As the Buffalo Bills prepare to revisit Arrowhead Stadium to face the Kansas City Chiefs, the NFL world is once again set to witness a high-profile clash. In recent years, matchups between these teams have become synonymous with nail-biting excitement, featuring star quarterbacks Josh Allen of the Bills and Patrick Mahomes of the Chiefs in memorable encounters. This time, however, the circumstances have changed. Buffalo, at a middling 6-6, finds itself outside the playoff picture for the first time since Allen's 2018 rookie season. Conversely, Kansas City, at 8-4, has experienced a rocky path, losing three of its last five games.
Buffalo Bills at Kansas City Chiefs: NFL Regular Season, live updates from Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City.
Josh Allen rush for a loss of 1 yard to the KC47.
Patrick Mahomes incomplete to the right intended for Justin Watson.
Bills timeout.
Chiefs timeout.
Patrick Mahomes incomplete to the left intended for Marquez Valdes-Scantling.
Patrick Mahomes incomplete to the right intended for Jerick McKinnon.
Penalty: Holding (Return) on Chiefs (Kadarius Toney) -5 yards.
Patrick Mahomes incomplete to the left intended for Rashee Rice.
Patrick Mahomes to the right to Rashee Rice for 19 yards to the Buf49.
Patrick Mahomes to the left to Marquez Valdes-Scantling for 7 yards to the KC32.
Tyler Bass kicks off to the KC7. No return.
Tyler Bass 39 yard field goal attempt is GOOD.
Josh Allen to the left to Dalton Kincaid for 1 yard to the KC21.
Josh Allen incomplete to the right intended for Stefon Diggs.
Josh Allen incomplete to the left intended for Stefon Diggs.
Penalty: Illegal on Chiefs (Jaylen Watson) 5 yards.
Josh Allen incomplete to the left intended for Dalton Kincaid.
Ty Johnson rush to the left for no gain to the KC27.
Josh Allen rush to the right for 5 yards to the KC27.
Latavius Murray rush to the right for 1 yard to the KC32.
Ty Johnson rush to the right for 7 yards to the KC33.
Josh Allen to the right to Deonte Harty for 25 yards to the KC40.
James Cook rush to the right for 2 yards to the Buf35.
James Cook rush to the left for 2 yards to the Buf33.
Tommy Townsend punts for 43 yards to Buf23. Deonte Harty return for 7 yards to Buf30.
Patrick Mahomes incomplete to the left intended for Justin Watson.
Patrick Mahomes incomplete to the left intended for Richie James Jr..
Clyde Edwards-Helaire rush to the right for 3 yards to the KC34.
Sam Martin punts for 50 yards to KC31. No return.
Josh Allen sacked at Buf19 for a loss of 11 yards by Charles Omenihu.
Penalty: Holding on Bills (Spencer Brown) -10 yards.
Josh Allen incomplete to the left.
Penalty: Holding on Bills (Dion Dawkins) -10 yards.
Josh Allen to the right to Dalton Kincaid for 3 yards to the Buf50.
Chiefs timeout.
Josh Allen to the left to Latavius Murray for 22 yards to the Buf48. FUMBLE, recovered by Buf.
Josh Allen to the left to Latavius Murray for 24 yards to the Buf50.
Josh Allen incomplete to the middle intended for Gabe Davis.
Josh Allen rush to the middle for 1 yard to the Buf26.
Harrison Butker kicks off to the endzone. Touchback.
Harrison Butker 28 yard field goal attempt is GOOD.
Patrick Mahomes incomplete to the left.
Patrick Mahomes incomplete to the middle intended for Travis Kelce.
Kadarius Toney rush to the right for 2 yards to the Buf10.
Patrick Mahomes to the right to Clyde Edwards-Helaire for 20 yards to the Buf12.
Patrick Mahomes rush to the right for 8 yards to the Buf32.
Clyde Edwards-Helaire rush to the right for 4 yards to the Buf40.
Patrick Mahomes to the left to Rashee Rice for 15 yards to the Buf44.
