SaulGoodman

If you take out the KC games, Allen’s defenses have allowed 20 ppg in the playoffs. Only one team scored 30 and the Bills won that game. I don’t think it’s rational to expect a defense to shut down Mahomes/Reid/Kelce in the playoffs. Mahomes’ defenses before this season allowed over 25 ppg in the playoffs. They’ve allowed 30+ 5 times.

Allen’s had more offensive talent around him the last two years and a better defense every year but this season.

So it was “just” one of the top 5 most-watched Super Bowls. Doesn’t really help your argument. Bottom line is that there was plenty of interest in their last SB appearance and also in their last game. To claim that interest suddenly fell off a cliff two weeks later, before a matchup with a team that’s been favored in all 20 games this year, is absurd.

Supposing they are the most hated team in the league right now, you realize that doesn’t equate to a lack of interest, right? If having “fatigue” causes a lack of interest, why were the Patriots involved in several of the highest-rated Super Bowls? And not early, when they were something new…the later ones. On one hand, you have people claiming that the Taylor Swift effect is so profitable that the league is fixing games for KC. Now I’m being told that no one cares and it will be one of the lowest-rated Super Bowls ever. Btw, did you know that the last SB was the most-watched telecast ever? Or that the Chiefs-Ravens game set records? I get that you hate KC, but you’re not even using logic.

Aside from the popularity of Mahomes/Kelce/KC in general, you realize they’re also bringing a legion of Swifties, right?

Mahomes wasn’t as hampered in the Super Bowl, but he’d had two more weeks to heal. He basically didn’t even attempt to run throughout the postseason other than when the game was on the line at the end of the AFCC and SB. In that situation, adrenaline takes over. High ankle sprains are no joke and they keep most players out several weeks. When players do play, they rarely produce at their usual level. The Jags lost their last 6 games after Lawrence had a high ankle sprain this year. His completion percentage went way down and his turnovers way up. Roethlisberger struggled mightily when he attempted to play, etc. As for the WRs in the AFCC, Toney went down early in the game. Hardman a bit later and then Smith-Schuster a bit later. Watson was out the whole game. They were left with MVS, Moore and practice squad guys. KC was also without Sneed and one of their best LBs. People can downplay this, but a healthier Buffalo team lost handily to the same Cincinnati team at home a week earlier. I don’t agree that losing Chris Jones would cripple KC. They held the Detroit offense to 14 without him this year and have done fine without him in the past. I expect them to let Jones walk this offseason and I predict the D will still be strong. Even if the defense took a step back, Mahomes has been supported by mediocre defense every year til now. I don’t disagree that KC’s had mostly good luck with injuries throughout this run. But I wouldn’t say they were lucky last year or in 2020. Although I don’t think Buffalo has been horribly unlucky overall either. Definitely not to the level of what we’ve seen in Baltimore, SF, Tennessee, LAC, etc.

Mahomes didn't have much mobility during that playoff run and mobility is a huge part of his game. They were also down 4 of their top 5 WRs in the AFCC, along with Sneed and Gay. I don't know how you can say these injuries didn't matter. When have the Bills had a ton of significant injuries before this season? Let's not forget that even with those injuries, they were favored to beat KC. And the vast majority of your fans expected to not only win that game, but to have a good shot at winning the SB. If you want to think that Mahomes is a few plays from 6 straight SBs due to luck, so be it, I guess.

Jawaan Taylor was flagged as many times this year as all four years in Jax combined. If the NFL is pushing KC across the finish line, they have a strange way of showing it. Numerous TDs were taken off the board throughout the year, including two in the playoffs (they were the only team to have even 1 TD negated in the postseason), and they had the 2nd-highest penalty differential. Meanwhile, their opponents were the 2nd least-penalized.

Mahomes didn't deserve MVP this year, but he played better than the numbers indicate. 2nd in the league in percentage of on-target passes (behind Dak), but his WRs can't catch. Frankly, I don't see why Prescott didn't get more consideration for MVP, or even win it over Lamar. I don't think he's anything special, but he put up the best stats this year.

