(Photo: Patrick Mahomes practicing this week outside to prepare for the Sunday late afternoon game in Buffalo. Kansas City Chiefs photo)
By CHUCK POLLOCK, Sun Senior Sports Columnist
Bills fans know the math by heart.
Since Sean McDermott took over as coach in 2017, Buffalo is 5-1 against Kansas City in regular-season games.
But, alas, in the playoffs, the Bills are a dismal 0-4 against the Chiefs, coach Andy Reid and quarterback Patrick Mahomes.
And, oh yeah, over the past six years, KC has made the Super Bowl five times and won three of them.
In other words, the Chiefs performance against Buffalo in the playoffs has rendered the Bills regular-season record against them moot.
COME SUNDAY afternoon at Highmark Stadium (4:25, CBS-TV, Bills Radio Network) those two AFC elites meet again, though under different circumstances.
Normally division leaders, both teams are climbing uphill.
The Chiefs opened the season 0-2, making some “experts” conclude Reid’s crew had lost its magic.
Instead, KC won five of the last six games and, at 5-3, is tied for second with the L.A. Chargers — though it lost head-to-head — and is a game behind Denver in the AFC West.
The Bills, at 5-2, rebounded from a two-game losing streak by thrashing Carolina in Charlotte, 40-9, last Sunday. Still, they trail New England (6-2) by a half game — the Pats haven’t had their bye — but more importantly own a head-to-head win over Buffalo.
In short, there’s more at stake than usual for these two AFC heavyweights.
KANSAS CITY got a big break last week when wide receiver Rashee Rice returned after an 18-month absence due to injury and a suspension. His impact was felt immediately on offense.
Meanwhile, the Bills are struggling on both sides of the ball.
Josh Allen, the defending NFL MVP, has looked anything but though it’s not entirely his fault. The receiving corps can’t get open. Free agent Joshua Palmer, the lone deep threat, is hurt. The only other dependable receiver is Kahlil Shakir, a possession receiver who performs magic with the ball in his hands.
The opther wideouts –Keon Coleman, Curtis Samuel, Tyrell Shavers and Elijah Moore — are what NFL scouts call JAGs (Just Another Guy).
Worse, Allen has gotten precious-little help from his tight ends. Dalton Kincaid and Dawson Knox who have combined to play 13 games and have caught only 29 balls albeit for four touchdowns.
Last Sunday, in the win over the Panthers, the Bills dominated because running back James Cook ran for a glittering 216 yards and two touchdowns. The passing game was a virtual non-factor other than a season-long touchdown pass to Shakir.
But as soon as opponents realize they’re facing a team trying to live via the ground game, they’ll find away to stop it.
McDermott and offensive coordinator Joe Brady are cooperating on some play calls and both say “it’s all good” but you get the idea they aren’t on the same page as it relates to the passing game.
And McDermott has spread himself even more thin by involving himself with the defense.
He now shares play-calling with coordinator Bobby Babich in as much as he’s a defensive coach at heart and supposedly wasn’t enthralled with some of his DC’s alignments.
McDERMOTT was actually fired by Reid when the two were in Philadelphia where Andy was head coach. Still, they remain friends and share a mutual respect..
“I had him when he was just a pup … and had hair,” Reid said with a chuckle. “He gets involved in all phases of the game and he’s very detailed about everything.
“We look forward to the challenge. Playing Buffalo there’s a lot of history between the two teams the last few years and it’s been a good battle every time we’ve had the opportunity to play.”
He added, “Sean has done a great job with that crew, he has a very good coaching staff and very good players.”
One of them, of course, is Allen.
“Their offense is special,” Reid said, “and their quarterback is one of the best in the league at what he does. He’s got a good crew starting up front (offensive line) and defensively, up front, they can bring it.
“The schemes on both sides of the ball and special teams (are solid), there’s not a lot of weaknesses there and they’re well-coached.”
Kansas City is favored by two points and the Bills are hurt by the loss of defensive tackle Ed Oliver who is out for the season with a torn biceps.
INJURY REPORT: Besides Oliver going on injured reserve, Palmer (knee/ankle), defensive tackle DaQuan Jones (calf) and linebacker Shaq Thompson (hamstring) are also out for Sunday In addition, place-kicker Matt Prater was limited during the week with a calf injury and nickel back Taron Johnson, one of the league’s best, is questionable with a groin injury.
POLLOCK’S PICK: Chiefs 30, Bills 23
(Chuck Pollock, a Wellsville Sun senior sports columnist, can be reached at cpollock@wnynet.net.)
