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Bills vs. Chiefs: 3 key matchups to watch in Week 11

The Buffalo Bills will host the Kansas City Chiefs in their upcoming Week 11 matchup.

Even though these two teams are extremely familiar with one another, it will still be the games, within the game, that will make all the difference.

Here are three key matchups to watch during Sunday’s Bills-Chiefs contest:

Bills running backs vs. Chiefs front seven

The Bills have enjoyed a resurgence in their running game this year. James Cook has had 80 or more rushing yards in three of his last five games, and he has five rushing touchdowns over that stretch. Buffalo has found a true complement to Josh Allen’s passing game. But, rushing yards should be tougher to come by this week.

The Chiefs allow the third-fewest rushing yards per game this year (83.2). And, advanced metrics back up their play, too. Kansas City ranks second in the NFL in defense rushing DVOA.

Whoever wins this matchup will play a big role in the game. If the Bills can run the ball effectively, it will open up anything they want to do on offense. If they can’t, they’ll have to rely on the arm and legs of Allen.

DE Greg Rousseau vs. LT Wanya Morris

Kansas City’s left tackle has had his struggles this year, and he’s coming off a knee injury in Week 10. Rousseau, on the other hand, is having his best season as a pro.

Morris ranks as the 62nd-best offensive tackle in the NFL according to Pro Football Focus, while Rousseau grades as the eighth-best pass rusher among edge defenders.

Rousseau has just 5.5 sacks through ten games, but he has been consistently getting after the passer. He ranks fourth in the NFL with 19 QB knockdowns and is tied for 10th in the NFL with 22 pressures.

Patrick Mahomes vs. the second level of Bills’ D

The Chiefs quarterback loves to get the ball out quickly in head coach Andy Reid’s offense. They put a lot of trust in their skill players to catch underneath passes and produce yards after the catch. In turn, this puts a lot of stress on Bills defenders to make plays in space.

More specifically, Buffalo’s linebackers (and slot corner Taron Johnson) will have their hands full while trying to stop the run, cover the pass, and make sound tackles in space.

When these teams met in the divisional round of last season’s playoffs, the Bills were without Terrel Bernard in the middle of the defense. They had trouble on defense in that game, so we will see what kind of difference Bernard can make in this rivalry.

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3 keys to a Bills victory vs. the Chiefs in Week 11

The Buffalo Bills will play the Kansas City Chiefs at home at Highmark Stadium in Week 11.

The Bills (8-2) are looking to build on a five-game win streak, while the Chiefs (9-0) haven’t lost since Christmas Day in 2023.

Buffalo is favored to win by 2.5 points in this one. In the Patrick Mahomes-Josh Allen era, the Chiefs hold the advantage over the Bills, winning four of the seven meetings. However, Buffalo is 3-1 in the regular season against KC.

Even though the Bills are favored, the Chiefs are undefeated for a reason.

The Bills will need to execute their game plan to pick up their ninth win of the year.

With that, here are three keys to a Bills win in Week 11:

Make stops on third down

The Chiefs have the NFL’s best third-down offense. They convert on third downs 52% of the time. They can stay on the field longer because they convert on the most crucial down more than anyone. Kansas City leads the league in time of possession.

Although the Chiefs offense isn’t as explosive as they have been in past years (11th in points per game), they don’t have to be. Kansas City keeps the opposing team’s offense off the field and limit points from the opposition. If the Bills defense could get off the field on some crucial third downs, it would improve their chances greatly.

Make drives count

Because the Chiefs dominate time of possession, their defense has seen only 87 drives so far this year, which is the least in the NFL. That means, on average, opposing teams only get about 9.5 drives per game. If you are Buffalo, you need to make those possessions count.

The more drives that end in a touchdown for the Bills, the more difficult it will be for the Chiefs to play their 2024 brand of football. Every possession in the NFL is something to be cherished, but against a team like the Chiefs, you must take advantage of opportunities when you get them. They don’t come around often for Kansas City’s opponents this year.