Henne's 23 yds in that game convinced you that Mahomes isn't as valuable to his team? 🤣 In a slightly larger sample in 2020, Henne had a 58 rating and almost lost the divisional vs the Browns despite being handed a 12 pt lead in the 2nd half. We haven't seen the Bills without Allen, but I don't see why another QB couldn't do okay in that offense. Good running game, at least 4 good receiving options, solid tackles....other than a slightly better WR 3 and maybe an upgrade at guard, what are they missing?

I think a high ankle sprain definitely qualifies as an injury. You don't often see QBs playing well with one, if they play at all, and Mahomes was limited by it. Aside from that, KC was missing numerous players in the AFC title game and Mahomes was throwing to practice squad guys. The WR corps was mediocre at full strength, so imagine the ability of the practice squad receivers. I wouldn't say their luck was great throughout last year's run, and they didn't have much luck in 2020. Third string OL and Mahomes missed an entire half in the divisional round. KC's currently down three starters on defense, including their best edge rusher. They've also been without McKinnon and their best offensive lineman, among other contributors. Could definitely be worse, but they're not perfectly healthy. Missing a SB appearance due to Dee Ford being lined up a couple inches offside was pretty brutal luck. Plus the bobbled INT on a perfect throw in OT vs the Bengals in 2021. If the stars had consistently aligned for Mahomes, he'd have 6 SB appearances in 6 years, and probably another ring or two.

I've always respected Reid a lot, but a lot of NFL fans didn't, prior to Mahomes. To many, he was a perennial choker with horrible clock management skills who neglected the run game. You didn't hear anyone calling Andy Reid a massive advantage pre-Mahomes.

Clark was ridiculed throughout most of his KC career and couldn't even get on the field for a bad Denver team this year. Sneed didn't really kick it into gear until this season. Just last year, Mahomes was playing on one leg throughout the entire playoff run and they were down 4 of their top 5 WRs in the AFC title game (plus Sneed and Gay). Even with the injuries on defense this year, Buffalo allowed 18 ppg. McD may not have the offensive impact of Reid, but he's great defensively.

Von Miller? Diggs, Tre White and others might eventually have a case too. Chris Jones is borderline. He has some work to do. Over the last two years, I'd say each QB has had one surefire HOFer on his roster. Kelce and Von Miller. Miller wasn't in his prime this year but Kelce wasn't either. It's fair to say that Mahomes had a big advantage in offensive talent in his first few years, but he definitely hasn't the last few years. And when the offensive talent was great, the defense wasn't very good.

A better question is how many all pros has Mahomes had on defense to lose? He's never had an above average defense before this year.

The fact that you snicker at Gabe Davis says it all. Here’s a guy who averaged almost 100 yds/game in the playoffs in four games from ‘21-‘22, with 6 TDs. I guarantee that KC would have welcomed him with open arms the last two years. Hell, he would have been the best WR on the team until Rice’s emergence recently. I’m not saying that Allen’s supporting cast has been absolutely loaded, but how many QBs have that? Not most. Mahomes’ SB-winning teams are #1 and #2 in postseason points allowed in history. I’m willing to bet that the 3rd string OL he played behind in SB 55 was the worst line ever brought to the big game. He hasn’t had a true #1 WR for two years. His receivers led the league in drops by a mile this year. He’s never had a great running game and for years it was non-existent. The offensive tackles haven’t been very good for two years, and run-blocking hasn’t been good for several years. It was dead last in the NFL a few years ago. Have you noticed that Reid transformed from guy who was fired in Philly, and widely ridiculed by fans all over the country, to unrivaled wizard—as soon as Mahomes entered the league? I just think the narratives of Mahomes having everything and Allen having nothing are way off the mark.

From 0 SBs/MVPs to 6 just by replacing McD with Reid? Seems like a bit of a stretch. Especially if he also had mediocre/bad defense every year but one, or the receivers Mahomes has been working with the last two seasons.