Sam Martin punts for 40 yards to KC16. Richie James Jr. return for 25 yards to KC41.
Josh Allen sacked at Buf44 for a loss of 8 yards by Trent McDuffie and Mike Danna.
Josh Allen incomplete to the left intended for Dalton Kincaid.
Josh Allen incomplete to the right intended for Stefon Diggs.
Patrick Mahomes to the right to Rashee Rice for 7 yards to the KC49. FUMBLE, recovered by Buf (Taron Johnson).
Patrick Mahomes incomplete to the middle intended for Skyy Moore.
Patrick Mahomes to the left to Jerick McKinnon for 8 yards to the KC42.
Patrick Mahomes incomplete to the middle intended for Travis Kelce.
Patrick Mahomes incomplete to the left intended for Clyde Edwards-Helaire.
Sam Martin punts for 61 yards to KC6. Richie James Jr. return for 20 yards to KC26.
Josh Allen incomplete to the left intended for Stefon Diggs.
James Cook rush to the left for 4 yards to the Buf33.
Josh Allen to the left to Ty Johnson for 3 yards to the Buf29.
Harrison Butker kicks off to the Buf3. Ty Johnson return for 23 yards to Buf26.
Harrison Butker extra point is GOOD.
Patrick Mahomes to the middle to Rashee Rice for 4 yards for a TOUCHDOWN.
Patrick Mahomes to the left to Rashee Rice for 6 yards to the Buf4.
Clyde Edwards-Helaire rush to the right for 1 yard to the Buf10.
Patrick Mahomes to the left to Travis Kelce for 22 yards to the Buf11.
Jerick McKinnon rush to the middle for 7 yards to the Buf33.
Jerick McKinnon rush to the right for 2 yards to the Buf40.
Jerick McKinnon rush to the middle for 7 yards to the Buf33. Tackled by Tyrel Dodson.
Jerick McKinnon rush to the right for 2 yards to the Buf40. Tackled by Taron Johnson.
Clyde Edwards-Helaire rush to the left for 7 yards to the Buf42. Tackled by Terrel Bernard.
Patrick Mahomes to the right to Travis Kelce for 11 yards to the Buf49. Tackled by Jordan Poyer and Taylor Rapp.
Clyde Edwards-Helaire rush to the left for 7 yards to the Buf42.
Patrick Mahomes to the right to Travis Kelce for 11 yards to the Buf49.
Patrick Mahomes to the right to Marquez Valdes-Scantling for 15 yards to the KC20.
Tyler Bass kicks off to the KC5. No return.
Tyler Bass 31 yard field goal attempt is GOOD.
Josh Allen rush to the middle for 1 yard to the KC13.
Penalty: Holding (Return) on Chiefs (Chris Jones) 5 yards.
Josh Allen to the left to Ty Johnson for a loss of 1 yard to the KC19.
Josh Allen to the right to Stefon Diggs for 8 yards to the KC18.
Penalty: Holding on Bills (Dawson Knox) -10 yards.
Josh Allen to the right to Khalil Shakir for 12 yards to the KC16.
James Cook rush to the left for 6 yards to the KC28.
James Cook rush to the left for 15 yards to the KC34.
James Cook rush to the left for 3 yards to the KC49.
James Cook rush to the right for 11 yards to the Buf48.
Josh Allen to the right to Dawson Knox for 12 yards to the Buf37.
Harrison Butker kicks off to the endzone. Touchback.
Josh Allen incomplete to the right.
Josh Allen incomplete to the left intended for Khalil Shakir.
Josh Allen incomplete .
Josh Allen rush to the left for 4 yards to the KC44.
Josh Allen incomplete to the left intended for Gabe Davis.
Josh Allen to the right to Stefon Diggs for 10 yards to the KC47.
Josh Allen to the right to Dawson Knox for 13 yards to the Buf43.
Josh Allen incomplete to the right intended for Stefon Diggs.
Josh Allen to the right to Dalton Kincaid for 5 yards to the Buf30.
Harrison Butker kicks off to the endzone. Touchback.
