Looking at Race for the #1 Seed

[May Day 10]

1 hour ago, JohnNord said:

The first round bye is nice but as we saw last season, home field isn’t the end-all some portray it to be.  Kansas City was able to beat Buffalo and Baltimore in their building on consecutive weeks.    If you’re a good team, it doesn’t matter where you play.  

 

So unless your team can’t play in winter weather, I don’t think it’s completely necessary.  

 

Id say health is a major factor, and while home field is nice, that bye is just as good.  

 

The AFC East being wrapped up early (if that is what happens) could possibly give Buffalo a bye in week 18.  Along with other injury luck, that could go a long way.  They have won in Arrowhead before (and for all intents and purposes did so in the 13 seconds game).

 

 

[JohnNord]

33 minutes ago, LABILLBACKER said:

Unfortunately the legend of this great home field advantage in Buffalo has waned. We lost to Burrow and Mahomes at home with our fans giving their best effort. Not even the elements seem to favor us anymore.  I think realistically we get the 2 seed. This team can keep their focus on the road. The key to this year's playoff success will fall on the health of our defense. 

Agreed… health is more important home field.   

5 minutes ago, May Day 10 said:

 

Id say health is a major factor, and while home field is nice, that bye is just as good.  

 

The AFC East being wrapped up early (if that is what happens) could possibly give Buffalo a bye in week 18.  Along with other injury luck, that could go a long way.  They have won in Arrowhead before (and for all intents and purposes did so in the 13 seconds game).

 

 

The bye is the best part about the #1 seed.   But again… it didn’t help Baltimore last season and the year before it almost didn’t help KC as they narrowly beat Cincinnati.  
 

Like I said, good teams can win anywhere.

[PonyBoy]

1 hour ago, JohnNord said:

The first round bye is nice but as we saw last season, home field isn’t the end-all some portray it to be.  Kansas City was able to beat Buffalo and Baltimore in their building on consecutive weeks.    If you’re a good team, it doesn’t matter where you play.  

 

So unless your team can’t play in winter weather, I don’t think it’s completely necessary.  

 

You took the post right out of my mouth.

 

I would also add health! Getting some guys back with a few live games to get in game shape & stay healthy. 

 

It's something we really haven't been able to do these past 5-6 years. An absolute must if we are to win it all IMO.

 

[Alphadawg7]

3 hours ago, Warriorspikes51 said:

It may be a bit early to discuss, but we are basically at the season midpoint. 

 

KC  7-0

BUF  6-2

I expect the AFC North teams to take each other out

KC Schedule

Unless the Bucs or Broncos win at Arrowhead, KC will be 9-0 coming to Orchard Park.

The only other challenging games on their schedule are PIT and HOU.

KC has a floor of 13 wins IMO.  Very likely they get to 14  

 

 

 

Personally, I don't see a very good chance of the #1 Seed.

 

BAL having 3 losses already & HOU losing last night certainly helps though. 
 

If we can win the next 2 games and beat KC to have the H2H Tiebreaker, we could have a legit shot at it 

 

If we beat them head to head here coming up soon, we will actually have a pretty good shot at the #1 seed.  I think the remaining schedule is harder for the Chiefs than the Bills, so if we beat them, we only need to win 1 more game than them over the remainder of the season.  And I think there are more "loseable" games for KC on their schedule than I think that are currently on the Bills schedule.  

 

[Goin Breakdown]

Cheifs

lions

Rams

49rs

 

No way there isn't at least 1 or 2 losses right there throwing us all into a frenzy. 
KC isn't going to go undefeated but they don't have this kind of a hurdle to jump over. I just don't see them losing to anyone on their schedule aside from Buffalo

I don't see a 1 seed in there for Buffalo. 
 

[TheWei44]

Unlikely but possible we get the #1 seed (win the next three and let's talk then!).  But as others have said, rest at the end of the regular season is critical, so having division/seeding locked up before Week 18 would be pretty awesome too!

[Warriorspikes51]

18 minutes ago, TheWei44 said:

Unlikely but possible we get the #1 seed (win the next three and let's talk then!).  But as others have said, rest at the end of the regular season is critical, so having division/seeding locked up before Week 18 would be pretty awesome too!

