Archives for October 19, 2020

‘Allen and Mahomes have toyed with the idea of having a “throw-off” since February 2019, when Allen challenged Mahomes to a friendly competition during a Super Bowl week interview with Barstool Sports. In August, Allen told NFL Network’s Good Morning Football that he and Mahomes had a tentative arrangement to settle the debate this offseason, but their plans were scuttled by the Covid-19 pandemic.’

‘Genuine top-tier teams perform that way. The Bills still seem to have all the necessary ingredients to qualify as a serious contender, and are getting healthier, so there is no reason for them to play like a pretender.’

‘Bills run game vs. Chiefs front four. Keeping quarterback Patrick Mahomes off the field is the best defense. The Chiefs likely believe they have the defensive backs to match up with the Bills’ four-receiver set. Maybe the Bills can use motion to create mismatches on the edge in the run game. The Chiefs are a little softer on the edge than up the middle. Use the jet-sweep action to manipulate the linebackers and then use some pulling linemen to get a numbers advantage on the edges. The Bills are averaging 3.8 yards per rush on 122 carries out of 11 personnel and 5.5 yards on just 16 carries out of 10 personnel. The Bills need to run better out of three wides.’

‘Prediction: Chiefs 35, Bills 27.’

‘However, it’s hard to see the Bills’ defense, which has been poor in most phases since the start of the season but especially when it comes to dealing with the pass, doing what’s necessary to make the big stop when needed. The Chiefs are likely to produce just one or two more big plays than the Bills, and that will be the difference. Chiefs, 30-27.’

‘Toss in the Bills’ recent 6-2 record against the spread at home on Mondays and we’ve got the making of another KC defeat.’

‘In February, when the Chiefs won Super Bowl LIV, the chant that goes with the chop could be heard at various points throughout the broadcast – and the game announcers didn’t even mention it. But the world has changed since the death of George Floyd in May; the nation is looking, with fresh eyes, at the issue of systemic racism. We are drawing closer to the day when the Chiefs – and the Indians, Braves and Chicago Blackhawks – will all dispense with those team names.’