When an NFL matchup pits the Kansas City Chiefs against the Buffalo Bills, it goes without saying that the football community anticipates a playoff environment. In Week 14, that was precisely the situation at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium, as Andy Reid’s squad welcomed a Bills squad coming off bye week for a battle between two teams desperate for victories.
The host team experienced an initial lackluster start as the visitors quickly established some momentum. The score remained split at 17 all heading into the fourth quarter, establishing the stage for an additional memorable final frame that favored both teams. After the Bills’ late field goal, the Chiefs were presented with an opportunity to close the gap or seize the lead with a drive down the field. Nevertheless, Kansas City was unable to secure the victory, limping in with a final score of 20-17.
Four insight-gaining points emerged from the contest on Sunday.
Another week begins with another double-digit deficit.
In previous seasons, a Chiefs deficit of 10 points or more did not warrant significant concern. Despite having a weaker defense than the previous season, the offense demonstrated remarkable resilience in the face of nearly every obstacle it encountered. Scoring is difficult this year, however, due to a combination of subpar personnel and an abundance of self-inflicted errors. When down a significant amount of points, Patrick Mahomes and company are under considerable pressure to perform at a high level, which at times this season has not been the case. Observe these deficits as conspicuous developments that have occurred thus far in the year.
Once more, Kansas City got off to a sluggish start by wasting its first four drives, which included a turnover and three consecutive punts. This enabled Buffalo to establish a 14-0 lead, which was subsequently eroded by the conclusion of the initial half. Although the Chiefs responded well by preventing the Bills from cruising through the first half, adversing themselves to such a significant deficit is not a recipe for success that should be replicated. (Yes, notwithstanding Patrick Mahomes’ winning streak in those particular situations.) Reid’s squad must commence its performance with increased immediacy and a reduced number of errors in order to achieve greater consistency.
Regarding errors, there were an abundance of them.
The aforementioned initial four offensive possessions hindered the Chiefs’ ability to establish a solid foundation in the first half. They were generated through the following: a tipped-ball interception, a late-down takedown, consecutive false starts and route-related errors at wide receiver, and a dropped pass. Rashee Rice, a freshman wide receiver, fumbled the ball near midfield in the third quarter, relinquishing possession to the Bills. A touchdown by Kadarius Toney on the final offensive possession of the contest was nullified due to his improper alignment prior to the snap.
Errors were not limited to the offensive domain. James Cook scored Buffalo’s first touchdown of the afternoon after Kansas City was caught off guard by a late-play motion, which occurred precisely up the seam between linebacker Nick Bolton and safety Mike Edwards. No one backed linebacker Willie Gay Jr. on their third drive after he pressured Cook near the line of scrimmage and the quarterback gained 27 yards through the air. A late-quarter illegal contact flag was assessed against cornerback Jaylen Watson as a second infraction. While it is impossible for a team to perform flawlessly, a considerable number of plays on Sunday added to the difficulty for the losing club.
The Chiefs currently find themselves below 100% in several aspects.
The Chiefs had ruled out four players with injuries heading into Week 14: offensive tackle Donovan Smith, running back Isiah Pacheco, safety Bryan Cook (reserve), and linebacker Drue Tranquill. On Sunday, safety Justin Reid was sidelined with two separate injuries, and several others sustained nicks during the contest. Late in the season, Kansas City is not performing particularly well in terms of physical health.
This span of play must also be emotionally taxing for the team. This degree of incompetence and difficulty is not representative of a team managed by Reid, much less one that is quarterbacked by Mahomes. The Chiefs have expressed in recent days and weeks the importance of perseverance and teamwork, both of which are progressively more difficult. In essence, in order to genuinely contend for the playoffs, this group must engage in introspection.
An evaluation of the game’s influence on the AFC playoff landscape
As the Week 13 match against the Green Bay Packers approached, the prevailing discourse centered on the potential for the Chiefs to regain the conference playoff lead with a victory. After that setback, the emphasis transitioned to simply remaining competitive for the one-seed. Conversely, in order to (practically) maintain postseason aspirations, Buffalo urgently required a victory in Week 14. This is precisely what Sean McDermott’s squad obtained, which consequently placed Kansas City in a precarious position.
Since beginning the season with a 6-1 record, the Chiefs have lost four of their last six games following the defeat. Furthermore, with their victory over the Los Angeles Chargers, the Denver Broncos are now one game away from tying for the AFC West lead. In addition to confronting the formidable challenge of securing the one-seed, the Chiefs are presently obligated to attend to matters within their own division. Mahomes and company have been confronted with a set of circumstances that few anticipated after more than a month of play.