A matchup between two AFC contenders goes down in Week 11 when the defending champion Kansas City Chiefs (9-0) travel to Orchard Park to take on the Buffalo Bills (8-2). Two of the league’s best quarterbacks meet up again in what has become one of the more compelling rivalries in the NFL. The undefeated Chiefs look to extend a winning streak that dates back to December of 2023. Another victory would make it 16 in a row. The Bills are in complete control of their division, but have the No. 1 seed in the AFC in their sights. Who will come out on top? Let’s break it down.
The Chiefs enter the game with a spotless 9-0 record. They’ve been impressive in clutch situations over the last two weeks to preserve their streak. In Week 9, Kansas City was challenged by a scrappy Tampa Bay Buccaneers team. Baker Mayfield was able to force the game into overtime despite missing his top two wideouts — Mike Evans and Chris Godwin. The Chiefs won the overtime coin toss, and marched downfield for a game-winning touchdown on their first drive.
They were on the ropes again in Week 10 in a divisional matchup with the Denver Broncos. Again, the Chiefs pulled through late in the game. The Broncos were set up for a chip shot field goal to seal the win, but Kansas City’s special teams blocked the 35-yard attempt as time expired. They have a two-game lead on the rest of the conference, and even a Bills win would not surrender their spot atop the AFC.
However, a win would go a long way for a Buffalo team that pundits were wary about heading into the season. Some were questioning if the Bills would fail to win the AFC East for the first time since 2019. The Jets were a trendy pick, and the Dolphins’ explosive offense had some siding with them. 10 games in, and the division is already wrapped up. The Bills have five more wins than every other team in the AFC East. Beating the Chiefs would bring them within one game of the AFC’s top overall seed. And, it would give Buffalo a tie-breaker should the two teams end the season with the same record.
The Bills have won three straight over the Chiefs in the regular season. The last two were decided on the last possession. 2023 saw the Chiefs offense turn the ball over on downs, while 2022 ended with a Patrick Mahomes interception. However, those regular season results haven’t mattered much as the Chiefs have won the last two playoff matchups. Last season, the Bills earned home field advantage over the Chiefs for the playoffs, and still came up short in Buffalo.
Both teams are nursing a whole heap of injuries. Adding to the list is kicker Harrison Butker who was placed on IR and will miss the next several weeks. Their playoff matchup last year was decided by a kick when Buffalo’s Tyler Bass missed a 44-yard attempt that would have tied the game late. Buffalo’s receiving corps will take a hit as WR Keon Coleman and TE Dalton Kincaid will miss this one. Trade deadline acquisition Amari Cooper enters with a questionable tag. The Chiefs have had a depleted WR room for most of the year, which has led to some of the offense’s struggles.
The crowd will certainly play a big role in this game. It’s their biggest home game since January’s playoff matchup. Bills QB Josh Allen is coming off his worst game of the season and will want to bounce back in a big way. The Bills would love nothing more than to end Kansas City’s winning streak and catch up to them in the standings.
However, the Chiefs are battle-tested and won’t be shaken by a raucous crowd. They haven’t played up to their standards and are still 9-0. They always seem to play up to their competition. This will be a close matchup throughout, but the Chiefs know what’s at stake. A win here all but guarantees home field advantage throughout the playoffs. Kansas City comes through in the clutch, with rookie kicker Spencer Shrader sinking a game-winner as time expires. Chiefs 24, Bills 21.
