The Buffalo Bills are making their fifth visit to Kansas City in 34-plus months but it certainly doesn’t feel like a welcoming second home.
The Bills are back in the Midwest on Sunday to face the defending Super Bowl champion, and the game has a must-win feel for a Buffalo squad that has lost four of its past six games.
The Bills (6-6) are fresh off a bye but sit on the outside of the playoff race with five games remaining.
“We don’t want to be in situations like this but we feel like we’ve been in this situation before, and it has produced some of our best football,” Bills quarterback Josh Allen said.
The Bills have performed well in recent regular-season visits to Kansas City, prevailing 38-20 in 2021 and 24-20 last season.
Buffalo hasn’t done well in the postseason during the recent flurry of visits, falling 38-24 in the AFC Championship Game on Jan. 24, 2021, and 42-36 in overtime in the AFC Divisional round on Jan. 23, 2022.
Standout left tackle Dion Dawkins made it clear that Kansas City is not a second home to the Bills.
“Kansas City is always a nice rest stop,” Dawkins said. “A lot of history, a lot of battles, a lot of emotion there. A home away from home? No. There is no home away from Buffalo, which is a full home. …
“Enemy territory. We’re going to fight on a different battlefield.”
KC (8-4) has its own set of struggles with losses in three of its past five games.
Last Sunday’s 27-19 loss to the host Green Bay Packers marked the fourth time Kansas City scored 21 or fewer points during the five-game stretch.
Patrick Mahomes, who threw for 424 yards in an October victory over the Los Angeles Chargers, has been held to 210 or fewer yards in three of the past four games.
The Kansas City offence that usually is near the top of the league is tied for 11th in scoring at 22.9 points per game and ranks eighth in total offence at 362.6.
But Mahomes said the drop-off in production has not sapped positive energy from the squad.
“We have confidence every week that we will find a way to win the football game,” Mahomes said. “Obviously, these last few weeks we’ve lost a couple.
“But we still have that mindset. We understand the challenge ahead that’s in front of us.”
That challenge includes the Bills, who are tied for fifth in scoring (27.3) and sit fourth in total offence (383.3).
Buffalo also will be borderline desperate as it can’t afford to fall below .500 on Sunday.
“We look forward to the challenge of playing the Bills,” Kansas City coach Andy Reid said. “Obviously, a good football team. They’re familiar with us, we’re familiar with them. … They’re a talented football team, one that we respect.”
Reid expressed concern with a shoulder injury sustained by running back Isiah Pacheco, who rushed for 110 yards and a touchdown against Green Bay. Pacheco sat out practice Wednesday as did left tackle Donovan Smith (neck), safety Bryan Cook (ankle) and linebacker Drue Tranquill (concussion).
Running back Jerick McKinnon (groin), who sat out the past two games, returned to practice on a limited basis.
The Bills opened the 21-day practice window for tight end Dawson Knox (wrist) and cornerback Kaiir Elam (ankle) on Wednesday. Safety Taylor Rapp (neck) and cornerback Dane Jackson (concussion) both returned to practice as full participants after missing the Week 12 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles.
Bills edge rusher Von Miller declined to take questions at his locker on Thursday, a week after turning himself in to police in a Dallas suburb after allegedly assaulting the mother of his children, who is pregnant.
Miller simply shook his head no and said “not today” when approached by reporters in the first instance he’s made himself available since being charged in a warrant for domestic violence.
Miller returned to practice after having a previously scheduled veteran rest day on Wednesday, which marked the Bills’ first session since returning from their bye week off. General manager Brandon Beane on Wednesday said the Bills are letting the legal process play out in allowing Miller to practice and continue playing.
Miller is expected to suit up on Sunday.
The 34-year-old Miller faces a charge of third-degree felony assault of a pregnant woman, which is punishable by two to 10 years in prison and a US$10,000 fine. He is free after posting a US$5,000 bond. The woman and Miller have been in a relationship for seven years.
Reuters, with a report from The Associated Press