The Buffalo Bills delivered a statement win on Sunday evening.
They defeated the Kansas City Chiefs 28-21 at Highmark Stadium.
This victory showcased Buffalo’s defensive grit, offensive precision and home-field dominance while exposing major concerns for Kansas City on both sides of the ball.
Bills pressure
Buffalo’s injury-hit defense produced one of its most impressive performances of the season.
Even without star lineman Ed Oliver, the Bills’ front seven made life miserable for Patrick Mahomes from start to finish.
The relentless pass rush pressured Mahomes on 52.6% of his dropbacks, leading to his lowest passer rating of the year, at 57.2.
As a result, it was also the worst single-game completion percentage – 44.1% – of his career.
Chiefs offensive line issues
Kansas City’s offensive line continues to be a major concern. Without tackle Josh Simmons, the Chiefs were completely outmatched at the line of scrimmage.
The Bills’ defense controlled the trenches. This allowed Buffalo to dominate time of possession and momentum en route to a convincing home victory.
The Chiefs surrendered three sacks and 14 total pressures, struggling to give Mahomes the time he needed to find open receivers.
Backup tackle Jaylon Moore was serviceable but exposed, while Jawaan Taylor was overwhelmed before suffering an ankle injury late in the game.
The return of Simmons cannot come soon enough. Without him, the Chiefs’ offensive rhythm and protection continue to unravel.
Offensive and defensive struggles
The Chiefs’ struggles were not limited to the offensive line. Mahomes and his receivers never found a consistent rhythm, as he completed 15-of-34 passes for 250 yards and one interception.
Kansas City converted just three of 13 third-down attempts, as the Bills’ secondary smothered receivers and disrupted timing routes all evening.
Defensively, the Chiefs fared little better. Running back James Cook gashed them for 114 yards, marking the first 100-yard rusher Kansas City has allowed since December 2023.
Outside of a few flashes from George Karlaftis and Leo Chenal, the Chiefs’ defensive line struggled to create pressure. Star defensive tackle Chris Jones continues to underperform relative to his lucrative contract.
Josh Allen had the highest completion percentage of his career, at 88.5%. He exploited favourable match-ups against the Chiefs secondary, especially targeting tight ends. Dalton Kincaid led all Bills receivers with six receptions for 101 yards and a touchdown.
If these two teams meet again in the postseason, Kansas City will need to find answers, fast, to avoid a repeat performance.
But what about the postseason?
The Bills’ victory was a complete team effort: a masterclass in pressure, discipline and execution.
Josh Allen’s efficiency and Buffalo’s defensive dominance sent a clear message: the Bills are still very much in the AFC title conversation.
For the Chiefs, however, this game was a reminder that championship pedigree alone is not enough. Until the offensive line stabilises and the defense regains its bite, Kansas City’s path back to the Super Bowl looks steeper than ever.
The question remains though: Can the Bills defeat the Chiefs when it truly counts – in January?
