Battle-Tested Playoff Teams (Bills, Bengals, Chargers...and then Chiefs)

[BuffaloBaumer]

I think it is safe to say that the Bills are by FAR the most battle-tested team of 2022. Between the injuries, the weather, relocation, the compact schedule of 3 games and strength of schedule, they have weathered the storm. I would say the Chargers have also done an incredible job of getting through their injuries as well. Cinci for sure has had some nice victories and weathered their own storm when they lost Chase for 6 weeks.

 

That leads me to the Chiefs....Mahomes will always pose a threat but man, did this team get the breaks this year with the AFC West and now closing out the season with Broncos and Raiders (Minus Carr). The Chiefs are going to run into a brick wall when they eventually have to face a Bengals or Bills team in Round 2. If KC gets the 1 seed, their path will once again be the one of least resistance. We all know how big the Bengals game is Monday night and for me, it's going to be torture knowing what truly is on the line. It's going to feel like an AFC Championship game because I really feel it will foreshadow what happens in a month. 

 

My main point of this thread is to point out that KC is going to get a pretty massive reality check in the playoffs and I really hope we are the ones to deliver it in Orchard Park.

[mabden]

Iron sharpens Iron.

 

Jello sharpens Jello.

[SoCal Deek]

I’ve never bought into the Chiefs mystique. They’ve hosted four straight AFC Championship games and only won two of them. They then played in two Super Bowls and only one they won they needed a last minute comeback to get after trailing the entire game. Are they a good team…yes. Are they a great team….no. 

[billsfan28277]

The Bengals scare me more than the Chiefs.  We absolutely have to win Monday night.  Lose and we have to play (likely) Herbert, Burrow and Mahomes.  That's a tall task with only the first one at home..

[John from Riverside]

I found it interesting that the Bengals only have wins over four above 500 teams this season

[zow2]

All those teams have flaws, including Buffalo.  I hope the Bills win on MNF and get the #1 seed, but I'm not going to be bummed out if they don't.  They are a very good road team overall and I'm sure can win one or two if necessary.

[BuffaloBaumer]

1 hour ago, billsfan28277 said:

The Bengals scare me more than the Chiefs.  We absolutely have to win Monday night.  Lose and we have to play (likely) Herbert, Burrow and Mahomes.  That's a tall task with only the first one at home..

Yup, no bigger game than this one...

[dorquemada]

These games are the ones who tell us who the team really is.  What i'm hoping for is a game like opening night against the Rams where the Bills come out and fire on all cylinders and get the Bengals out of sorts early, then keep the pressure on the whole game.

 

What I'm expecting is more like the Bills come out with jitters, Cincy gets a 10 point lead, then the Bills dig in and it's a dogfight until the end.  It's gonna suck being hung over for the first day back at work

[Scott7975]

3 minutes ago, dorquemada said:

These games are the ones who tell us who the team really is.  What i'm hoping for is a game like opening night against the Rams where the Bills come out and fire on all cylinders and get the Bengals out of sorts early, then keep the pressure on the whole game.

 

What I'm expecting is more like the Bills come out with jitters, Cincy gets a 10 point lead, then the Bills dig in and it's a dogfight until the end.  It's gonna suck being hung over for the first day back at work

 

The Bills are who they are.  A top team in the AFC just like the Bengals and just like KC. That wont change no matter how this game unfolds.

[AuntieEm]

1 hour ago, billsfan28277 said:

The Bengals scare me more than the Chiefs.  We absolutely have to win Monday night.  Lose and we have to play (likely) Herbert, Burrow and Mahomes.  That's a tall task with only the first one at home..

  

  Yes that would be a tough task to win the SB without having HFA, but certainly it would make a SB win that much more impressive if they do travel instead of hosting the playoff games. 

 

  So I'm just gonna sit back and enjoy Bills football.  They are always entertaining so as Bills fans we won the SB back when we drafted Josh Allen.  We just didn't know it then  but we are watching it unfold now and it is a pleasure to watch their games.

Edited December 29, 2022 by AuntieEm

[Miyagi-Do Karate]

2 hours ago, mabden said:

Iron sharpens Iron.

 

Jello sharpens Jello.

[Bob Chandler's Hands]

2 hours ago, John from Riverside said:

I found it interesting that the Bengals only have wins over four above 500 teams this season

It's also interesting that the Bills have only three wins against teams currently above .500 this season. 

[Starr Almighty]

5 minutes ago, Bob Chandler's Hands said:

It's also interesting that the Bills have only three wins against teams currently above .500 this season. 

I think your supposed to look at their record the day of  the game not weeks after. But I could be wrong.

[djp14150]

2 hours ago, mabden said:

Iron sharpens Iron.

 

Jello sharpens Jello.

i thought it was

 

iron breaks knife

knife cut jello

and jello covers iron

…..

[strive_for_five_guy]

3 hours ago, BuffaloBaumer said:

I think it is safe to say that the Bills are by FAR the most battle-tested team of 2022. Between the injuries, the weather, relocation, the compact schedule of 3 games and strength of schedule, they have weathered the storm. I would say the Chargers have also done an incredible job of getting through their injuries as well. Cinci for sure has had some nice victories and weathered their own storm when they lost Chase for 6 weeks.

