Buffalo, N.Y. (WGR Sports Radio 550) - The Buffalo Bills are back in the AFC Championship Game for the first time since 2020, where they will take on an all too familiar foe in the Kansas City Chiefs for the right to play in Super Bowl LIX in New Orleans.
This time of year in the NFL, the team that advances in the playoffs may not always be the better team. It is often the team that makes less mistakes in the crucial moments of a game.
This brings the fundamentals of football to the forefront more than ever for Bills head coach Sean McDermott.
"The fundamentals are going to be important: The blocking, the tackling, the throwing, the catching, the kicking. All those areas are going to be important, which includes protecting the house, as far as taking care of the football," said McDermott on Friday during his weekly appearance on the "Extra Point Show" on WGR.
Since the Bills and Chiefs have had such a storied rivalry over the past few seasons, the two sides have become very accustomed to keying in on the other's top players. One of the difference makers for the Chiefs on defense is defensive tackle Chris Jones, who always seems to find an extra gear come playoff time.
"This time of year, in particular, he usually plays at a very high level," McDermott said with Sal Capaccio. "If you go back and watch all their postseason runs and their Super Bowls, it's usually Chris Jones on the defensive side, at least, making those plays that impact the game. I believe he did it last year in their Super Bowl win, and you've got to make sure that you account for him in everything you do."
The Bills have had a daunting path so far in the playoffs this year, having faced and beaten two Super Bowl winning head coaches (Sean Payton and John Harbaugh), two of the top defenses in the league, and the reigning MVP quarterback in Lamar Jackson.
Now it's another playoff matchup against one of the best coaches all-time in Andy Reid, and one of this generation's best quarterbacks in Patrick Mahomes.
"It's a heck of a challenge," McDermott said. "I think our defense has done a really good job through the first two games. This challenge will be even bigger for us, so we've got to play well in all three phases and play complimentary football."
On the injury front, Bills safety Taylor Rapp is the only player McDermott declared out of Sunday's AFC Championship Game with a hip injury. Meanwhile, other key players on defense like cornerback Christian Benford (concussion), linebacker Matt Milano (hamstring) and nickel cornerback Taron Johnson (shoulder) are all expected to practiced on Friday.
Kickoff on Sunday is slated for 6:30 p.m., and you can hear all of the play-by-play action on the official voice of the Bills - WGR Sports Radio 550 - with Chris Brown, Eric Wood and Sal on the call.