I’ll never understand this narrative that Allen’s carrying a bunch of nobodies. That narrative is closer to true for Mahomes the last two years (especially as Kelce’s beginning to slow down a bit). Allen’s had one of the best WRs in the game for several years and has two good TEs. Plus a very good RB and solid OL. Davis and Shakir aren’t chopped liver either.

There obviously isn't a high percentage chance of anyone matching 7 Super Bowl rings, but zero chance? For someone who has appeared in 4 in 6 years, and his worst year is an OT loss in the conference title game? Of course there's a chance. Don't forget that these last two years were rebuilding years. Tyreek Hill trade, defense full of rookies and 2nd-year players, young offense outside of a few positions. They weren't expected to go to back to back Super Bowls. They were expected to take a solid step back. It's pointless to speculate beyond the next few years, but next year's Chiefs team could be their best ever if they land a solid receiver or two and continue drafting well. If he wins next Sunday and again next season, he'd only need three more after playing less than a third of the number of seasons as Brady.

TB could have started Blaine Gabbert and won that SB. Same with the last Patriots' Super Bowl (Rams scored 3 points). And Brady's first 2-3 rings were won by defense/running game. He was a game manager for the first 3-4 years. No rational person thinks Mahomes needs 7 rings to be in that conversation. A couple more is enough. Especially when you factor in rampant cheating at NE. Some may claim it didn't make much of a difference, but I disagree pretty strongly. I think it gave them a huge advantage for several years. There's a reason they continued to perpetuate a complicated and time-consuming process that involved several people for years. All things considered, I don't even consider Brady the GOAT now. I think it's Montana that Mahomes is chasing.

I knew this would be a narrative if KC got back to the SB. I'm highly skeptical of anything that involves corporate entities and large sums of money, so I won't discount the possibility of shenanigans. But I don't think officiating has been blatantly one-sided. There were a couple questionable calls/no-calls vs Baltimore, but there was also a KC TD wiped off the board due to a phantom hold. And if the refs really wanted to give KC a boost, I don't think they'd have overturned the call on the Hardman goal line fumble. They could have easily said there wasn't enough evidence to overturn. KC definitely didn't get much help from the refs throughout the regular season. The Toney offside call, no-call on a blatant PI at the end of the GB game, several TDs called back, etc etc. But there's no doubt that the NFL is glad to see this development.

In a game last year, Mahomes had 509 yds and accounted for all but 14 of the team’s yards. He won the AFC title game with Skyy Moore, MVS and a practice squad WR. Had one of his best games without Kelce or Hill vs a pretty good Pitt D a few years ago (top receivers were Pringle, Darrel Williams, Derrick Gore and Hardman). Beat Denver on the road in his first career start, surrounded by scrub backups. And he’s rarely been supported by good defense. Even last week, his defense failed most of the night. To say he can’t carry a team is crazy.

Yep. I’ll never understand the narrative that Mahomes has had everything and Allen’s had nothing. In Mahomes’ first year, he had arguably the worst defense in the league. Until this year, he’s never had an above average defense. He’s rarely been supported by a good running game and they’ve generally been very one-dimensional on offense. For a few years, KC had the worst interior run blocking in the NFL. 3rd string OL in 2020, and mediocre/poor tackle play at times the last few years. Allen’s had top defenses every year, one of the best receivers in the game for several years, good TEs (two good ones currently), a good LT and decent line, decent RBs (very solid one this year)…I wouldn’t say the cupboard has been bare.

Mahomes Allen Lamar Stafford Rodgers Herbert Stroud Burrow Hurts Love Goff Dak Cousins Mayfield Lawrence Murray Tua Purdy

Outside of last year’s Bengals game (weather played a part), and McD’s coaching decisions at the end of the 13 seconds game, the Bills have nothing to be ashamed of. They’re right there every year. Might have a SB appearance or win already if they were in the NFC.