PBF81

He's been planning this for years.

LOL If that ain't the truth. Just like the TV announcers contradicting themselves repeatedly and from week to week. e.g., That's why [insert team name] can come back in games, because of [insert player's name] ability to step it up in the 2nd half. vs. ... 10 minutes later, ... That's why [team] struggles, because opponents focus on [insert same player's name] and shut him down, and in the 2nd half they have to start going to [team facet] more, because he's ineffective. It's mindboggling. The schizophrenia is hilariously amusing.

The best course of action upon entering the GDT is to make damn sure you've got a good sense of humor. The GDT is comedy gold! Gold Jerry!

Generally speaking I agree with most of that. I will say however, that the past seasons' success of the Chiefs seems to be leading the charge on any projections for this season. Yes, obviously. But keep in mind, we're not trying to defend HIll and Waddle here either. The only non-JAG WR on their entire team is Rice, who's a rookie and has already outperformed rookie expectations for any rookie. Now he faces his first post-season game ever, in as adversarial conditions as he'll ever see in the NFL much less his rookie season. It's far from unreasonable to suspect that our depth CBs can cover their JAG WRs. Hyde and Poyer are both fine, which is probably more important in this particular game in talking about matchups. Kelce's had his worst season in years. He's at less than half of his TD production over the three seasons prior to this one. His yards-per-reception are at a career low. His 1st-Down production is the worst it's been since he took off as a TE. This Chiefs' passing team is far from the best we've faced on the season. It shouldn't require an all-star secondary to defend against it. After Rice there's not a WR worth mentioning, as pointed out at the beginning of the season, and again, he's a rookie facing a game that he's never experienced before. If we cannot at minimum match our rushing output from the first game, then it's high time to have a serious conversation about our coaching on the offensive side. Agreed, per above. This is where McD earns his status and proves to all of his skeptics that he's the one for the job. Pacheco did not play in our first game, but if we can limit him, then we should be fine. He's a dual-threat. Kelce's on the downward trend and Rice is a rookie, as mentioned. Pacheco is key against our 15th Total Yards and 28th Yards-per-Carry against rushing D that quite frankly, hasn't faced much top-10 rushing competition, either from a team or a RB perspective. Philly and Miami are the only two teams among the top-12 rushing teams that we've faced in YPG. Fins 6th, Eagles 8th. Neither are in the playoffs at this point. As well, we've faced only two teams, the same two, ranked among the top-12 in Yards-per-Carry rushing. Perhaps not directly, but obviously stats have a lot to do with it. The coaching staff is obviously using metrics, aka stats, to formulate their game-plan as we interact here. At the end of the day however, if we cannot hang at least what we did in KC in terms of rushing on them, here, in Buffalo, then it's time to have a more serious conversation about our coaching, particularly on offense. Also, Mahomes and the Chiefs are 7-0 when they have 266+ passing yards. They've crossed the 300 passing yard mark only twice, against the Chargers and Bears, and neither of those two teams has a good defense. Even banged up, ours is better. Of those aforementioned teams, only one, Jax, finished with a winning record. So, at the end of the day, if Mahomes has a big passing D, and we cannot run effectively against them, then we'll be in the shallow end of the talent pool in terms of teams that failed to do so, and again, it will be time to have a more serious discussion re: our coaching. I'm expecting a 20 point victory by us. Finally, the thing that I've not seen a lot of mention of, is Davis in addressing your concerns about our passing game vs. their secondary. Strangely, Davis has been our most consistent performer in the past two seasons' playoffs, obviously not including our last game since he didn't play. In his four playoff games otherwise, with 26 targets, 18 catches (69% Catch%), for 389 yards, and 6 TDs. He posted two 100-yard games with 4 and 1 TDs, more than even Diggs. He was the sole reason alongside Allen as to why we've won our only D-round matchup under McD. In those same four games, our other WRs collectively had 33 catches for 564 yards and 2 TDs, with a much lower aggregate catch %. Those 2 TDs came from Sanders in '21 and Beasley last season. No one currently on the roster as a WR has done much in the playoffs. We can argue as to why, but that's a fact. Diggs has had one good game in those four. Last week our leading WR went 7 for 52, no TDs. That was Diggs. I for one am curious as how it goes w/o Davis, but also why that is. 48 hours from now we'll know more. GO BILLS!!!