Get pressure on Mahomes

The Chiefs have had difficulty at their left tackle position this year. Rookie Kingsley Suamataia got the nod to start the year but was replaced by Wanya Morris in Week 3 due to performance. Morris, although more consistent than Suamataia, still struggles at times. He has received a 56.4 offense grade this year according to Pro Football Focus, which ranks 62nd in the NFL among tackles.

Bills edge rushers, Greg Rousseau in particular, should be in line for opportunities to get after Mahomes in Week 11.

The Chiefs have allowed four sacks in each of their last two games, and the Bills defense is coming off of a four-sack outing against the Indianapolis Colts.

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Andy Reid reveals status updates for Charles Omenihu, Isiah Pacheco ahead of Week 11 matchup vs. Bills

#Chiefs HC Andy Reid revealed status updates for Charles Omenihu and Isiah Pacheco ahead of Kansas City’s Week 11 matchup against the #Bills. | @EdEastonJr

The Kansas City Chiefs welcomed back two starters to practice on Wednesday after extended stints on injured reserve. Defensive lineman Charles Omenihu and running back Isiah Pacheco officially returned to practice, joining their teammates on the field in hopes of ramping up and getting ready for potential game action.

Chiefs head coach Andy Reid addressed the statuses of his returning players ahead of practice during his weekly podium press conference.

“As far as injuries go, Charles (Omenihu) and (Isiah) Pacheco will start working today, and we’ll just gradually build them up as we go. And that’s really it. Everybody else is practicing.”

Reid also quickly responded to a reporter’s question about their status for Week 11 as: “Unlikely.”

Pacheco has been out since fracturing his fibula in Week 2 against the Cincinnati Bengals. Omenihu suffered a torn ACL in the AFC Championship Game earlier this year against the Baltimore Ravens.

Each player’s return to the lineup will be welcomed, but there isn’t necessarily a rush to get them on the field without being 100 percent.

Third-year Chiefs CB impressed coaches during second career start: ‘He did a nice job’

Kansas City #Chiefs cornerback Nazeeh Johnson impressed coaches during second career start: ‘He did a nice job’ | @EdEastonJr

The Kansas City Chiefs have been hard hit with injuries on both sides of the ball this season but remain undefeated through nine games. Young players like Nazeeh Johnson have stepped up to help the team thrive through injury hardships.

Johnson recorded his first career sack in his second career start in last Sunday’s victory over the Denver Broncos. Head coach Andy Reid acknowledged his career game during the postgame press conference.

“I’m going to give credit to Nazeeh (Johnson) because Nazeeh never gets any credit – for leading the team in tackles,” said Reid. “he did a nice job there.”

Johnson finished his productive game by leading the team with ten tackles (six solo), including one for loss and one quarterback pressure. Week 10 marked his first double-digit tackle performance as the former 2022 NFL Draft seventh-round selection admirably fills in for injured starter Jaylen Watson.

Kansas City remains undefeated at 9-0 this season, becoming the fifth reigning Super Bowl champion to win its first nine games. They join the 2011 Green Bay Packers, 1998 Denver Broncos, 2015 New England Patriots, and 1990 San Francisco 49ers.

Coaches are praising Chiefs RB Kareem Hunt for his versatility: ‘He’s a good football player’

Coaches are praising Kansas City #Chiefs running back Kareem Hunt for his versatility: ‘He’s a good football player’ | @EdEastonJr

Kansas City Chiefs head coach Andy Reid addressed the media on Monday during his weekly Zoom press conference. He shared his thoughts on running back Kareem Hunt’s versatility being utilized in the passing game.

“Yeah, well, we think touches for him (Kareem Hunt) end up being important, whether he’s carrying it or – he’s a good football player, so you want to have him have an opportunity to show off those talents,” said Reid. He’s always been a good receiver. We weren’t getting as much out of the run game as we wanted to, so we started throwing it a little bit more, and he became an important part of that.”

