Chiefs Offense Vs Bills Defense: Divisional Round Preview

This Sunday night, the Kansas City Chiefs will be out for revenge against the Buffalo Bills in the Divisional Round. The loss to Buffalo earlier in the year was due to miscues from the entire team. However, this Kansas City offense gets even more dangerous when either doubted heavily or when they get a second chance at taking a team down.

Last week, Patrick Mahomes and the offense reminded some of that dangerous level of play. The Chiefs scored 42 total points, all touchdowns were via the passing game and secondary weapons were just as productive as the top names like Travis Kelce or Tyreek Hill.

On the other end, Buffalo is coming off a Wild Card game in which the Bills defense generated five quarterback hits, four pass deflections, three sacks, three tackles for loss and two interceptions. The Bills also allowed just 17 points, most of which were in garbage time with the game out of reach in the second half. This defense is simply suffocating at all three levels. Moreover, Buffalo provides a rare mix of physicality, instincts and smart, safe play. They finished the season ranking best in points allowed and yards allowed. The margin for error is so minimal in the postseason. With the way the Bills are built, it becomes a must to be prepared for anything as an opposing offense.

Both of these teams are tremendous situationally. Nevertheless, these two units must focus on playing loose, while also working to play a complete game in order to get the win. What are the top position battles that could determine Sunday’s outcome when the Chiefs offense meets the Bills defense? Let’s kick it off.

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Kelce Vs Hyde And Poyer

Kelce and Mahomes have a rare combination among NFL quarterback-tight end combinations. Each is seemingly always aware of what the other is thinking. Being one step ahead is something both Kelce and the Bills safety tandem do absolutely well. For the tight end, Kansas City’s pass catcher is quick to notice where his leverage and cutback lanes are at both before and after the catch. Both Micah Hyde and Jordan Poyer are faster than most people expect, however. Their ability to jump throwing lanes and disguise tendencies is all very subtle.

Will Kelce be able to continue to create ample yards after the catch against Buffalo? Recently, the Chiefs have been rewarded with his ability to not only separate during the route, but also with how Kelce is separating himself away from tacklers in space. He appears to have eyes in the back of his head for oncoming traffic at all times. Additionally, Kelce has been more successful when needing to make catches in tight spaces late this season, compared to earlier in the year when opponents were able to impose their will on him.

For Hyde and Poyer, they are extremely physical at the catch point. Each safety is just as focused on blowing the opposing pass catcher up, as they are making a play on the ball itself. Their respective eye and feet discipline allows them to be in position to make any stop. Furthermore, that ability to keep plays in front of them makes for explosive plays being difficult to occur. With Kelce’s recent hot stretch of gaining plenty of yards after the catch, something will have to give.

Chiefs Wide Receivers Vs Bills Cornerbacks

One thing will be different for Buffalo’s defense this time around. Unlike the first meeting this season between these two teams, All-Pro cornerback Tre’Davious White will not be in uniform. He suffered a torn ACL on Thanksgiving against the New Orleans Saints, ending his season after 11 games played. The rest of the Bills cornerback depth chart may not feature household names. In fact, three of the other four top snap getters at cornerback were day three draft picks for Buffalo. The other, Levi Wallace, went undrafted.

All four of these guys execute their roles very well. Wallace has manned the starting outside cornerback spot opposite of White for the last couple of years. Out there, the Alabama product displays patience in space and maintains astute body positioning when defending in the intermediate to deep areas of the field. Dane Jackson has received the majority of outside cornerback snaps in replace of White. Overall, Jackson is not elite in any areas. He is extremely tenacious with everything he does, however. Where he wins most of the time, is due to quick, fiery feet and change of direction skills to mirror receivers during their routes.

Both Taron Johnson and Siran Neal split reps as nickel cornerback. Like Jackson, these two flash excellent short area burst. Johnson and Neal are more physical at the catch point than they are given credit for. All around, this group’s confident, yet controlled play at cornerback is collectively tough to shake away from down the field or in space.

As mentioned above, wide receivers not named Tyreek Hill were just as productive as the Chiefs’ top wide receiver in the Wild Card round. This is huge for a Kansas City offense that has not always been able to complete full games this season. Byron Pringle is continuing to grow a heavy rapport with Mahomes. Quietly, his route running and adjustments in traffic are improving just as much as he is making tough catches in tight areas. Mecole Hardman is arguably playing the best stretch of football of his young career. Largely, he has been much more urgent once the catch is secured. Hardman is also much improved, in reading the field during yards after catch opportunities. Finally, Demarcus Robinson has been much more consistent with his catch comfort and getting upfield earlier.

Chiefs Running Backs Vs Bills Linebackers

Will Jerick McKinnon receive an opportunity to build off that strong performance he had in the Wild Card round? As we mentioned earlier this week, he may have the most ideal skill set of any current Chiefs running back for Andy Reid’s offense. McKinnon has the long speed, the explosiveness, the patience when facing defenders one on one in the open field and the ability to fight off tackle attempts. Elsewhere, his pass catching ability is dangerous to multiple areas of the field.

If he does not get the full workload, the power and toughness of guys like Clyde Edwards-Helaire, Darrel Williams and Derrick Gore could have their respective skillsets matched by the Bills linebackers. While this trio may not have McKinnon’s speed, they too can be dangerous when making defenders miss or in the pass catching game.

At linebacker, the splendid duo of Matt Milano and Tremaine Edmunds provide versatility to the second level of the Buffalo defense. If the Bills need them to work downhill, they each can do that rapidly. If the Bills need them to get out wide and protect against runs while going sideline to sideline, they each can do that with a motor that runs hot at all times. Furthermore, Milano and Edmunds are just as instinctive as the aforementioned Bills safety duo. Milano diagnoses plays and sniffs out tricks that teams are attempting to do so consistently. On the other hand, Edmunds does well to mask his lack of long speed, with sharp recognition skills. He maintains eye discipline better than most young linebackers.

Be on the lookout for more FPC Chiefs playoff articles throughout the rest of this 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.