Is it Sunday yet?
Kansas City Chiefs v Buffalo Bills | Timothy T Ludwig/GettyImages
We are two days away from a huge showdown between the Buffalo Bills and Kansas City Chiefs. The winner will be preparing for Super Bowl battle while the loser is heading home early. The Bills have been that loser against the Chiefs three of the last four years. They believe it is their time to shine, and so do we.
The Bills defeated the Chiefs 30-21 in Week 11, which was Kansas City’s first loss of the regular season. However, we have seen this story before. Buffalo beats Kansas City in the regular season, has confidence going up against them in the postseason, then suffering a heartbreaking loss that ends their season. Will this weekend change, or will that streak continue?
Bills Mafia is hoping that when the game clock is at 0:00, the Bills are winners and are named AFC champions. The only time the Chiefs have not been competitive in a playoff game in the Patrick Mahomes era was in the 2020-2021 Super Bowl when the Chiefs were crushed by Tom Brady and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. It’s going to take all four quarters of Buffalo Bills football in order for the Chiefs to go down.
4 bold predictions for Bills vs. Chiefs
Amari Cooper leads Bills in targets and receiving yards
It’s been a quite stretch for Amari Cooper since returning from a wrist injury he suffered back in Week 8. However, he’s not too concern about that as he recently discussed his feelings on how winning is more important than individual success. Cooper hasn’t been a huge difference maker for the Bills but he has had his moments. His one true game where he has been impactful was against the Tennessee Titans (66 yards, 1 touchdown).
It’s going to be important for the Bills to get the passing attack going and this is the kind of game where you need your top receiver to produce. Now granted, the Bills don’t necessarily have a top receiver, Cooper has to become the go-to guy for Josh Allen.
Travis Kelce is held to under 50 receiving yards
It’s no secret that Travis Kelce has had his way with the Buffalo defense in their last three playoff matchups. He is averaging 8 receptions for 96 yards and almost two touchdowns per game. Kelce is Buffalo’s kryptonite and the Bills have to find a way to stop him from making plays wide open in the middle of the field.
With Matt Milano not having an injury designation heading into this game, this is where he can be a hero for the Bills by keeping Kelce locked up on pass plays. If the Bills are able to keep Kelce under 50 receiving yards, their chances of walking out of Kansas City significantly improve.
Ty Johnson has 2+ rushing touchdowns
A Bills running back not named James Cook being a scoring machine? That’s right, lookout for Ty Johnson, not even rookie Ray Davis. Bills fans know just how valuable Ty Johnson is to this running game when the Bills need to fight for yards. Johnson runs north and south and always finds yards after contact.
He averaged over five yards per carry, but has been more of a threat as a receiving option with four touchdowns through the air. The offensive line has the tough task to hold of Kansas City’s ferocious defensive line. However, if Johnson can get fight for those extra yards to help move the chains for the Bills, he just might be gifted with a pair of touchdowns.
Ed Oliver makes game-winning sack for Bills
Imagine this scenario…the Bills are ahead of the Chiefs and it’s late in the 4th quarter. Patrick Mahomes could have the chance to once again crush the heart and soul of Bills fans…they’re driving and driving and driving…but then Ed Oliver comes with a huge heroic play to put the game away and send the Bills to New Orleans.
Oliver has been impressive throughout the playoffs so far, unlike the regular season. If there was a moment where he can make the biggest play of the game, it’s against the Chiefs. He needs to consistently get to Mahomes in the middle of the pocket and force him to make a bad throw into Bills coverage.