Hunt had another busy afternoon. He was active in the passing game, leading the team in receiving yards with 65 and seven receptions. For the first time in weeks since signing with the team, he had below 20 carries but maintained his effectiveness as a receiver. Reid mentioned Hunt and other players’ heavy workload while dealing with the odd scheduling this season.

“It’s not as much the maybe the physical part as it is the time in between games. That’s what you’re managing. Then, it comes down to how the guys are feeling because of the short week.” said Reid. “That’s the way we did it last week. This is a normal week, so it’s not going to be quite like that. It’ll be a normal week of practice, but in this league, every game is physical. I mean, the parity in this league is crazy right now. You just check out some of these scores and go, ‘Jeez, it’s nuts.’ There’s – any given Sunday. It’s no more important than that is right now in this league. You better be on your A-game every week.”

The Chiefs will be on a traditional schedule this week with this Sunday’s game against the Buffalo Bills.

Chiefs Dave Toub receives praise for execution of game-winning field goal block

Kansas City #Chiefs special teams Dave Toub receives praise for execution of game-winning field goal block | @EdEastonJr

The Kansas City Chiefs pulled off an incredible victory last Sunday over the Denver Broncos due to a blocked potential game-winning field goal in regulation. Head coach Andy Reid spoke highly of the team’s play execution, led by special teams coordinator Dave Toub, during his weekly Zoom press conference on Monday.

“Yeah, I mean, the details of it become important. The players want that. They want you to detail it up for them.” said Reid. “It helps them even more to show what their talents are, and as a result, hopefully, you win a game or two. So Dave (Toub) spends a lot of time on that, right there. You guys watch all that. So you know there’s an emphasis on special teams and the details of it. So we needed it yesterday; that was a big play for us.”

Leo Chenal got his palm on the football as Will Lutz kicked it for the potential game-winner. The interior rush, mixed with pressure from Justin Reid on the outside, was flawlessly done, leading to a walk-off that went in Kansas City’s favor at Arrowhead Stadium. Chenal is the second player in the past 10 seasons to block a field goal on the final play to win, joining Payton Turner with the New Orleans Saints on September 11, 2022.

Chiefs HC Andy Reid responds to free agent veteran offensive lineman’s social media post

Kansas City #Chiefs head coach Andy Reid responds to free agent veteran offensive lineman Donovan Smith’s social media post | @EdEastonJr

Kansas City Chiefs head coach Andy Reid addressed the media on Monday during his weekly Zoom press conference. He gave his thoughts on free agent and former Chiefs left tackle Donovan Smith’s social media post, indicating that he’s available if the team needs a veteran offensive tackle.

“Listen, that’s in (Brett) Veach’s area. I mean, he looks at everything. So I’m not going to say no, but what we do as coaches, and we overemphasize, is we’re going to focus on these kids that are here,” said Reid. “They’re getting better. I know it’s hard to see at times, but there’s progress being made, and we’re going to be okay as we go forward.”

Reid continues to support his current young tandem of left tackles who struggled in last Sunday’s victory over the Denver Broncos. Wanya Morris and rookie Kingsley Suamataia have started games and rotated on the offensive line.

Smith was the starting left tackle on last year’s Chiefs Super Bowl-winning team, along with his previous title with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2020. The 31-year-old wasn’t re-signed in the offseason and is still interested in returning to Kansas City if necessary.

Chiefs HC Andy Reid on the game-winning blocked field goal: ‘I get to see that every day’

Kansas City #Chiefs head coach Andy Reid on the game-winning blocked field goal: ‘I get to see that every day’ | @EdEastonJr

The Kansas City Chiefs have found unique ways to win games lately, with Sunday’s victory over the Denver Broncos ranking high on the unlikely scale.

Chiefs head coach Andy Reid addressed the media immediately following the game, giving insight into the incredible blocked field goal that sealed the victory.

