AFC Divisional Round Preview: Buffalo Bills vs. Kansas City Chiefs
The one AFC matchup that NFL fans always look forward to, especially in the playoffs when it happens, is back for a second straight NFL Playoffs.
NFL fans got lucky and actually were able to witness this matchup in the regular season, but the game ended up being a bit of a disappointment, and even a surprise, as Buffalo outlasted Kansas City on the road, 38-20, from Arrowhead Stadium.
But that game was played back in October, and occurred during Kansas City's slight struggle in the first half of the season.
Now, nearly three months later, Andy Reid's squad appears to be back to their normal self, as they finished their season winning nine of its final 10 games to finish 12-5. And because of that, the team gets to face the Bills in a rematch at home in the playoffs.
The two teams are once again highlighted by their young star quarterbacks: Josh Allen and Patrick Mahomes. Mahomes and the Kansas Chiefs currently lead the series against Allen's led Buffalo Bills, 2-1.
Beginning with the away team, the Buffalo Bills, led by fifth year-head coach Sean McDermott, unsurprisingly enjoyed another solid season, and the only time fans casted doubt about them not winning the AFC East for the second straight season was when the New England Patriots went into Buffalo back in Week 13 and defeated them 14-10 on Monday Night Football.
Buffalo's 11-6 record was due to the strong play of 25-year-old quarterback Allen, who enjoyed another stellar season, and its offensive and defensive unit.
Allen completed 63.3% of his passes for 4,407 yards for 36 touchdowns and 15 interceptions. His 36 touchdowns and 4,407 yards were good enough to be seventh and eighth-best in the league, respectively.
But Allen isn't the only threat for the fourth highest-scoring offense in the NFL.
Running back Devin Singletary enjoyed a fine season, in which he produced 870 yards on 188 attempts (4.6 average) and seven touchdowns, while star wideout Stefon Diggs has been the biggest playmaker on this team, garnering 103 receptions for 1,225 receiving yards -- which were good enough for 10th and sixth in the league, respectively.
Diggs finished with 10 touchdowns, which were good enough for the fourth-best in the league, and he averaged 11.9 yards per reception this season.
Wideouts Cole Beasley and Emmanuel Sanders each finished with over 600 receiving yards, and TE Dawson Knox finished with 587 yards and nine touchdowns.
Buffalo's offense -- which is the fourth highest-scoring offense in the league this season -- has been as successful as it's been thanks in large part to offensive coordinator Brian Daboll, who is one of the hottest candidates in the head coaching carousel. He is expected to be hired by a team once the Bills are eliminated from the playoffs.
The 2021 Buffalo Bills defense has been even better than their offense, allowing just 289 points all season, or 17 points per game -- a league-best. Because of that, defensive coordinator Leslie Frazier is a candidate for several teams' vacant head coaching jobs.
Over to the defending back-to-back AFC Champion and Super Bowl LIV Champion, the Kansas City Chiefs. Once 3-4 on the season, Patrick Mahomes and company are back to their normal self.
On the offensive side of the ball, Eric Bieniemy's unit has not been as dominant as recent years, but they still managed to finish as the 10th highest-scoring offense in the league.
Mahomes, who was an integral part of Kansas City's early-season struggles, bounced back quickly, finishing with 4,839 yards, 37 touchdown passes, completing 66.3% of his passes. Overall, he was the fourth-best passer in 2021.
Star wideout Tyreek Hill finished with 1,239 yards and nine touchdowns, while tight end Travis Kelce added 1,125 yards and nine touchdowns of his own.
On defense, the Chiefs haven't been phenomenal by any means, but Steve Spagnuolo's group improved immensely as the season progressed. They averaged 21.4 points per game, which isn't bad considering some teams allowed close to 30 points.
NFL fans have a lot to look forward to in this much-intrigued matchup between two teams led by young star quarterbacks.
The game will be played in Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City on Sunday, Jan. 23 at 6:30 p.m. and it will be streamed live on CBS, as Jim Nantz and fan-favorite Tony Romo will be on the call.
Christian Smith is a fourth-year majoring in broadcast journalism. To contact him, email cfs5591@psu.edu.
