A column by CHUCK POLLOCK, Sun Senior Sports Columnist
It’s happening again.
For the fourth time in five seasons the Buffalo Bills (15-4) and Kansas City Chiefs (16-2) are meeting in the NFL playoffs.
Come Sunday night at KC’s Arrowhead Stadium (6:30 CBS-TV, Bills Radio Network) these two original American Football League franchises — though the Chiefs actually started in Dallas — will bid for which team represents the AFC in Super Bowl LIX two weeks hence at New Orleans.
Buffalo, coached by Sean McDermott in his eighth year, has not fared well against his mentor, Kansas City’s Andy Reid, his former boss, in the postseason.
This will be their fourth meeting and McDermott is 0-3. After the 2020 campaign, it was a 38-24 spanking at Arrowhead. A year later came the nightmarish “13 seconds” loss that looms as the worst in Bills’ history — with apologies to “Wide Right” — featuring two major coaching gaffes that produced a 42-36 overtime defeat in which Buffalo never even got the ball.
Last season, with the Bills playing at home, KC prevailed 27-24 as Buffalo missed a 44-yard field goal in the final two minutes that would have tied it.
Now it’s back to Kansas City and another meeting with Reid, for whom McDermott worked 12 years, the last two as defensive coordinator before he was let go. Then came six years as DC in Carolina before he was hired by the Bills.
In the last eight seasons, McDermott has beaten Reid four times in five meetings, but that record has been overshadowed by those three playoff losses.
And this time, the Chiefs are playing for history. Reid has won three Super Bowls for KC, including ther last two. If he can pull it off this year, it would be unprecedented in NFL history.
So, in the week before the game, both McDermott and quarterback Josh Allen, a strong contender for the league’s MVP, talked about the pressure of playing such an accomplished team with a bid for the Super Bowl at stake.
McDERMOTT, whose Bills are a 1.5- or 2-point underdog depending on the betting service, understands what his team is facing and is grateful for the support of Buffalo’s fan base.
“In order to win, you can’t be afraid to lose … I think those two go hand-and-hand,” he said. “We’ve played at home, we’ve gone on the road and our fans travel anywhere we play. We’ve got the best fans in the NFL and the connection with our fan base, as I’ve said multiple times over, is unique in the NFL.”
Of the Chiefs, he added, “Conceptually, some of the things they’re doing … they’re a very talented team with a lot of speed on the field. It makes sense in how Andy’s been able to lead that offense for a number of years now and for this team that we’re going to play to have the amount of success that they’ve had. I’m sure there’s a lot that goes with all that success … an incredible selection of talent and scheme.”
And despite Kansas City’s success, McDermott admitted, “It’s probably not as appreciated as it should be … how one team is able to sustain success in such a highly-competitive, week-to-week league like the NFL. That’s a great example of continuing to evolve over time and trying to stay out in front of trends, roster-wise, scheme-wise, coaching-wise.
“That’s always what we’re trying to do every year. What can we do better, where’s the league going and how can we stay out in front. We’ve played each other multiple times now. When you have two good teams, you kind of see each other frequently … so we have a lot of respect for them.”
THIS WILL be Allen’s fourth playoff game against the Chiefs and 13th postseason start overall (7-5).
“You always remember the feeling of not pulling through … that sticks with you for awhile and really doesn’t leave,” he said. “But every year in this league you learn more things about yourself, about your team, about the game of football and I’m grateful and humbled to have another opportunity at it.
“There are only four teams playing right now and we just love the opportunity that we have.
“Typically, when people think of Buffalo and what’s going on right now, they think of the snow and cold … you’ve gotta be pretty tough to be in a place like this and we feel we’ve got guys in this locker room that maybe haven’t gotten all the recognition that they deserve … some coming in here on the last legs of their career to prove something, not just to the world but to themselves. That’s pretty special in this locker room, it’s such a tight-knit group, we hang so much around each other, outside the facility as well. Just a lot of love in this locker room and a lot of love in the city.”
As for his reaction to the playoff pressure, Allen said, “It’s maybe changed since I’ve gotten into the league. Early on it was anxiousness and eagerness … that’s maybe there a little bit but also gratefulness to be back in this situation and having a chance to play in the Super Bowl. But obviously you’ve got to put in the work and not cheat and put your best foot forward to have a shot.”
IN ASSESSING the Chiefs, he said, “They control the ball extremely well, they don’t make bad decisions. Patrick Mahomes is one of the greatest quarterbacks ever to play the game and they’re one of the greatest teams to ever be assembled. They’re going after a three-peat and that’s what everybody wants is the sustained success that they’ve had. They play great situational football, they understand when it’s time to go and when it’s time to fend off someone.”
The irony is Buffalo led the league in plus-minus turnovers in the regular season, forcing 32 and committing only eight, giving them a plus-24 that easily topped the league. Kansas City was 10th at +6.
What has Allen learned about postseason football?
“Understanding how the week’s going to be, understanding the emotions and the feelings you’re going to feel throughout the week… when you’re trying to sleep and it’s all that you can think about,” he said. “There was a stat that all the playoff teams that got out-gained still won the game because they won the turnover margin (and) it shows the importance how each-and-every drive matters in the playoffs.
“I feel that’s something I’ve learned throughout the years … especially in the first and second quarter ‘Let’s not do anything to hurt ourselves and give ourselves a chance in the third or fourth,'” Allen said.
He admitted having a responsibility to alert his teammates what’s at stake.
“(I have to make) sure they understand that this doesn’t happen all the time for every team … being in a moment like this,” he said. “There are a lot of guys who have played a lot of years in this league and have neverr played in the playoffs, let alone the AFC Championship Game. (I want to make) sure they enjoy the moment as well. You can get very consumed into this but at the end of the day we’re playing football … the same kids’ game I grew up loving.”
INJURY REPORT
Bills: Out, safety Taylor Rapp (back/hip); Questionable, linebacker Matt Milano (biceps, hamstring), cornerback Christian Benford (concussion), slot cornerback Taron Johnson (neck shoulder)
Chiefs: None
WEATHER
Temperatures in the low 20s, light winds 5-10 mph, 3% chance of precipitation
POLLOCK’S PICK: Chiefs 28, Bills 25
(Chuck Pollock, an Olean Star and Wellsville Sun senior sports columnist, can be reached at cpollock@wnynet.net.)
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