True, we could somewhat offset not getting the #1  (if not available in the final week)  by resting the starters 

[BigAl2526]

Dethroning KC as the top seed is a long shot.  There is a better chance KC loses to somebody in the playoffs before Buffalo would have to play them, and Buffalo gets home field that way.

[VW82]

How is it possible our schedule includes AFCE x2 and somehow Chiefs still have an easier road? 

 

Edit: @ Lions is obviously really tough but don't sleep on @ Rams. I continue to believe Stafford is the most underrated QB in the league. He just needs protection and some help to put up a lot of points. With Puka back, they're dangerous. 

Edit2: notwithstanding what happened in Jan, home field vs. Chiefs is massive. I'd bet the house on us at home but not on the road vs. that team.

Edited November 1 by VW82

[PoundingDog]

I'm less concerned about the #1 seed. Playing well at the right time and the ability to play above the scheme are more important.

 

The Bills having a number of young promising players this year is what encourages me. 2nd year guys like Cook/Torrence are already there, just need to maintain that level. Can Kincaid improve in the 2nd half, adapting to the attention teams are giving to him? Can Dorian Williams still get better after the bye? Can Coleman/Carter/Davis continue their trend of improving along with the season? The signs are all positive. We are no longer in the world of veterans Diggs/Gabe/Knox world where what you see in the 1st half is what you get in the 2nd half/playoff. 

[Rigotz]

Honestly, this is just my opinion … looking up at the #1 seed every week makes the season less fun for me.

 

I did that the last 3 years and it makes every loss or Chiefs/Ravens/Bengals win hurt so much more.
 

Why is there no joy in having the 2 or 3 seed? You probably get to rest your starters the last week this year and you get to play what will likely be a very weak team in round 1 in your stadium.

 

Yes, of course the 1 seed is a fantastic advantage, but I personally won’t torment myself with the pursuit of it as a fan this year. Or at least, I’ll try not to.

[Rockinon]

5 hours ago, Dillenger4 said:

I'm more worried about Baltimore. Playing them (potentially) in the playoffs would be tough. They already proved they can run it down our throats and in colder weather I bet they try to do the same. Our D line and LB's aren't built for the tough ground pounding that Balt is built around. KC isn't as tough that way.

I hope Beaner makes a move for a good DT to help shore the D line vs the run pounders. Or maybe... a good LB as I doubt Milano comes back as the same guy.

Playing them in a snow game in the playoffs is scary.

[frostbitmic]

Outside of the Chiefs losing to the Bills, losing Kermit to season ending injury, team wide food poisoning or boredom is the only thing that'll keep the Chiefs from 16-1.

[machine gun kelly]

6 hours ago, 90sBills said:

I see it working out this way…

 

KC #1

Bills #2

Balt #3

Hou #4

Pitt #5

LAC #6

Den #7

 

This will most likely how things will shake out. Bills will have a great shot at reaching the superbowl. 

Agreed so basically we get two home games and then off to KC again for the AFCCG.  We can hope someone slips up the chiefs in the playoffs as their offense looks suspect.

[Rockinon]

Buffalo's offense is showing signs of improvement. Almost looking unstoppable. Injuries on defense is improving too. I wouldn't rule out the possibility that the Bills run the table all the way to the playoffs. 

[boater]

#1 seed.... he's dead, Jim.

[90sBills]

1 hour ago, machine gun kelly said:

Agreed so basically we get two home games and then off to KC again for the AFCCG.  We can hope someone slips up the chiefs in the playoffs as their offense looks suspect.

Yup. With this scenario it’d be Den then Balt. I’d be more confident if Cincy doesn’t somehow sneak in over Denver. That team has the Bills number for some reason. 

[gonzo1105]

Way too early to get into this. I mean anything can happen but it doesn't look likely to get the 1. Just be healthy and get the right matchups more than anything.

[LABILLBACKER]

37 minutes ago, Rockinon said:

Buffalo's offense is showing signs of improvement. Almost looking unstoppable. Injuries on defense is improving too. I wouldn't rule out the possibility that the Bills run the table all the way to the playoffs. 

If all 4 of our rotational DE's stay healthy along with Bernard and Milano being at least 90%, then "yes" we have a great shot. 

[aristocrat]

Gotta best Miami Indy and kc. Kc can’t keep winning the way they’re playing can they? I mean mahomes still has more picks than tds. That just isn’t sustainable they will drop a couple like that