The Buffalo Bills will host the Kansas City Chiefs at Highmark Stadium in Week 9, marking their first of four scheduled 4:25 p.m. kickoffs this season. The matchup comes earlier than last year, when the teams faced off in Week 11.
A key storyline is the ongoing rivalry between quarterbacks Josh Allen and Patrick Mahomes. Both have at least one MVP title and have set records throughout their careers. Sunday’s game will be their tenth meeting, including playoff games. In regular-season matchups, Allen holds a 4-1 advantage over Mahomes, while the Chiefs remain undefeated against Allen in postseason play. Over nine previous encounters, Allen has recorded 24 total touchdowns to five interceptions with an average of 255.6 passing yards per game; Mahomes has tallied 22 total touchdowns to three interceptions and averages nearly 274 passing yards per contest.
Comparing their current seasons, Mahomes ranks higher in passing yards per game (262.4, fourth) compared to Allen (222.9, eighteenth). However, Allen leads slightly in completion percentage (68% vs. Mahomes’ 67%). Mahomes leads the league with 21 total touchdowns; Allen is tied for fourth with 17.
The Chiefs struggled early this season after losing two of their first three games and averaging just 20 points per contest during that stretch. The absence of wide receivers Xavier Worthy (shoulder injury) and Rashee Rice (suspension for violating NFL personal conduct policy following his involvement in a multi-car crash in March 2024) impacted Kansas City’s offense. With both players now available, the Chiefs’ performance has improved significantly—they are averaging almost 31 points over their last five games.
“We have a ton of respect for them,” said Bills head coach Sean McDermott about Kansas City. “They’ve had, like us, a lot of success and been able to sustain it. So, they’re playing at a high level…We need to focus on how we can grow as a football team and move ourselves forward.”
Since Week 4, Kansas City’s offense has led the league in total yardage (415.8 yards per game), passing yards (278.2), ranks fourth in rushing yards (137.6), and is second-best in red zone efficiency at nearly 77%.
Buffalo’s defensive line enters this matchup after a strong showing against Carolina last week—seven sacks were recorded by seven different players and they forced three turnovers.
“It’s huge,” ESPN NFL analyst Dan Orlovsky said regarding Michael Hoecht’s return from suspension on One Bills Live: “And it’s even greater now because of obviously the injury with Ed (Oliver)…I thought he was great. I’ve been a huge fan of his since his time in LA, he’s an impactful rusher.”
Orlovsky emphasized that pass rush would be crucial against Mahomes: “The pass rush is going to be enormous because Patrick (Mahomes) looks as creative and elusive back there as he has looked in two or three seasons…So it’s going to be huge.”
Statistically this season, Buffalo ranks second-highest in defensive pressure rate at nearly ten percent according to TruMedia data and ties for eighth most sacks league-wide with twenty-two.
In preparation for facing Kansas City again—nine meetings over five years—the Bills are focusing on what works best for them rather than getting lost worrying about opponents’ strengths.
“What’s the strength and weaknesses of the offense? What’s the strength and weaknesses of each individual player?” said defensive coordinator Bobby Babich about his approach to planning for Kansas City.”And [we] try to put our guys in the best position possible to have success…understand what we do well…”
This season Buffalo leads all teams with an average possession time exceeding thirty-three minutes per game while holding opponents under twenty-seven minutes—the lowest allowed by any defense so far—and averages more than twenty-three first downs each week.
Orlovsky also noted that tight ends could play an important role Sunday given that Kansas City’s defense allows completions on eighty-two percent of passes targeted toward tight ends—the fourth-worst rate among NFL defenses: “I think the tight ends are enormous in this game…You can get some chunk throws against this defense with those two tight ends and play action game.” Dalton Kincaid currently averages almost fifteen yards per catch among tight ends through six games played.
As Week 9 approaches both teams sit within AFC playoff contention—Buffalo fifth at five wins/two losses; Kansas City seventh at five wins/three losses—with Indianapolis Colts leading conference standings followed by New England Patriots and Denver Broncos.
“Going into the season, that was the goal,” Bills radio analyst Eric Wood said about earning home-field advantage: “Get the conference championship game at home in Buffalo if you can get hot enough…This is going to be a major game just looking at how these two teams are likely going to finish this season.”
Kansas City held AFC’s top seed four times out of past five years; Buffalo has secured second seed each year during same span.
