The Buffalo Bills are making their fifth visit to Kansas City in 34-plus months but it certainly doesn’t feel like a welcoming second home.
The Bills are back in the Midwest on Sunday to face the defending Super Bowl champion Chiefs, and the contest has a must-win feel for a Buffalo squad that has lost four of its past six games.
The Bills (6-6) are fresh off a bye but sit on the outside of the playoff race with five games remaining.
“We don’t want to be in situations like this but we feel like we’ve been in this situation before, and it has produced some of our best football,” Bills quarterback Josh Allen said.
The Bills have performed well in recent regular-season visits to Kansas City, prevailing 38-20 in 2021 and 24-20 last season.
Buffalo hasn’t done well in the postseason during the recent flurry of visits, falling 38-24 in the AFC Championship Game on Jan. 24, 2021, and 42-36 in overtime in the AFC Divisional round on Jan. 23, 2022.
Bills standout left tackle Dion Dawkins made it clear that Kansas City is not a second home.
“Kansas City is always a nice rest stop,” Dawkins said. “A lot of history, a lot of battles, a lot of emotion there. A home away from home? No. There is no home away from Buffalo, which is a full home. …
“Enemy territory. We’re going to fight on a different battlefield.”
The Chiefs (8-4) have their own set of struggles with losses in three of their past five games.
Last Sunday’s 27-19 loss to the host Green Bay Packers marked the fourth time Kansas City scored 21 or fewer points during the five-game stretch.
Patrick Mahomes, who threw for 424 yards in an October victory over the Los Angeles Chargers, has been held to 210 or fewer yards in three of the past four games.
The Kansas City offense that usually is near the top of the league is tied for 11th in scoring at 22.9 points per game and ranks eighth in total offense at 362.6.
But Mahomes said the dropoff in production has not sapped positive energy from the squad.
“We have confidence every week that we will find a way to win the football game,” Mahomes said. “Obviously, these last few weeks we’ve lost a couple.
“But we still have that mindset. We understand the challenge ahead that’s in front of us.”
That challenge includes the Bills, who are tied for fifth in scoring (27.3) and sit fourth in total offense (383.3).
Buffalo also will be borderline desperate as it can’t afford to fall below .500 on Sunday.
“We look forward to the challenge of playing the Bills,” Kansas City coach Andy Reid said. “Obviously, a good football team. They’re familiar with us, we’re familiar with them. … They’re a talented football team, one that we respect.”
Chiefs left tackle Donovan Smith (neck stinger) and running back Isiah Pacheco (shoulder), who rushed for 110 yards and a touchdown against Green Bay, were ruled out on Friday.
Running back Jerick McKinnon (groin), who sat out the past two games, should be back to help fill the void and was removed from the injury report Friday.
Two defensive starters, linebacker Drue Tranquill (concussion) and safety Bryan Cook (ankle), were also ruled out.
Bills linebacker Von Miller was rested from practice but the team said he is available Sunday. During the bye week, Miller was arrested on felony domestic violence charges, allegedly against a pregnant woman.
Buffalo general manager Brandon Beane said the club will let the legal process play out and that Miller will practice Thursday and play Sunday.
The Bills opened the 21-day practice window for tight end Dawson Knox (wrist) and cornerback Kaiir Elam (ankle) on Wednesday and both are listed as questionable. Knox was added to the 53-man roster on Saturday and will play against the Chiefs. Elam will not be activated and remains on IR.
–Field Level Media
