Big offenses, overlooked defenses in AFC title game
Two teams so absent from championship history for so long until recently face off for the AFC championship.
The Kansas City Chiefs won their first NFL title since 1970 when they beat San Francisco in last year’s Super Bowl. When they host Buffalo, the Chiefs will take on a franchise that went from the 20002016 seasons without even getting to the playoffs.
What we get Sunday is a matchup of dynamic offenses and overlooked defenses, the top two teams in the conference. Kansas City (15-2) has the confidence of a reigning champion and a charisma few NFL teams can match. Buffalo (15-3) has an undying belief that after years in the doldrums, the formula is on hand for a return to the Super Bowl.
When the Bills hAve the
BAll: Some Bills fans are worried about their team’s ability to run the ball because Buffalo ranked 20th and didn’t do much on the ground in the playoffs. It would be a boost to get Devin Singletary going behind a solid line anchored by center Mitch Morse and right tackle Daryl Williams. Of course, Josh Allen is one of the biggest threats as a runner among all quarterbacks, and he will use his feet to advantage.
Allen isn’t as proven a passer yet as Kansas City’s Patrick Mahomes, but Allen’s third pro season has been superb. He has learned to read the field and make smarter decisions while also utilizing a deeper receiving corps than some recognize.
Sure, All-Pro Stefon Diggs is the primary target and will cause havoc for Chiefs cornerbacks Charvarius Ward, Bashaud Breeland, Rashad Fenton and L’Jarius Sneed.
When the Chiefs hAve the BAll:
There’s always excitement when KC is on offense, but there’s also the uncertainty of how Mahomes will perform — and for how long — coming off the concussion sustained last week. Even as the Chiefs downplay it, there has to be concern. Not to be unkind, but expecting the Chiefs to advance with Chad Henne at quarterback is a long shot.
At his peak, Mahomes is football’s most resourceful QB, a gamand bler who comes up aces most of the time. The Bills must produce a pass rush and have the players to do it up front with Jerry Hughes, Ed Oliver and Mario Addison among a deep line rotation. The winner of the trench battles with the likes of Chiefs LT Eric Fisher and C Austin Reiter will be impactful.
Unquestionably, though, the matchup of outstanding Buffalo CB Tre’Davious White and All-Pro WR Tyreek Hill will be in the spotlight. The Chiefs find dozens of ways to get Hill the ball as a receiver or runner, and White is among the top shutdown cornerbacks. SpeCiAl teAms: Kansas City placekicker Harrison Butker has been a tad inconsistent lately, and the Chiefs can’t afford that Sunday. But he has a big leg and has made dozens of crucial kicks. That could provide an edge over Bills rookie Tyler Bass — except that Bass has been very reliable all season.
Buffalo punter Corey Bojorquez Kansas City rookie Johnny Townsend were two of the most dependable in the AFC.
CoAChing: Andy Reid might have the most impressive coaching tree among the NFL’s current head men, and Sean McDermott is on one of the branches.
McDermott has done a spectacular job in Buffalo, a franchise that last saw the playoffs at the turn of the century until he arrived, changed the culture and upgraded the confidence level. Reid fired McDermott in 2010 when both were with the Eagles, and told him he would benefit from the move. IntAngiBles: Buffalo went to four Super Bowls, 1991-94, losing them all. No other franchise has made the big game four straight times. But the Bills, unfairly, were branded as losers for dropping those games. Here’s a chance to erase those memories and silence those critics.
Kansas City, which won its first NFL championship in a half-century a year ago — talk about droughts — can become the first repeat winner since New England in the 200304 campaigns.