The Bills and Chiefs’ rivalry has evolved across both regular-season and postseason matchups, with a critical Week 11 showdown ahead. Kansas City enters Buffalo with an undefeated 9-0 record and back-to-back Super Bowl titles, while the Bills lead the AFC East at 8-2, riding a five-game win streak.
Kansas City has had a lot of close victories this season, with six of their nine wins coming by one score (seven points or less), and three of those by five points or fewer. Unlike in previous years when they often dominated opponents, Andy Reid’s team is now excelling in tight games—traits that define some of the NFL’s most successful teams. But with Kansas City regularly engaged in close contests, the 2024 squad looks different from their Super Bowl-winning predecessors. How will Buffalo approach this clash with the undefeated Chiefs?
Regular-Season Rivalry
The Bills and Chiefs have faced off annually since 2020. In their first meeting, the Chiefs, fresh off their first Super Bowl win under Reid, defeated the Bills 26-17 in Orchard Park. The subsequent regular-season matchups have gone as follows:
– **2020**: Kansas City 26, Buffalo 17 (Buffalo)
– **2021**: Buffalo 38, Kansas City 20 (Kansas City)
– **2022**: Buffalo 24, Kansas City 20 (Kansas City)
– **2023**: Buffalo 20, Kansas City 17 (Kansas City)
These games have been competitive, often coming down to the final moments, showcasing that the Bills are capable of defeating the Chiefs, even in Kansas City. The intense familiarity between the two teams contributes to the closeness of these matchups.
Postseason Challenges
Despite the Bills’ regular-season success, the Chiefs have been dominant in the playoffs. Kansas City has reached four of the last five Super Bowls, which underscores their postseason strength. The playoff results between the teams are:
– **2020**: Kansas City 38, Buffalo 24 (Kansas City)
– **2021**: Kansas City 42, Buffalo 36 (Kansas City)
– **2023**: Kansas City 27, Buffalo 24 (Buffalo)
Andy Reid’s experience leading successful playoff teams in both Philadelphia and Kansas City, along with the arrival of Patrick Mahomes, has given the Chiefs an edge in postseason encounters. Meanwhile, Sean McDermott and Josh Allen, though strong, are still seeking the breakthrough needed to overcome the Chiefs in the postseason. Allen’s future potential as an elite QB could parallel that of Steve Young, who succeeded Joe Montana, but he has yet to slay the postseason dragon that the Chiefs represent.
Lessons from Past Meetings
Outside of three games, every other meeting between the Bills and Chiefs has been decided by a single score. The close nature of these games, coupled with the Chiefs’ tendency to play down to their competition, means that Week 11 will likely be another tightly contested battle. Kansas City has won by slim margins against teams like the Saints and Raiders, and despite a less explosive offense, they’ve found ways to win games efficiently. Their defense allows just 17.9 points per game, while the Bills have an explosive offense averaging 29 points per game.
Kansas City’s offense is more methodical than in past years, with the Chiefs leading the league in time of possession at 33:22, focusing on controlling the clock. Buffalo will need to minimize mistakes and create opportunities to force Kansas City into errors if they hope to win.
Patrick Mahomes’ Shifting Role
Mahomes’ stats this season show a decline in his usual gaudy numbers, with just 12 touchdowns and nine interceptions. This suggests the Chiefs no longer rely on Mahomes to carry them with high-volume performances week after week. Instead, Mahomes has been trusted to make critical plays when needed, particularly in big moments. He’s consistently stepped up in past encounters with Buffalo, making decisive plays when the game is on the line.
Both teams have faced injuries to key players—Buffalo has been without linebacker Matt Milano all season, and they’ll also miss rookie receiver Keon Coleman and tight end Dalton Kincaid. Kansas City will be without kicker Harrison Butker for this matchup. Despite these challenges, the Bills’ best chance of success in this rivalry will come from adjusting their game plan, learning from previous mistakes, and taking advantage of a Chiefs team that is evolving into something new.
Conclusion
This upcoming game will likely be another close contest in the ongoing rivalry between Buffalo and Kansas City. While the Bills have a solid track record in the regular season, their inability to overcome the Chiefs in the postseason is a significant hurdle. However, with a few adjustments and lessons from their past meetings, Buffalo could potentially secure a statement victory. What happens in the postseason, should the teams meet again, will be an entirely different story—history has shown that regular-season outcomes rarely determine playoff success.
