Each of the Chiefs' four scoring drives took at least seven plays, and two of them took 12 or more. Kansas City ended up with respectable full-game numbers, but because of how the Bills elected to structure their defense, the Chiefs had to work extremely hard for all of their points. It's impossible not to view this matchup through the prism of the game these two teams played back in Week 5, when the Bills defense played one of the best games any defense played against the Chiefs all season. Allen is also getting to his checkdown options far more quickly than he was earlier in the season, allowing players like Singletary, Knox, and even Stefon Diggs to do better work after the catch. Allen's willingness to hand the ball off more often on RPO (run-pass option) plays has made the play-action passing game more dynamic, as team's no longer believe Buffalo is only willing to run the ball as a last resort. Singletary's emergence as a two-way threat has added a new dimension to the team's varied attack. The team's offensive line is playing better now, particularly in the run game. However, Buffalo has also undergone some changes since that first matchup. Those changes, along with Chiefs defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo getting more comfortable utilizing his team's personnel, work in Kansas City's favor. Getting pressure on Allen while also keeping him contained in the pocket will be of paramount importance for Kansas City's defense, and it will obviously be easier to do so with those two players on their side. Plus, the arrival via trade of edge rusher Melvin Ingram has kicked Jones back inside, where he is at his most effective as a pocket-pushing pass rusher. In addition, Chiefs star Chris Jones did not play in that first contest. He played 100 percent of the Chiefs' defensive snaps against Buffalo, but has exceeded 51 percent only twice since then. As mentioned, Sorenson has been shifted to a reserve role. It's worth noting several significant changes from that first game, though. The Bills were able to do essentially whatever they wanted, to the point where the Chiefs made dramatic personnel changes in the wake of their performance. The first time these two teams played was likely the nadir for a Chiefs defense that at the time looked like it would undermine the team's chances of making a serious run at another Super Bowl. Odds: Chiefs -1.5, O/U 54 When the Bills have the ball TV: CBS | Stream: Paramount+ ( click here) Location: Arrowhead Stadium (Kansas City) Let's break down what to watch for on each side of the ball. It's not a battle for the AFC title like we might have expected it to be, but it's still happening - and it's going to be a whole lot of fun. We've seen this matchup three times over the last two seasons, but that doesn't make it any less exciting that it's happening again. This is a matchup most football observers have been looking forward to all year, and it's finally here. The marquee game of the divisional round of the 2021 NFL playoffs pits the two-time reigning AFC champion Kansas City Chiefs against the Buffalo Bills.
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