ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. — The Buffalo Bills are starting to gain serious recognition after their impressive 30-21 victory over the previously undefeated Kansas City Chiefs. Head coach Sean McDermott, however, downplayed the significance of the win. “Nah, it’s not a statement. It’s just the next game,” he remarked after the game.
Quarterback Josh Allen added, “It means we have nine wins. Last time I checked, nine wins probably doesn’t guarantee a playoff spot.” Indeed, the Bills hold a commanding 9-2 record and, remarkably, need just two more victories to secure their fifth consecutive AFC East title, sitting comfortably ahead of Miami (4-6) after accomplishing a season sweep against them.
Nevertheless, the Bills still have plenty of tasks ahead as they head into their bye week, primarily the need to heal from injuries. It’s crucial as they remember that while they’ve bested the Chiefs in four consecutive regular-season meetings since 2021, none of those wins contribute to their playoff success against Kansas City, where they are 0-3 since 2020.
Despite this, the victory holds weight, narrowing the gap between the Bills and the Chiefs in the ongoing race for the top seed in the AFC. A bye week before the playoffs could be extremely beneficial for the Bills, particularly for their injured roster, as they anticipate the return of starting linebacker Matt Milano, who has been sidelined since August due to a torn biceps. The time off will also be advantageous for Allen, who continues to endure significant physical toll on the field.
The win further validates Buffalo’s holistic approach to achieving victory this season. Although Allen made headlines with a remarkable 26-yard touchdown run on fourth down, it was a team effort that contributed to their success. Receiver Amari Cooper, despite nursing an injured wrist, impressively caught a one-handed 30-yard pass that set up the opening touchdown. Receiver Curtis Samuel, after a prolonged slump, caught five passes for 58 yards, including his first touchdown of the season. Running back James Cook, though averaging just 2.2 yards per carry, managed to rush for two touchdowns. Buffalo’s defense also played a crucial role, snagging two interceptions from Patrick Mahomes and restricting the Chiefs to a mere 259 yards, a season low.
These contributions reflect a collective strength that the Bills were missing during previous losses to Baltimore and Houston. With their dominant record, the Bills are firmly in the conversation as one of the top contenders in the AFC. They still have challenges looming ahead, including a significant matchup against Detroit on December 15.
It’s worth noting that claiming a victory over the Chiefs as merely “another win” would undermine the significance of their accomplishment, particularly as this marks only the sixth time in team history that they’ve reached nine wins in 11 games, and the first instance since 1992. Veteran linebacker Von Miller emphasized the importance of such a victory. “Coach McDermott may say it’s just another game, but let’s be honest—100 years from now, nobody will remember that. It was a special moment,” Miller stated. “It’s a wonderful feeling to project optimism and celebrate our accomplishments.”
Cooper, who has experienced limited playoff success in his nine NFL seasons, found a unique sense of joy in this victory. Before joining the Bills through a trade from Cleveland last month, he had only made the playoffs four times, winning just once with Dallas in 2018. “As a kid, dreaming about football, this is the kind of stage you hope to reach,” Cooper shared. “It’s rare, especially if you’re not part of an elite team. This is the first time in a long while that I’ve felt genuine joy for winning a game.”
In terms of team performance, the Bills excel at generating turnovers; they accumulated two more interceptions during the game, achieving a takeaway in every match this season and maintaining an NFL-leading plus-14 turnover differential as of Monday. However, on the flip side, they need to address their own turnover situation since Allen has thrown five interceptions in the last four games after not having any in the first seven.
Recognition goes to Samuel, who has stepped up significantly, while kicker Tyler Bass faced criticism after missing his fourth extra-point attempt of the season, after seemingly finding his rhythm. Fortunately, no injuries were reported during the game, and players like receiver Keon Coleman, tight end Dalton Kincaid, and right tackle Spencer Brown are expected to heal during the extra week off.
A standout statistic is that the Bills have scored 30 or more points in five consecutive games, matching their longest streak since Weeks 2-6 of 2021. Looking ahead, the team plans to relish its bye week before gearing up to host the San Francisco 49ers in a primetime game on December 1.