Straight Hucklebuck

In part it had to be watching KC blow it at home the next week. Their fans had their tickets punched and then Mahomes threw that pick. So I was happy to watch them self destruct one week later and not make their goal either.

How to combat Mahomes getting rid of the ball in <2 seconds.

Is Christian Benford slated to play this weekend?

This is right. For example, I'm not happy for the Philadelphia Eagles. Why would I be happy for the city of Philadelphia winning a Super Bowl before Buffalo? If the Browns made it to the Super Bowl, why would I root for them to win a Super Bowl before the Bills? So I watch their fans celebrate, meanwhile I'm on the shrinking list of teams that have never won one?

The fans act like they hand scouted Mahomes, were so convinced he would be great that they barged into the KC Front Office and changed their mind to take him when they were going to take someone else. Like the Patriots, they start acting like because they grew up in Kansas City that they "know what good football looks like" or they have "high standards" and "don't accept losing".

The Fans are the worst. The second worst are media members who all get the same talking points after the game. Analysis that is nothing deeper than reading box scores. And honestly, I'm petty, no way do I like that Josh is good friends with Mahomes. I like the Jordan philosophy better, I feel more like. He is trying to beat you, he has beaten you, there is no friends. I'm not playing golf with you the week after you beat me.

Overrated

We go to the Super Bowl last year if we squib that final kick, and play press man at the line.

Diggs I feel confident they can. He's been a contributor in the Chiefs game, but hasn't produced his usual outside of the 60-yard catch. Knox hasn't done anything of note this year. Gabe on the other hand?

You're right on that. I was shocked the Chiefs were stopped at the 4-minute mark and had to punt the ball away. We also have to remember the Chiefs missed a FG, and got bailed out by the Raiders on another miss. End of the 1st-Half was Touchdown - FG - 2nd Half - Touchdown - Touchdown - Touchdown - then the Punt. It just seems that at some point in the game you're going to have to trade TDs and once again the Raiders weren't up to it.

You're right on that. Same thing with the Chargers, Herbert doesn't throw a pick-6 there and the Chiefs run out of time most likely. The Chiefs just scored 24 points from the 2nd Quarter to 3rd Quarter, and once the Raiders had to really score once they were behind they couldn't do this. Mahomes thrives in these "whoever has the ball last" games.

Can they stop Kelce?

KC just has a high gear. We saw this against the Raiders. You can outplay them, but I think we all knew, once the Chiefs scored that first TD to make it 17-7, they weren't going to be stopped the rest of the night. Certainly at 20-10 I knew the Raiders were going to lose.

I think that's what other teams have tried as well. I'd really like to hear Greg Cosell on this matchup. But I believe I heard other analysts say something to that effect. No Hill means the fear of getting beat over the top is lessened, so now more defenders can play closer to the box, the cushions on the outside are reduced. In the past I felt like it didn't matter. We never had an answer for Kelce or Hill. Regardless of cushion, no cushion, those players just made the same explosive plays anyways. Kelce is 33 now, has there been any signs that he is easier to cover? And to your point, if Mahomes is getting the ball out in less than 2-seconds, I think the most direct path that the Bills can take is to play more man, and press man at that. Against Pittsburgh, it looked the same to me. Huge cushions for George Pickens, and he got what he wanted. I just don't think McDermott or Frazier are going to change. I think we're going to see the same huge cushions all day. And Mahomes has 0 rushing TDs. Also, if Morris holds on last week, that's another passing TD. This was my point earlier, if the bar is Mahomes, and that's it, then nobody measures up. Why the heck are the Jags even trying with Trevor Lawrence? He doesn't look better than Mahomes. Herbert? He's nice, but his Chargers struggle to put away the Chiefs.

I want to believe this. But another poster in this thread made a great point. Pressure on Mahomes is not enough. You need sacks. We'll be able to tell early if the Bills Defensive Line can truly collapse the pocket onto Mahomes. You need to see breakdowns. Not just pressure. The Chiefs now have become great at nickel and diming their way down the field. Always in 3rd-3, 3rd-4, with a bunch of B- to B+ WRs that only need a few yards, but they rotate 3-running backs now.

If I see the Bills getting real pass rush in this game. Like Brady, you just rarely see Mahomes be terrorized. I just don’t see that enough from Buffalo.

Is it just because they just sprinkle out Hill’s targets? And let’s be honest, the players they replaced him whether are professional players, not nobodies, and they distribute more to running backs. In some respects I can see them being harder to defend because they’ll always be in 3rd and short, and they’ve depended their roster. This week won’t be a true test with no White and Benford. But Hill is a HOFer, and we know the Playoffs are even more about playmaking. What I still have not seen from the Bills is a consistent pass rush.

All the analysts go up and down like a roller-coaster, after Week 1 it was they don't miss Hill at all, after the Colts, it was they need him badly and so on. Currently, the analysts are in agreement that the Chiefs are better than ever. I haven't bought this because we know Hill is a proven Playoff player. Schuster, Scantling, Hardman, Moore are not. And I would maintain that Smith-Schuster has never been the same since the bad Cleveland concussion.

I do think a key in this game is Isaiah McKenzie and Kahlil Shakir on the field at the same time, working underneath routes. I think the Bills need a 2020 game plan, with more 4-wide/empty set formations. I never know exactly how good the Chiefs corners are, but the way the games have played it hasn't mattered. Their offense just outscores everyone, so even if they are middle of the road, it doesn't matter. On the Chiefs side, with no Tyreek Hill, teams are trying to play more man against the Chiefs allowing some more aggressive fronts. The Chiefs constantly are in 3rd-3, 4, 5 and with Hardman, Schuster, Scandling and Moore, it's hard to cover all of them, so they possess the ball longer.

And Jordan walks through that shot in full gear.

Everyone is out there "in some capacity" besides Kumerow & Tawain Jones. Saffold and Von Miller on vet rest. Means Jordan Phillips could be out there Sunday and not sure on Benford.

I think they're seen like last year, they're dominant, can they stop the Chiefs? The media anymore is so focused on the Top 1-2 Quarterbacks, off the field drama stories, and trying their hardest to make a QB controversy between Dak and Cooper Rush. Nothing else rates.

McKenzie and Shakir buzzing around 5-15 yards? I want to see what that looks like! Let's get Knox back and be 100% on offense.

Did Jordan Phillips reinjure the hamstring against the Steelers? Goes without saying that we'll need all hands on deck this week.

1. Mahomes - It kills me a bit, but his vision is hard to beat. Like Brady, he just sees the path to winning the game, and a characteristic is his offenses just heat up and they can score on 3-5 straight drives. 2. Allen, the best all-around playmaker in the league. Best combination of size, arm, competitive fire, coordination, extending the play, running, big plays. 3. Brady, I still wouldn't want to play him in a critical game. He still can thrown down the field, and when his weapons are hurt, he just relentlessly finds checkdowns and eats the clock. 4. Herbert - Consistent. He's the same 300 yard - 2.5 Touchdowns per game QB every game. His Charger teams don't seem to be able to put other teams away though. They struggle to close. 5. Does Lamar go here?