See my post here as my reaction to that. I agree with the above to a large extent, the first sentence to a T. But we still have a worse record than last season, with an easier schedule. In fact, this schedule is the easiest we've had since 2008. https://www.twobillsdrive.com/community/topic/252672-this-is-why-our-team-is-in-good-hands/page/2/#comments

Once again, they're a .500 team that has beaten one and only one playoff team all season, Miami, which again, probably says more about Miami than it does about KC. We appear to be notably better than Miami. And once again, we're talking about our offense, not our back-7, the latter part of which has been injured to one extent or another for two seasons now. Poyer and Hyde are both fine, so I'm not sure I'd say decimated. And yes, we might be down our 3 starting CBs, but that's doubtful as they're all listed as Questionable. Either way, that has nothing to do with whether we produce a balanced offensive game-plan or not. Sorry, but relying on a defense, at pretty much full strength, that allowed 24 points to a team led by a 7th-round rookie QB draftee in his third, and only second consecutive start, at home, in the snow and cold, and 27 points, 30 1st-Downs, and 412 yards the following week to a team featuring an backup OL, doesn't appear to be a wise thing to do, particularly when that same defense has worse season metrics than that prior defense. Offense will determine this game for us. If all we can do is muster 14 offensive and need STs or D TDs to win this, then good luck to us. Having said that, hopefully Brady has come up with something a little more creative than merely allowing Josh to ad hoc everything and we'll produce a balanced attack with 150 plus in the rushing category against the league's 17th ranked yardage rushing D and 24th ranked yards-per-carry rushing D. Many of these discussions go on as if KC has no weaknesses. They have plenty, to be exploited by those knowing how to do so, this season. To start, their rush D sucks. Their WRs suck with the exception of the developing rookie Rice, Kelce's play has clearly diminished as should have been expected at his age of 34. The home crowd is going to be raucous and IMO the harshest yet for an opponent. It's difficult to envision many Chiefs fans in attendance either. It's tough to envision them scoring much despite a few injured players that also might all play. Against playoff teams during the entire season, the Chiefs have put up 14 & 26 offensive against Miami, 20 against Detroit, 17 against Philly, and 19 against Green Bay, and 17 against us. That's an average of 19 PPG against playoff caliber competition, and of those defenses, we have the best, and it's hardly as if the others are barking up our rear in the rankings. 26, 20, 19, 17, 17, and 14. Philly has the 30th ranked scoring D, Detroit the 23rd, Miami the 22nd, Green Bay the 10th, and us the 4th. IOW, if we allow more than 20 points at home, with Mahomes having a difficult time hearing himself much less his team hearing him, and if we ourselves cannot put up at least that 20, then expect a fully justifiable cascade of criticism. Having said that, I expect our O to put up that 30+ in this game and KC to get sent home unceremoniously packing. GO BILLS!!!

We have almost no significant injuries on offense. And our DL is just fine. We're talking about scoring on KC.

You may want to reserve judgement until after the playoffs, whenever that is. We've played and beaten only two of the current field of playoff teams remaining. They are the two weakest offenses among them. We barely beat both. One of those teams got in at 9-8. Our D hasn't been known for stepping up in the playoffs. We've had the easiest schedule we've had since 2008. Those are facts. We're all optimistic but let's see if McD can get a monkey off his back.

From Pegula yes, from fans& media no.

It certainly raises the question why we don't perform better in January then. Either we start winning some January games (plural) or that's going to be the topic du jour for many jours.

They is no reason why we should lose this game, none! KC is both weak contrasted with prior seasons and overrated. We are at home. They're 0-1 against playoff teams on the road, having lost to GB 27-19. We can cross that bridge once we get there, but one single Divisional round win in 6 seasons when you have Josh Allen definitely invites questioning at the absolute minimum. Having pointed that out, GO BILLS!!!

I'm not sure that, and given our season history here, that we can afford to sleep on any QB. ... most of all Mahomes. Just sayin'.

I wouldn't sleep on Mahomes coming back even if we're up by 17. Per my initial post here, if we go up and start playing conservatively on offense to "kill the clock" or whatever, IMO that will be a mistake. We need to try to score on every single drive. Otherwise, to add to what you said, TOs will also be key. We are 8-2 when the opponent commits 2+ TOs. We are 3-5 when we commit 2+ TOs. So there's that.

