NFL Divisional Playoff Round Preview - AFC - Buffalo Bills AT Kansas City Chiefs
I am a fan of an AFC team, so I am undoubtedly and with zero shame, biased at times when it comes to these AFC teams. But for a few moments I will attempt to be not quite so biased, because of all the Divisional Playoff games this weekend, this game between the Buffalo Bills and Kansas City Chiefs probably has the highest chance to be insane!
This Divisional Playoff game features, arguably, two of the NFL's top five quarterbacks in Patrick Mahomes and Josh Allen. These two men are young and pretty much entering the prime now, so many people expect these two quarterbacks and franchises to see a lot of each other over the next ten years or so. People have already started wondering if this mini Mahomes-Allen rivalry could grow and become the next big QB/Team rivalry, similar to the old Brady-Manning rivalry that pretty much lasted from like 2000 to 2015.
NFL fans know how lethal these quarterbacks can be and everyone watching this game will probably be expecting a shootout filled with big, explosive, offensive plays. People will be expecting a lot of points and frankly, people will probably expect a nail biter in the end.
These teams played earlier this season and the Bills were indeed victorious, but I have no idea how this one may turn out.
Despite the media gushing over Josh Allen and the Bills, I have a lot more questions about the Bills than I do the Chiefs. The Bills were somewhat inconsistent in 2021-22. The Bills did have a really nice win against the Patriots in the Wild Card round, but that was a division rival, so I just feel like the Bills knew the Patriots super well, and made an awesome gameplan to smash them. Also, the Patriots were starting to really suck towards the end of the regular season, and the Pats had a rookie QB. Allen dominated that game, this is true, but I just don't really agree that people should put to much stock into that game.
The Chiefs actually arguably had a more suspect blowout win over a poor playoff team that probably shouldn't have been there in the Steelers. This Chiefs team also had it's fair share of inconsistencies throughout their season. But Mahomes and company are absolutely battle tested and have proven to be a serious problem in the playoffs in recent years. These guys have been in Super Bowls man. The Bills do not have that same type of history.
Although, the Bills do have better defense.... Hmmmm...
Let's look at these numbers. Surely, these will be fun to compare!
Quarterback Comparison
| Josh Allen - BILLS Quarterback | Regular Season Stat Category | Patrick Mahomes - CHIEFS Quarterback |
|---|---|---|
| 4,407 | Passing Yards | 4,839 |
| 36 | Passing Touchdowns | 37 |
| 15 | Interceptions | 13 |
| 92.2 | QB Rating | 98.5 |
| 63.3 | Completion % | 66.3 |
| 763 | Rushing Yards | 381 |
| 6 | Rushing Touchdowns | 2 |
Man oh man! These quarterbacks can do it all. These guys just put up NUMBERS and chew up YARDAGE. Allen is more versatile, but Mahomes has some solid mobility too.
Where Mahomes probably is not as mobile, I believe Mahomes has slightly better arm strength than Allen. I imagine some might disagree with that statement but keep in mind, defenses nowadays play Mahomes and company super deep to prevent those deep shots. Mahomes abused and traumatized defenses so much earlier in his career that teams just refuse to be burnt deep anymore. That's why there are less highlights of Mahomes just throwing bombs in 2021-22.
Now, if Mahomes has the strongest arm in the league, Allen is absolutely a close second. When Allen is on point, rushing the ball and throwing darts, just in a rhythm overall, Allen could be better than Mahomes at times.
This game will just be a TREAT to watch with these two leading the way.
Running Back Comparison
| Devin Singletary - BILLS Running Back | Regular Season Stat Category | Darrel Williams - CHIEFS Running Back |
|---|---|---|
| 870 | Rushing Yards | 558 |
| 7 | Rushing Touchdowns | 6 |
| 4.6 | Yards Per Carry | 3.9 |
| 1,098 | Yards From Scrimmage | 1,010 |
| 8 | Total Touchdowns | 8 |
| 17 | Games Played | 17 |
I mean, these teams are pretty allergic to running the ball. These teams want to PASS and PASS and PASS. I mean it's not that simple but then again, it kind of is.
They will run the ball to keep the defense guessing a little, but when you have QBs with rockets for arms, they just tend to throw it all over.
As far as the Bills are concerned, they have a running back built into their QB.
Top Receiving Target Comparison
| WR Stefon Diggs - BILLS Top Receiving Target | Regular Season Stat Category | Tyreek Hill - CHIEFS Top Receiver |
|---|---|---|
| 103 | Receptions | 111 |
| 1,225 | Receiving Yards | 1,239 |
| 10 | Touchdown Receptions | 9 |
| 11.9 | Yards Per Reception | 11.2 |
As good as these young quarterbacks are, they also have filthy wide receivers to help them succeed of course.
Diggs and Hill are top five receivers in the NFL, just as their quarterbacks are top five at their position.
Hill is more of a speed demon freak of nature, while Diggs is bigger and more of a traditional wideout, but still extremely lethal. Both defenses better strap up and have those legs rested.
So, the Chiefs I believe, have the slightly better QB and they are at home. The Chiefs have a great post-season record in the Mahomes era.
The Bills have a SUPER good QB, extremely close to Mahomes in skill, and the Bills have the better defense. Right now I would also say that the Bills as an offensive unit, overall, is running a tad smoother.
Ugh, I don't know who to pick!!!!! This game truly feels 50/50.
But screw it I will choose the Chiefs in this one! I think Mahomes and company will be clutch in front of their home crowd.
Who ya got?!!! This game could seriously go either way, the Playoffs feel like they are actually here for real now!!
