Orchard Park, N.Y. (WGR Sports Radio 550) - The Buffalo Bills will be looking to win their sixth-straight game and go 9-2 on Sunday, while also giving the Kansas City Chiefs their first loss of the season.
To do that, here are my three keys to the game, plus notes and stats:
1.) Get the Chiefs off the field
The Chiefs are only 19th in the NFL in yards per-play (5.17), but they stay on the field. They are tops in the league in third down conversion rate (52%), plays per-drive (7.0), and time of possession per-drive (3:23).
The Bills have struggled on third-down defense this season, allowing opponents to convert 40% of their chances.
That has to flip Sunday, and Buffalo must do a solid job of getting Kansas City off the field.
2.) Win on the edge
The biggest advantage the Bills may have in this game is their edge rushers against, what’s been, shaky Chiefs offensive tackles this season.
Greg Rousseau, Von Miller, A.J. Epenesa, and Casey Toohill have to win their 1-on-1 matchups against Jawaan Taylor and Wayne Morris, and put pressure on Patrick Mahomes as early as possible to force him into a mistake, or get rid of the ball earlier than what he wants, or, of course, get him on the ground.
3.) Feed everyone
"Everybody eats" has been the mantra of the Bills offense this season. It’s been true at times, but not others.
The Chiefs are very good at stopping the run. They are middle-of-the-pack statistically against the pass, and have struggled defending receivers at the second level.
This is a game where the Bills will need to incorporate as many hands as they can in the passing game, forcing the Chiefs to use resources to guard the middle of the field, then taking advantage of the outside when that happens.
It will be more difficult to do that without tight end Dalton Kincaid (knee), but tight end Dawson Knox and running backs James Cook, Ty Johnson, and Ray Davis need to still be involved in the passing game.
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