For the second straight season, the Kansas City Chiefs and Buffalo Bills will meet in an NFL playoff showdown, as they are set to face off in the AFC divisional round.
The Chiefs sent veteran quarterback Ben Roethlisberger into retirement in the AFC wild-card round, as they secured a 21-point home win over the Pittsburgh Steelers. Quarterback Patrick Mahomes found little to no issue in spreading the ball around against the Steelers secondary, especially as six different players on offense hauled in at least four receptions in the game.
For more insight on the Chiefs' divisional playoff matchup against the Bills, listen below:
On the other hand, the Bills also clinched a stout win in the opening round of the AFC playoffs, as they notched a 30-point home victory over the New England Patriots. After years of suffering arduous losses to the Patriots in regular season play, quarterback Josh Allen had the last laugh in this encounter. The fourth-year Bills passer guided the offense to seven touchdown drives in the contest, as the Patriots secondary had no answer to the speed of Buffalo’s versatile offensive threats.
Both teams have much to play for in this upcoming AFC playoff clash. The Chiefs are aiming for a third straight Super Bowl appearance, while the Bills are looking to feature in their first such game since the 1993 campaign.
For the Chiefs to clinch a spot in the 2022 AFC Championship Game, they must achieve each of these four feats against the reigning AFC East champions.
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4. Tyreek Hill wins the expected battle against Taron Johnson
The matchup that could end up deciding this heavyweight AFC encounter may fall on who will have the last laugh between Chiefs wide receiver Tyreek Hill and Bills nickelback Taron Johnson.
In the Bills’ upset road win over the Chiefs in the regular season, Johnson covered Hill on 90 percent of snaps, as the Kansas City receiver recorded 62 total yards in such matchups.
Here are the Chiefs-Bills odds, courtesy of FanDuel.
Although the Bills took care of business against the Patriots, Johnson did not have his most complete performance in the contest, as he allowed 80 receiving yards and a 109.2 passer rating while in coverage.
The stakes will be at an all-time high for Johnson in this upcoming duel with one of the more prolific route-runners in the NFL today in Hill. Still, the veteran Chiefs wideout should come away with pivotal receptions while being covered by the Bills nickelback this week.
3. Jerick McKinnon once again has a feature role in the rush offense
With the Chiefs rush offense, one can never know just who will step up to the occasion. In the Chiefs’ AFC wild-card win against the Steelers, much was expected that offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy would opt for a one-two punch of both Derrick Gore and Darrel Williams to lead the way on the ground. However, this was not the case.
The Chiefs heavily called upon backup running back Jerick McKinnon in the win over Pittsburgh, as he played in 78 percent of snaps on offense and totaled for 142 yards from scrimmage and one touchdown.
McKinnon sure can help to form an unpredictable, balanced offensive attack for Kansas City in the upcoming AFC divisional round. Whether in carries out of the backfield or in screen pass plays on either side of the field, the Bills front seven could be in for a long day in containing the veteran running back.
More so, the possible return of Clyde Edwards-Helaire could create a one-two rush attack punch alongside McKinnon. He has been sidelined as of late due to a shoulder injury suffered in Kansas City’s regular season home win over Pittsburgh. However, he has been a regular in practice this week.
2. Patrick Mahomes posts a redemption performance
In the Bills’ season-defining win over the Chiefs in the regular season, they proved on why they have one of the more formidable secondaries in the league today. Their secondary unit was simply all over the place against the Chiefs' pass attack, as quarterback Patrick Mahomes came away from the contest with a pair of interceptions thrown and a 70.9 passer rating.
Still, as was the case in the Chiefs’ AFC Championship game win over the Bills last season, Mahomes should orchestrate one of the more potent showings of his playoff career. He well has what it takes to notch a three-touchdown game against a Bills pass defense that finished the regular season ranking first in passing yards allowed per game with a 163.0 average.
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1. Chiefs advance to a fourth straight AFC Championship game
The Bills should put up a grand effort against the reigning AFC champions, but as was the case last season, Mahomes and company will take care of business with a playoff win over Buffalo.
The Chiefs are simply a difficult team to take down at Arrowhead Stadium in January.
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