The top game of the NFL’s 9th game day takes place in Orchard Park: Buffalo Bills against Kansas City Chiefs is the AFC rivalry of the modern era. This time it’s a novelty – making it a must-win game. For both.
By Kai Esser
In the NFL’s 2000s it was Tom Brady vs. Peyton Manning, in the 2010s it was Tom Brady vs. Ben Roethlisberger, and in the 2020s the AFC’s biggest quarterback rivalry is Patrick Mahomes vs. Josh Allen.
On Sunday there will be the tenth duel between the two – MVP receives ex-MVP. Allen has been second in touchdowns, yards and wins since entering the league. Each behind – of course – Mahomes. Mahomes currently leads the comparison with 5-4 wins, but 1-4 in the regular season
However, in week 9 there will be a first: for the first time both are not at the top of their division when they meet. That’s another reason why they say: Losing is forbidden – for both the Buffalo Bills and the Kansas City Chiefs.
Buffalo Bills: Not division winners for the first time since 2019?
The New England Patriots are currently greeting you from the top of the AFC East. And thanks to a win in Buffalo. This defeat hurts the Bills not only because of the traditional rivalry with their neighbors from Massachusetts, but also because the tiebreaker would be gone for the time being. This means: If both teams have the same record, the Patriots would still be ahead.
So if the Bills lose and the Patriots beat the Atlanta Falcons beforehand, then it would effectively be two games that the Bills would be behind the team with the current longest winning streak in the league. Since 2020, the winner of the AFC East has always been Buffalo.
In addition, the Patriots are currently the only team with a positive record that head coach Sean McDermott’s men have played against – and they lost. Yes, the Bills are doing well at 5-2, but a win against Kansas City would be a statement to the people who don’t fully trust Buffalo yet.
And speaking of tiebreakers: A loss on the farewell tour of Highmark Stadium in Orchard Park would also mean that the Chiefs would have the upper hand over Josh Allen and Co. if there was a tie on the record.
Speaking of Highmark Stadium: The Bills will do everything in their power to ensure that Mahomes’ last game there is not a win. “I know they really don’t like us up there,” he said at a recent media roundtable.
Despite a wave of success: Kansas City Chiefs are threatening third place in the AFC West
Conversely, the Chiefs want to prevent this scenario. It’s hard to believe: It was only last week that head coach Andy Reid’s team made it into the playoff picture for the first time – and only as the seventh seed. The Chiefs have never been a wild card team with Mahomes!
In order for that not to change, Kansas City urgently needs a win. Because, analogous to the AFC East, at the top of the AFC West is the Denver Broncos, a team that currently has five wins in a row and is 6-2 and on the verge of stealing the division.
Even worse for KC: With the Los Angeles Chargers, a very competent team with the same record is currently in second place. A victory for the Chargers at the Tennessee Titans, and the Chiefs would also be one game behind the Chargers in third place in the division if they lost in New York State.
Chiefs have to ride the wave while they can
The three-time champion won five of the last six games. The offense is currently in a flow. “It’s really fun to play out there. I’m having more fun than I’ve had in a long time,” Mahomes said.
The Chiefs have to ride this wave of success for as long as possible. The AFC seems more balanced this year than it has in a long time. Also because the Chiefs got off to an unexpectedly bad start with 0-2.
And this duel is also about something personally for both quarterbacks: According to most bookmakers, Patrick Mahomes is currently the top favorite for the MVP title, directly ahead of Josh Allen. In addition to good individual stats, wins are a quarterback’s best currency in the most prestigious individual award the NFL has to offer.
And both of them would be lying if they said that they weren’t at least a little interested in it.
