Arrowhead Pride
Let’s see what AP staffers (and readers) think about Sunday’s game between Kansas City and Buffalo.
Before the Kansas City Chiefs’ Week 10 game against the Denver Broncos, our panel of Arrowhead Pride contributors all picked Kansas City to win, combined to predict a 26-15 victory. Compared to the 16-14 final, the prognostication carried 20 points of error: it missed the point spread by nine, the Chiefs’ score by 10 and the Broncos’ score by one. Just a quarter of our staffers expected a close Kansas City win, compared to nearly half of our readers.
In Week 11, the Chiefs face the Buffalo Bills at Highmark Stadium in Orchard Park, New York. According to FanDuel Sportsbook, Buffalo is favored by 2.5 points.
Let’s see what the staff — and our readers — think about the matchup.
If you asked me to predict the Chiefs' 2024 record, I’d have guessed 13-4 or 14-3 — but I didn’t think Kansas City would be undefeated through nine games. So while the team is surpassing my expectations, I don’t think it’s going to go undefeated. Before the season, I would have said this game would be a loss — and I still think so today. I think Buffalo will be able to take advantage of the Chiefs’ injuries at cornerback. I also think that against Kansas City’s tackles, Buffalo will be able to get enough pass-rushing production to limit the Chiefs’ passing offense. If this matchup was in the postseason, I’d see it differently — but in the regular season, I think the Bills will give the Chiefs their first loss of the year.
Bills 23, Chiefs 20
The Bills come into this game scoring the league’s third-most points — while allowing opponents the league’s ninth-fewest. But they rank 14th and 18th in yards gained and allowed. In contrast, the Chiefs are ranked 11th and fifth in points and 10th and fourth in yards. By themselves, those rankings would suggest a fairly even matchup. There’s no doubt, however, that the Chiefs have faced a significantly more difficult schedule. For that reason, I have no problem picking them in this game. But given the history of these teams, I can’t see it as anything but a close win.
Chiefs 26, Bills 23
The last three matchups between the Bills and the Chiefs have been nailbiters decided by a total of only 10 points. This weekend’s game promises to be just as intense. Josh Allen’s mobility and play-extending abilities will be a significant challenge for a Kansas City secondary that is still figuring out who the No. 2 cornerback will be. If the Chiefs can get wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster back on the field, they’ll give their offense a much-needed boost. One other factor working in Kansas City’s favor is its time-of-possession advantage, which is the league’s second-best. Dominating possession could be a key to keeping Allen and the Bills’ offense...