“I get to see that every day, we work that block and that last final shot there.” said Reid. “We did, but it’s also something that we work on like crazy, so – it normally doesn’t work quite like that, but that one, we had a couple of different guys. George (Karlaftis) was in there, too, I believe. I haven’t had a chance to look at the replay but it looked like we had a couple different guys in there.”

Special teams coordinator Dave Toub has worked with Reid for years and has practiced these scenarios in the past, so it wasn’t foreign to the league’s oldest head coach. Reid praised linebacker Leo Chenal, who got his hands on the kick, and credited his overall work since being drafted by the Chiefs.

“He’s (Leo Chenal) a great athlete, big strong kid, plays a hundred miles an hour, he does it in practice, he does it during games, plays anywhere and everywhere and never says anything,” said Reid. “(He) comes from a family – he’s got like 40 brothers and sisters, so he’s used to sharing, so he doesn’t really care about who gets the credit and doesn’t get the credit, he just goes.”

The victory does have its low moments, as the Chiefs were moments away from a loss, so the long-time head coach promised to work on more things during the week.

Chiefs HC Andy Reid reveals crucial injury update for Patrick Mahomes ahead of Week 10

Kansas City #Chiefs head coach Andy Reid reveals crucial injury update for Patrick Mahomes ahead of Week 10 | @EdEastonJr

Kansas City Chiefs head coach Andy Reid addressed the media on Friday, days before their AFC West matchup with the Denver Broncos. He revealed injury statuses for several players, including quarterback Patrick Mahomes.

“Alright, as far as the injuries go, JuJu(Smith-Schuster) will be the only one that’s out, everybody else practiced,” said Reid. “Turk (Tershawn Wharton) practiced today, so good thing he’s out there.”

Smith-Schuster continues battling a lingering hamstring issue that has kept him out of the past few games. Aside from the veteran receiver, Reid believes everyone else should be good to go on Sunday.

“Yeah, I think so,” said Reid. “Yeah, I mean right now – we’ll see how it plays out.”

Reid also expects Mahomes to be okay after aggravating his ankle injury last Monday, as the star quarterback was a full participant in practice this week.

“He’s (Patrick Mahomes) done a good job,” said Reid. “He didn’t miss anything, so he’s done a good job.”

The Chiefs had Justyn Ross active in place of Smith-Schuster last week, and he will likely remain on the active roster this week.

Chiefs HC Andy Reid comments on the offensive line’s progress: ‘They’re good players’

Kansas City #Chiefs head coach Andy Reid comments on the offensive line’s progress: ‘They’re good players’ | @EdEastonJr

Kansas City Chiefs head coach Andy Reid addressed his offensive line during Wednesday’s press conference, focusing on the game packages featuring extra offensive tackles recently required to be eligible as receivers.

“So, our called player was 64 (Wanya Morris), so we could sub Kingsley (Suamataia) out. When we put Mike (Caliendo) in, and Mike could come in – you have to sub the guy out – the called player,” said Reid. “So, to do what we were trying to do, you had to make that move, but I mean, it shows you the trust that we have in Kingsley, too, because we came in and threw the ball. It didn’t matter what the play was. We have two good young guys. They’re getting better as we go.”

Reid has rarely had an issue regarding his highly praised interior offensive line, as each player is dominant in their roles with All-Pro accolades.

“Well, they’re (Trey Smith, Creed Humphrey, and Joe Thuney) all best buddies; they’re always together. They’re good players, and they work at it. They’ve played together long enough where they kind of know each other’s strengths and weaknesses and cover up the weakness with each other’s strengths.” said Reid. “Again, these challenges that we had – and this week won’t be any different. Their (Denver Broncos) inside guys are great, so it’ll be another big challenge for those inside three to execute. Just like last week was, that was a big challenge. They’re good friends, they spend a lot of time together, they study, they’re smart guys.”

The offensive line’s play has dramatically benefited the running game, as Kansas City remains one of the league’s better-rushing teams. The rotation of running backs due to injury hasn’t affected the on-field production, with Kareem Hunt quickly emerging as a standout in the group this season.