The Kansas City Chiefs continued their tradition of losing to the Buffalo Bills in the regular season, this time 28-21, as Andy Reid's team slumped to its fourth loss of the season.
Looking at the game as a whole, the Bills deserved to win this game off the back of over 400 total yards of offense, with Patrick Mahomes and his unit struggling to deal with Buffalo's defensive line.
Plus, the defense was usually leaky, especially against the run, as James Cook rushed for 114 yards on 27 carries, as the Chiefs were bullied in some aspects at Highmark Stadium.
But for CBS Sports' John Breech, in giving the Chiefs a "B" grade for the loss, he's also offering a glimmer of hope to Kansas City fans who might be down in the dumps over the loss.
“If there's any upside to this loss for Kansas City, it's this: Mahomes was bad and the defense gave up more than 400 yards, but the Chiefs still ALMOST won,” Breech wrote. “The last three times that the Chiefs lost a regular-season game to Buffalo, it ended up spurring them to a Super Bowl appearance, so no one should be shocked if that once again happens this year.”
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Chiefs now face defining second half of season
No one is doubting the Chiefs' ability to rally from 5-4 and become a playoff team, but the next two weeks could play a big role in just where Kansas City starts on the grid...if at all.
If the playoffs were beginning today, the Chiefs, shockingly, wouldn't be involved, so that is quite the statement, and for a perennial AFC Championship team, that's head-scratching. But that's the bed they have made for themselves.
And coming out of the bye, the Chiefs face the Denver Broncos on the road and then the Indianapolis Colts at home. Two huge games in the context of the division, and also playoff seeding.
The Chiefs were in form prior to their loss to Buffalo, and now, hovering just above.500, Reid and Mahomes must get a wriggle on if they are to punch their playoff ticket.
More Chiefs news:
- Patrick Mahomes has incredible response to potential Bills playoff matchup
- 'No more chances' for Chiefs after Bills loss
- Chiefs face 'uphill battle' after crushing Bills loss
- Is Travis Kelce injured? Chiefs TE a no-show in first half vs. Bills