The NFL’s divisional round of the playoffs will come to a mouth-watering close with the Buffalo Bills traveling to the Kansas City Chiefs. Both teams know that winning this game means they will host the AFC Championship game against the Cincinnati Bengals.
After meeting in the AFC Championship game last season, Kansas City ran out 38-24 winners whereas the Bills got their revenge in Week 5 of the regular season with a 38-20 victory. But the Bills want post-season revenge, and head coach Sean McDermott certainly hasn’t forgotten last year.
The Buffalo Bills are through to the divisional round for a second straight season after overcoming the New England Patriots last weekend. The game wasn’t even competitive as the Bills took control right from the word go.
The Bills looked nigh unstoppable in the 47-17 victory. Predominantly, it was an offensive delight with Allen passing for five touchdowns and rushing for a score. However, the momentum-changing moment that set the tone for the rest of the game came with Micah Hyde’s endzone interception in the first quarter. It seemed to rattle rookie quarterback Mac Jones because he wasn’t the same from that point onwards, and the Patriots crumbled like a deck of cards.
In winning, the Bills appear to have silenced their critics after an inconsistent season that saw Allen alternative between MVP caliber play and Mr. Butterfingers. And how they won seems to be giving many NFL bettors the belief that, this time, things will be different between the Bills and the Chiefs in the playoffs.
The Kansas City Chiefs are coming off a comprehensive 42-21 win over the Pittsburgh Steelers, an outcome that was never really in doubt as the Chiefs closed as the double-digit favorites on the NFL odds board.
The Chiefs offense, which was MIA for the better part of the season, erupted into an offensive delight. Mahomes had one of his best passing performances of the season as he tossed for over 400 yards, five touchdowns, and one interception. Travis Kelce hurled the sixth touchdown to cap the Chiefs’ stellar offensive account. Running back Jerick McKinnon, covering for Clyde Edwards-Helaire, finished with 61 rushing yards, 81 receiving yards, and a touchdown.
In winning, the Chiefs delivered on expectations. While the manner of victory is seen as a source of encouragement and a sign that the Chiefs have found their mojo again. The Chiefs are at home and hold a slight edge in the odds, but this could be considered a pick’em game on a neutral field. The Bills don’t have any mental barriers to beating the Chiefs, as they did so in Week 5, but they also beat a team that had yet to find their groove. The Chiefs found ways to win games even when their offense was sputtering and now their defense has improved in a big way in the second half of the season. Add that to their offense improving as well, and I expect the Chiefs to win by at least a field goal at home.
Prediction: Chiefs ML