Buffalo Bills fall to Chiefs, but the Sky Isn’t Falling Down
The Buffalo Bills are a good team. They simply failed to beat a great one on Monday afternoon. Or was it night?
Either way, falling 26-15 to the defending-champion Kansas City Chiefs is nothing to be ashamed of. It stings, considering for the second time in six days, Buffalo fell in emphatic fashion in the harsh glare of primetime.
Still, the Bills are 4-2 and leading the AFC East by one game over the Miami Dolphins (who they beat Week 2 at Hard Rock Stadium) and 1.5 games over the New England Patriots. Additionally, while losses to the Tennessee Titans and Chiefs call into question just how good the Bills are, a reality check is in order.
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Buffalo is arguably the fourth-best team in the conference. This is behind the Pittsburgh Steelers, Baltimore Ravens and Chiefs in any order. Despite Tennessee’s 42-16 win over Buffalo, not one win does a season make. Either of them could be argued as the biggest challenger to the top three.
Additionally, the Bills are in good position. The AFC East is a weak division with three teams and the New York Jets. Buffalo, looking at the remaining 10 games on the schedule, should be able to find another six wins. Do that, and the division is almost certainly in the Bills hands, setting up their first postseason home game since 1995.
Despite what you’ll likely hear on talk radio and certainly in national media come Tuesday, the biggest concern isn’t Josh Allen after a few middling games. Allen, who played at an MVP level through September, will continue to be a quality quarterback. Currently, the main issue is the defense.
After getting touched up for 42 points in Nashville on Tuesday night, Buffalo tried a cautious approach against the Chiefs. Almost every down, the Bills backed off, dropping seven in soft zones, begging the Chiefs to run and throw short.
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Patrick Mahomes and Kansas City happily obliged. The Chiefs ran for 245 yards and threw for 225, holding the ball for more than 37 minutes while converting 9-of-14 third-down attempts. Clyde Edwards-Helaire destroyed Buffalo on the ground, churning out 161 yards.
This Sunday, the Buffalo Bills draw the winless Jets at MetLife Stadium. Get the much-needed victory and Buffalo is 5-2 approaching the midway point.
Yes, the last two weeks are disappointing, yes the Bills need the defense to respond. Yes, even Allen needs to be a bit better. But no, the world isn’t ending for a Buffalo team that has made the playoffs two of the past three seasons.
By year’s end, it’ll be three of four.