My gut's telling me that this is an incredibly winable game against a team that's incredibly overrated. To start, the Chiefs have been playing .500 ball since the last weekend in October. Their offense has averaged 20 PPG over that stretch. They've beaten only one playoff team, Miami, despite having beaten them twice, which probably says more about Miami than it does about KC. Of their 6 losses, three were against playoff teams (GB, Detroit, Buffalo) and the other three were against bubble playoff teams. If our offense is schemed properly and we take advantage of matchups and adjust accordingly, not merely at the half, but in-game, there's no reason why we cannot hit the 30 mark. The Packers hung 27 on them and we're better offensively, when we choose to be, than they are. Bothering me is that in the Pitt game it seemed as is up by 11 in a game very much still in play, it seemed as if we went into run-the-clock-out mode in the middle of the 3rd. Our team is solid. We've won one Divisional Round game in 7 seasons under McD. If anything prevents us from winning this one it'll be coaching as McD is going up against one of the best coaches in the game today. Offense is our strength, particularly now with some injuries on D. The DL is fine and our secondary's been banged up to one extent or another for two seasons now. It's the LBs and they're questionable, but either way, Klein comes in as well. Not a great matchup for Kelce, but as I've pointed out all season, Kelce at 34 would begin to diminish and the WRs that KC has are JAGs other than for Rice who's come on, but is still a rookie. He's good, but far from great. KC depends wildly upon Pacheco playing well to win. Furthermore, KC is 3-5 when they allow 118+ rushing. 1-3 when they allow more than 123. If we can't get 150 yards rushing with Cook having come off a decent game vs. Pitt and Allen, it would be stunning. With our fans being rabid, I see a repeat of the '91 season playoff game where DeBerg couldn't hear himself think. ... again, assuming that Brady/McD don't shell-up once we get a marginal lead.

Look over your head, ... that thing with contrails behind it is humor.

If you want to save some money, just go to Dollar Tree and buy a dish for a buck-and-a-quarter.

Bills 37 Chiefs 21

We're all but perfectly healthy on offense and that's all that should matter. Keep in mind that our defense has typically folded at this juncture in our recent playoffs. Either way, even if it's a track meet, it favors us. I mean the OLs are comparable. Would we rather have Mahomes/Pacheco/Kelce/Rice and a bunch of JAGs, or Allen/Cook/Diggs/Kincaid/Shakir/Knox and Davis who may be back. Easy decision as I see it. Then throw in homefield. Coaching is definitely a wildcard.

LOL Yeah, I do. We're the better team. Of course that's also assuming we don't outcoach ourselves.

The key is at the LoS however. That's where the illegal-procedures will occur.

Their offense is worse this season, notably. They're a lot more reliant upon Pacheco and the running game than they've been in the past. Their WRs are second-rate except for the developing rookie Rasheed. Their D is better, but only in pass D. Our fans are going to be over-the-top up for this game, it reminds me of the home playoff games of the '90s where we went expecting to win, not hoping to win. I see this as a repeat of the '91 season game where Kelly couldn't hear squat at Arrowhead, asked the officials to calm the noise, they refused. At our home playoff game vs. the Chiefs it was so quiet when we were on offense that you could hear Kelly's calls clearly. When the Chiefs had the ball, ... LOL, you couldn't hear yourself. Just hoping that Houston wins as I think they can. Gotta love Stroud, and that would be a good home playoff game too, but better than @ the Ravens.

They lost to the Packers and Lions who put up 382 and 368 respectively. Our offense is more than good enough, sans coaching inadequacies or blunders, to do the same. Allen. We're 12-2 when we rush for 100+ We're 0-4 when we do not

Well, they didn't shut down us, the Packers, Eagles or Raiders in recent weeks before that and lost all four games. Hence the data. Also, they haven't beaten a playoff team all season other than for Miami. Talk about playing with house money.

Balanced Offense The Chiefs are 3-5 when their opponents run for 118+. 1-3 at 123+. The Chiefs rushing D is not good. Cook & Co. with a few Allen runs sprinkled in for good measure should be enough regardless of the D.

If we're comparing coaches, perhaps waiting until ours posts only his second Divisional Round win in 7 seasons while having the premier QB in the league and despite winning the division for four straight seasons would be wise, and then crowing when and only when he doesn't hand a Super Bowl appearance and win to our opponent on a silver platter in the next round. Just sayin'. For now, Tomlin can say that his Super Bowl ring is bigger and nicer than McD's.