 24

Stacy Smith
The Kansas City Chiefs are in a precarious situation again with the Buffalo Bills coming to town this weekend. Unfortunately, the Chiefs will be without second-year man Isiah Pacheco. This means keeping pace with the Bills will lay squarely on Mahomes' shoulders. A one-dimensional offense is not a recipe for success this week. Offensive struggles will continue.
Bills 27, Chiefs 20

Lucas Strozinsky
This is a matchup of two teams who have not played to their normal standards so far this season. The Bills are coming off their bye and are more desperate, but the Chiefs will pull it out in the end and break Buffalo's hearts one more time.
Chiefs 26, Bills 24

Grant Tuttle
The Chiefs are going to win this game, I hope. But there is a scenario in which the Chiefs drop this one and the entire NFL world freaks out. Gimme a Mahomes throwing it to Rashee Rice 15 times type game.
Chiefs 27, Bills 21