The end of January is approaching, and it’s time for the most anticipated semi-final matchup of the NFL playoffs. On Sunday, Jan. 26, the Buffalo Bills will travel to Arrowhead Stadium to take on the Kansas City Chiefs. The winner of this game will play either the Philadelphia Eagles or Washington Commanders in the Super Bowl.
The Chiefs opened as one-point favorites for Sunday’s game. Compared to other games this season, such a small margin might seem strange. However, it is important to understand why this game is predicted to be a nail-biter.
The Buffalo Bills’ offense, ranked in the NFL’s top 10, is led by star quarterback Josh Allen. Allen is known for his ability to throw the ball down the field for massive gains. Don’t let that fool you though, the 28-year-old is also lethal on the ground.
This season he threw 28 touchdowns and six interceptions. This stat line is jaw-dropping when combined with his 531 rushing yards and another 12 touchdowns on the ground. It is important to note that stats aren’t the only thing Allen has.
The AFC championship is almost here.
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Allen is known as a renowned leader and great teammate. His skills on and off the field helped the Bills defeat the Denver Broncos 31-7 in the AFC wild-card game and sneak past the Baltimore Ravens 25-27 in the divisional round. He has stepped up all year to aid a weak receiving core and guide his team through tough games.
On the opposing sideline stands the Kansas City Chiefs. This year, despite being led by arguably the NFL’s best player, Patrick Mahomes, the Chiefs’ offense seemed to struggle. Lucky for the offense, the defense stepped in to save the day.
Kansas City finished their regular season campaign with the No. 7 ranked defense across the league. Although impressive, this ranking does not capture how amazing they truly were. Game after game, it seemed like the defensive unit made unimaginable plays.
They are calling a play.
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Amazing defensive plays, such as interceptions and blocked field goals, helped the Chiefs defeat the Houston Texans in the divisional round. The rock-solid defense only conceded 14 points, compared to the 23 allowed by the Texans. This dominant performance set the stage for the highly anticipated Mahomes vs. Allen face-off.
While each team has impressive stats, one stands out from the rest. In the playoffs, Josh Allen and the Buffalo Bills are 0-3 against the Chiefs. This includes two divisional-round losses as well as one previous AFC championship loss. All of these games were in reach for the Bills, but they could never get the job done.
The big question for this game is whether or not the Bills can finally get over the hump. Will they be able to fend off the Chiefs and compete for their franchise’s first Super Bowl? Or will a Lombardi Trophy remain a figment of Josh Allen’s imagination?
At the very least, fans are set for an action-packed affair. However, only time will tell if Allen is ready for this monumental moment in franchise history. Until then, spectators can sit back, relax, and wait for the chaos to unfold.