Harrison Butker extra point is GOOD.
Jerick McKinnon rush to the left for 7 yards for a TOUCHDOWN.
Patrick Mahomes to the right to Jerick McKinnon for 6 yards to the Buf7.
Patrick Mahomes incomplete to the middle intended for Rashee Rice.
Patrick Mahomes to the left to Richie James Jr. for 4 yards to the Buf13.
Bills timeout.
Patrick Mahomes to the right to Kadarius Toney for 6 yards to the Buf18.
Bills timeout.
Patrick Mahomes to the left to Rashee Rice for 17 yards to the Buf24.
Penalty: False Start on Chiefs (Jawaan Taylor) -5 yards.
Penalty: Holding on Chiefs (Creed Humphrey) -10 yards.
Patrick Mahomes to the middle to Travis Kelce for 12 yards to the Buf26.
Patrick Mahomes to the left to Kadarius Toney for 9 yards to the Buf38.
Patrick Mahomes to the right to Rashee Rice for 5 yards to the Buf47.
Josh Allen intended for Trent Sherfield INTERCEPTED by Chamarri Conner and returned for 4 yards.
Josh Allen to the left to James Cook for 11 yards to the Buf43.
Bills timeout.
Josh Allen sacked at Buf32 for a loss of 5 yards by George Karlaftis and Chris Jones.
Josh Allen to the left to Trent Sherfield for 9 yards to the Buf37.
Josh Allen to the right to James Cook for 8 yards to the Buf28.
Latavius Murray rush to the left for 4 yards to the Buf20.
Josh Allen to the right to Dalton Kincaid for 8 yards to the Buf16.
Ty Johnson rush to the left for 1 yard to the Buf8.
Tommy Townsend punts for 32 yards to Buf7. No return.
Patrick Mahomes incomplete to the left intended for Marquez Valdes-Scantling.
Patrick Mahomes incomplete to the left intended for Kadarius Toney.
Clyde Edwards-Helaire rush to the right for a loss of 2 yards to the Buf39.
Patrick Mahomes to the right to Justin Watson for 18 yards to the Buf37.
Patrick Mahomes to the left to Travis Kelce for 23 yards to the KC45.
Patrick Mahomes incomplete to the middle intended for Richie James Jr..
Penalty: Interference on Chiefs (Travis Kelce) -10 yards.
Clyde Edwards-Helaire rush to the left for 2 yards to the KC32.
Clyde Edwards-Helaire rush to the left for no gain to the KC25. Penalty: Holding on Bills (Linval Joseph) 5 yards.
Tyler Bass kicks off to the KC6. No return.
Tyler Bass extra point is GOOD.
Josh Allen rush to the right for 6 yards for a TOUCHDOWN.
Latavius Murray rush to the right for 4 yards to the KC6.
Josh Allen to the right to Dalton Kincaid for 4 yards to the KC10.
Josh Allen rush to the left for 5 yards to the KC14.
Josh Allen incomplete to the right intended for Dalton Kincaid.
Josh Allen to the right to Stefon Diggs for 4 yards to the KC19.
Josh Allen to the left to James Cook for 27 yards to the KC23.
Chiefs timeout.
Josh Allen incomplete to the right.
Ty Johnson rush to the left for 6 yards to the Buf50.
Ty Johnson rush to the right for 5 yards to the Buf44.
James Cook rush to the right for 12 yards to the Buf39.
Josh Allen incomplete to the left intended for Stefon Diggs.
Tommy Townsend punts for 46 yards to Buf27. No return.
Patrick Mahomes to the right to Jerick McKinnon for 4 yards to the KC27.
Penalty: False Start on Chiefs (Marquez Valdes-Scantling) -5 yards.
Patrick Mahomes incomplete to the right intended for Rashee Rice.
Clyde Edwards-Helaire rush to the right for 3 yards to the KC13.
Tyler Bass kicks off to the KC10. No return.
Tyler Bass extra point is GOOD.
Josh Allen to the left to James Cook for 25 yards for a TOUCHDOWN.
