Chiefs-Bills 5 questions with the enemy: Has Buffalo struggled against good teams?

We welcome Buffalo Rumblings for answers to five questions about the Bills before Sunday’s Week 11 matchup

On Sunday, the Kansas City Chiefs face the Buffalo Bills. We welcome Matt Byham of Buffalo Rumblings — our sister SB Nation site covering the Bills — for Five Questions with the Enemy.

1) The Bills are having an excellent season, but the losses to Baltimore and Houston stand out. What is a reasonable response to the “not beating quality teams” narrative?

It’s really difficult to win in the NFL, where the best of the best are scattered among 32 teams. I see a moderate amount of concern in the Bills losing to Baltimore and Houston, but it’s more about how they lost than because they lost. Plenty are quick to say Buffalo was shell-shocked after Henry demolished the field on Baltimore’s first offensive play. Teams don’t lose because the first play went poorly, and it’s a narrative I believe fans use to cope. They were within 11 points and driving well into the third quarter — but coaching got too cute and disaster struck. That’s the type of momentum swing that can devastate any team.

I could go on for thousands of words why I believe the Bills should have played for OT against the Houston Texans (but playing to tie against the Chiefs during last season’s playoffs was a fatal plan), but in reality, no outcome is guaranteed. I just preferred Buffalo’s chances to regroup and put together a resourceful drive in better circumstances against Houston in overtime.

Fortunately, the Ravens and Texans are in playoff-seeding rearview mirror for the time being. Could Buffalo see either/both teams in the postseason? Certainly — but I expect the Bills will have a response to what failed them in both regular-season losses. Sometimes losing to your opponent before the playoffs begin proves most beneficial, as Chiefs Kingdom can attest. How Buffalo responds to those tells of Baltimore and Houston could define their most important matchups.

2) How do you expect the Bills to reshuffle their offense while likely playing without multiple key pieces?

First and foremost, the Bills’ passing game runs through slot receiver Khalil Shakir, who can do everything well. He’s not just an inside receiver between the sticks. It’s fair to say he resembles the likes of Wes Welker, and Cole Beasley — even a bit of Hines Ward — while proving to be a nightmare to tackle with the ball in his hands. He also catches almost everything thrown his way (48 receptions on 54 targets in 2024; 97 catches on 117 targets in his career).

I guess the good news is that the Bills aren’t suddenly trying to figure out how to replace Stefon Diggs and Gabe Davis. Actually, they’ve been working on doing just that since Week 1.

Playing without rookie wide receiver Keon Coleman stings because he was really beginning to cook — but all...