The AFC Championship game is a matchup of one of the current football era’s most intense rivalries. The Kansas City Chiefs’ quest for a three-peat takes its next step, while the Buffalo Bills are looking to snatch that dream away and get revenge on the team that eliminated them from the playoffs three times in the past four seasons. The only team that handed Kansas City a true loss this season? That would be Buffalo.
The Chiefs opened as 1.5-point favorites, but the game is nearly a pick’em. In the words of Taylor Swift: Let’s freakin’ go.
How to watch Bills at Chiefs
The Chiefs are back in the AFC Championship for the seventh year in a row. Inevitable? Implausible? Incredible? All terms used to describe the Chiefs’ historic dominance as they host their sixth edition of what Fox Sports Nick Wright called the “Arrowhead Invitational.” All season, the Chiefs have gotten the side-eye from analysts and football fans alike as they ground their way to win after one-score win. Their two biggest stars, Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce, looked sluggish to start the season.
Not anymore. In the six games leading up to the Chief’s divisional win against Houston, Mahomes generated 16 total touchdowns without committing a turnover, notching a passer rating of 115.8. Against the Texans, Kelce was activated with seven catches on eight targets with 117 yards and a touchdown. This wasn’t just a good game; it was history-making: According to The Athletic’s Nate Taylor and RJ Kraft, “This was [Kelce’s] ninth career playoff game with at least 100 receiving yards, which is the most in NFL history — breaking a tie with Pro Football Hall of Fame wide receiver Jerry Rice.”
And yet it was, as it has been all season, the Chiefs defense that gave Kansas City their foundation. Steve Spagnuolo’s squad sacked C.J. Stroud eight times, with defensive end George Karlaftis leading with three.
Of course, defending against the Bills and Josh Allen, presumptive regular-season MVP, is a whole different ballgame, excuse the pun. But the Bills fought tooth and nail in snow and wind to get past the Ravens, winning 27-25 after Mark Andrews dropped a game-tying two-point conversion with 1:33 left in the game on Sunday night.
Allen was 16-of-22 with 127 yards, two rushing touchdowns and zero interceptions. The Bills were outgained by nearly 150 yards, but a conservative game plan in the second half proved successful against a Ravens team that had three turnovers.
Khalil Shakir had six catches on seven targets for 67 receiving yards. In the backfield, James Cook led with another 67 yards on 17 carries.
Pick: It pains me to say, but: Chiefs again. It’s going to be a tough out for the Bills. Mahomes is 3-0 against Allen in the playoffs, and although the Bills had the Chiefs number in Week 11, it’s hard to beat a team twice. That 30-21 victory came against a different Chiefs team that was lacking Isiah Pacheco, Hollywood Brown, Charles Omenihu, Jaylen Watson and Harrison Butker. DeAndre Hopkins was a newer addition, and neither Kelce nor Mahomes were in playoff form. Playoff KC is a monster indeed.
Buffalo Bills vs. Kansas City Chiefs odds
Read more about NFL conference championship weekend
How Patrick Mahomes, Chiefs made their 7th straight AFC title game: ‘It’s not normal’
The Commanders are a win away from the Super Bowl. Let that marinate for a bit
Travis Kelce sets NFL playoff record as Chiefs top Texans, advance to AFC Championship Game: Key takeaways
(Photo of Travis Kelce: Jamie Squire / Getty Images)
