Chiefs 2021 Opponent Overview: Buffalo Bills

The Kansas City Chiefs got back on track with a win over the Philadelphia Eagles. Offensively, the team in red and gold scored over 40 points and made it look easy. The defense was gashed on the outside and beat deep on passes. However, they hung much tougher in the red zone and allowed only 50 percent of the Eagles’ third down attempts to be converted.

Now entering Week Five, the Chiefs face one of their toughest tests of the season. The Buffalo Bills come to town for a rematch of last year’s AFC Championship Game. Buffalo has outscored opponents 118 to 21 in the last three weeks, while winning three straight games after blowing a home game in Week One.

Today, we will be giving our own view of the Buffalo Bills entering their matchup with the Chiefs. What can Kansas City expect from their offense and defense? How will the Bills possibly adjust from their two losses in this matchup from last year? Let’s kick it off by diving into the Buffalo offense.

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Precision Passing

The Buffalo Bills love to air it out with quarterback Josh Allen. Obviously, that is no secret. His quick evolution as a passer has been aided by offensive coordinator Brian Daboll. Running 11 personnel (three wide receivers, one tight end, one running back) and 10 personnel (four wide receivers and no tight ends) more than nearly any other team, the Bills passing attack runs two-fold. On one hand, Allen is able to be patient in the pocket while letting his arm talent feast on one on one shots. His decision making has become sharper and more rapid since the start of last year.

Meanwhile, the Bills receivers are put in position to win with possession-type catches. Gain your leverage, best your opposing defender physically and work towards open areas of the field. It truly is that simple. However, the Bills have yet to be consistently challenged by a secondary since the start of last year. The talent and growth of Allen is truly undeniable. At the same time, the maturity of wide receivers Stefon Diggs, Cole Beasley, Gabriel Davis and Emmanuel Sanders have made this passing attack a perfect storm. Buffalo knows how these receivers use and eat up space. With these possession types of throws, it places both Allen and his pass catchers in position to succeed.

Finding Their Footing?

A noticeable knock on the Bills offense last season surrounded their offensive rushing attack. Devin Singletary and Zack Moss were not the worst rushing duo in the league. They each gained 4.3 yards per carry or more. Though, neither of them seemed to move the needle. The booms were minimal, whereas the busts were felt early and often in matchups where it seemed like Singletary and Moss were going to have an advantage. In fact, Allen was basically on the same level as a rusher, in terms of yards per attempt, rushing yards and rushing efficiency. He finished right around or above Singletary or Moss in these major categories.

Despite a road grading offensive line, Singletary and Moss continued to misread the field and left yards on the field last season. The script has completely flipped so far in 2021. Buffalo ranks in the top five in rushing attempts, rushing yards and rushing touchdowns. Each runner from this duo has already amassed a third of their rushing yardage total from 2020.

Additionally, Singletary is hitting the holes quicker and showing off some improved burst. Moss is displaying some of the power we consistently saw him bring at Utah at a more consistent rate. Going up against a struggling run defense like the Chiefs, these two running backs provide a thunder and lighting approach that can fatigue an opponent more early in games than they were last year.

Winning The Early Downs

In both games against the Chiefs last year, the Buffalo Bills defense was torched in different ways. Clyde Edwards-Helaire and the Kansas City rushing attack galloped for 245 rushing yards in the first meeting. Andy Reid’s offense took what the Bills gave to them, which included mixing defensive fronts and playing mainly man coverage. Buffalo increased the amount of defensive backs that they had on the field later on, which created a lighter box for the Chiefs to exploit. Then in the AFC Championship Game, their mix of coverages left too much room for Patrick Mahomes to work with.

In each contest, the Bills failed to reset the line of scrimmage, provide a significant push upfront and played hesitant. They were guilty of letting the Chiefs find the tough, extra yardage on first and second down. Thus, third down was fairly manageable during a majority of those conversion attempts.

How will the Bills defense adjust? Their youthful part of the pass rush has started hot. And it has breathed new life into Jerry Hughes, Mario Addison and Ed Oliver. Allow Gregory Rousseau and AJ Epenesa to win reps with designed, quick pressures. Bull rush attempts and inside loops or crashes could force Mahomes to extend plays. Early this season, the Chiefs passer has been a lot worse when having to hold onto the ball or extend plays outside of the pocket. When throwing quick and taking what the defense is giving him, the Chiefs have thrived.

Buffalo may look to play around with more of a dime look or with a single high safety in Cover 1. For the Bills, the key will be to take away the middle of the field, force pass catchers not named Travis Kelce or Tyreek Hill to beat man coverage and force Mahomes to beat you deep. That is just in the passing game. Moreover, Buffalo’s run defense has to come in aggressively. Kansas City’s offensive line has dominated in the last couple of games when running the football. They have incorporated more man blocking schemes, meaning the Bills will have to contain the play to the inside. The more outside leverage and burst the Chiefs find outside of the tackles, the more successful Kansas City’s offense will be.

Be on the lookout for more FPC Chiefs articles throughout the rest of the week. For more great sports and NFL content, stay tuned to Full Press Coverage.

– Braden Holecek is the Kansas City Chiefs managing editor for Full Press Coverage. He covers the NFL. Like and follow on Follow @ebearcat9//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js Follow @FPC_Chiefs//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js and Facebook.