James Cook rush to the right for 2 yards to the KC25.
Josh Allen to the right to Trent Sherfield for 3 yards to the KC27.
Josh Allen rush to the left for 8 yards to the KC30.
Josh Allen to the right to Dawson Knox for 11 yards to the KC38.
Josh Allen rush to the right for 4 yards to the KC49.
Tommy Townsend punts for 39 yards to Buf38. Deonte Harty return for 9 yards to Buf47.
Patrick Mahomes sacked at KC23 for a loss of 7 yards by Greg Rousseau and Ed Oliver.
Patrick Mahomes incomplete to the left intended for Jerick McKinnon.
Jerick McKinnon rush to the right for 3 yards to the KC30.
Clyde Edwards-Helaire rush to the left for 11 yards to the KC32.
Patrick Mahomes to the left to Clyde Edwards-Helaire for 9 yards to the KC22.
Sam Martin punts for 32 yards to KC8. Richie James Jr. return for 5 yards to KC13.
Josh Allen incomplete to the left.
Josh Allen incomplete to the right intended for Stefon Diggs.
James Cook rush to the right for 1 yard to the KC40.
Josh Allen to the right to James Cook for 12 yards to the KC41.
Patrick Mahomes intended for Clyde Edwards-Helaire INTERCEPTED by A.J. Epenesa and returned for 7 yards.
Clyde Edwards-Helaire rush to the left for 5 yards to the Buf30.
Kadarius Toney rush to the right for 14 yards to the Buf35.
Patrick Mahomes incomplete to the right intended for Travis Kelce.
Clyde Edwards-Helaire rush to the right for 5 yards to the Buf49.
Patrick Mahomes to the left to Kadarius Toney for 9 yards to the KC46.
Patrick Mahomes to the right to Travis Kelce for 7 yards to the KC37.
Clyde Edwards-Helaire rush to the right for 5 yards to the KC22.
Tyler Bass kicks off to the KC17. No return.
Bills players were caught starstruck with the arrival of Taylor Swift...
Another chapter of the Bills-Chiefs rivalry is about to unfold!
Taylor Swift has arrived at Arrowhead!
Mahomes is getting warm on a sunny day in Arrowhead!
These two are set to add another chapter in this AFC rivalry!
Travis Kelce looking to find his form tonight...
Arrowhead looks ready to go for this massive AFC rivalry game!
The Bills' current situation can be attributed to their struggle in close games, with each loss this season being by a margin of six points or less. This pattern of narrow defeats has placed them in a precarious position as they face a challenging schedule ahead, including games against Dallas and Miami. Center Mitch Morse sums up the team's mindset, emphasizing the need for a playoff mentality to reach their goals.
Kansas City, on the other hand, is grappling with its own challenges. Their recent 27-19 loss to Green Bay has jeopardized their chances for the top seed in the AFC and the crucial first-round bye in the playoffs. Mahomes, drawing from his past experience of overcoming mid-season hurdles to win the Super Bowl, remains confident in the team's ability to turn things around.
Both teams are dealing with significant injuries. The Chiefs may be missing key players like linebacker Drue Tranquill and left tackle Donovan Smith, while the Bills hope for the return of tight end Dalton Knox and cornerback Kaiir Elam from injuries. Additionally, Bills rusher Von Miller's participation is clouded by recent allegations of domestic violence, adding another layer of complexity to the matchup.
Quarterback performance will be crucial. Both Allen and Mahomes have been plagued by turnovers this season, a trend they'll need to reverse in this high-stakes game. Coaching strategies will also play a vital role. The Bills, under new offensive coordinator Joe Brady, have shown a shift in their offensive approach, something the Chiefs' coach Andy Reid acknowledges while preparing for both new and familiar elements in Buffalo's game plan.
As these two NFL titans clash, the outcome will not only impact their standings but also set the tone for their respective paths towards the playoffs. With both teams recognizing the urgency of the situation, this encounter promises to be another memorable chapter in the Bills-Chiefs rivalry.
Josh Allen rush for a loss of 1 yard to the KC48.