 

That leads me to the Chiefs....Mahomes will always pose a threat but man, did this team get the breaks this year with the AFC West and now closing out the season with Broncos and Raiders (Minus Carr). The Chiefs are going to run into a brick wall when they eventually have to face a Bengals or Bills team in Round 2. If KC gets the 1 seed, their path will once again be the one of least resistance. We all know how big the Bengals game is Monday night and for me, it's going to be torture knowing what truly is on the line. It's going to feel like an AFC Championship game because I really feel it will foreshadow what happens in a month. 

 

My main point of this thread is to point out that KC is going to get a pretty massive reality check in the playoffs and I really hope we are the ones to deliver it in Orchard Park.

Totally agree with your points.  Hoping it doesn’t play out this way, but if the Chiefs do end up with the 1 seed, they might not get an ultimate reality check until the conference championship hosting either us or the Bengals.  Let’s not let them off the hook so easy!

[What a Tuel]

1 hour ago, Bob Chandler's Hands said:

It's also interesting that the Bills have only three wins against teams currently above .500 this season. 

 

Eh, maybe so but I'll take the Bills strength of victory over the Bengals any day. Theirs doesn't pass the eye test, but I will not say a bad team, you play who you play:

 

Bills wins: Rams, Titans, Ravens, Steelers, Chiefs, Packers, Browns, Lions, Patriots, Jets, Dolphins, Bears

Bengals wins: Jets, Dolphins (without Tua), Saints, Falcons, Panthers, Steelers, Chiefs, Browns, Bucs, Patriots

 

Edited December 29, 2022 by What a Tuel

[Bob Chandler's Hands]

1 hour ago, Starr Almighty said:

I think your supposed to look at their record the day of  the game not weeks after. But I could be wrong.

Actually I can do whatever I want. I stated the assumptions used in counting. 

2 minutes ago, What a Tuel said:

 

Eh, maybe so but I'll take the Bills strength of victory over the Bengals any day. There's doesn't pass the eye test, but I will not say a bad team, you play who you play:

 

Bills wins: Rams, Titans, Ravens, Steelers, Chiefs, Packers, Browns, Lions, Patriots, Jets, Dolphins, Bears

Bengals wins: Jets, Dolphins (without Tua), Saints, Falcons, Panthers, Steelers, Chiefs, Browns, Bucs, Patriots

 

I don't disagree. I was just pointing out a fact. 

[H2o]

Mahomey has bigger concerns, like where the heck these mustaches keep coming from. 

[Fleezoid]

3 hours ago, mabden said:

Iron sharpens Iron.

 

Jello sharpens Jello.

 

And Mahomes is adored by a pig. 

[Airseven]

As a perennial contender, the Chiefs as a team are “battle-tested” despite whatever aspects of their schedule you’d like to point out this season. More to the point, Mahomes + Reid still pose the greatest obstacle no matter what.

[JerseyBills]

Bills for the 1st year in forever control their own destiny for a 1 seed. I'd be very disappointed if we fail this mission. If we can't win these 2 , im going to have limited confidence they can get to the SB.

 

[TBBills Fan]

6 hours ago, djp14150 said:

i thought it was

 

iron breaks knife

knife cut jello

and jello covers iron

…..

And water rinsed jello

[LOVEMESOMEBILLS]

2 hours ago, Airseven said:

As a perennial contender, the Chiefs as a team are “battle-tested” despite whatever aspects of their schedule you’d like to point out this season. More to the point, Mahomes + Reid still pose the greatest obstacle no matter what.

 

 Those 2 beat up on the rest of the league, but not against their 2 biggest hurdles in the playoffs. Since week 5 last year KC is 1-5 when facing Allen and Burrow and they shouldn't have won the 1 game they did. 4 of those 6 games were played at Arrowhead stadium(both Cincy reg. season games were on the road). They're not scaring Buffalo or Cincy this year, if anything they scare KC. 

 

Imo KC needs home field advantage the most between Buffalo, Cincy & KC. 

 

 

 

[Dr.Sack]

I’ll add that the Chiefs have yet to face true adversity as their top 7 players have been relatively healthy (Mahomes, Kelce, Jones, Gay, Bolton, Thuney, Humphrey). Any game KC may see one of these players go down which could severely limit their outlook. 

The Bills have (Allen, Diggs, Hyde, Poyer, Miller, Morse). Of which only Allen & Diggs have stayed healthy enough to play every game. Add in Milano & Edmunds both of whom lost games to injury. We have been more challenged on the injury front, testing our depth and grit. 

[Billznut]

9 hours ago, zow2 said:

All those teams have flaws, including Buffalo.  I hope the Bills win on MNF and get the #1 seed, but I'm not going to be bummed out if they don't.  They are a very good road team overall and I'm sure can win one or two if necessary.

Buffalo Bills playoff history going back decades says they can’t win two on the road in the playoffs (other than 1992 season so far). 

Edited December 30, 2022 by Billznut

[Dr.Sack]

2 minutes ago, Billznut said:

Buffalo Bills playoff history going back decades says they can’t win two on the road in the playoffs (other than 1992 season so far). 

Mahomes and Chiefs too. Last road playoff game won by the Chiefs was what year?

[Mr. WEO]

Chargers haven’t been battle tested in playoffs for some years

 

[Starr Almighty]

7 hours ago, Bob Chandler's Hands said:

Actually I can do whatever I want. I stated the assumptions used in counting. 

I don't disagree. I was just pointing out a fact. 

I said i could be wrong. No need to pout like a 5 year old

[Stank_Nasty]

11 hours ago, John from Riverside said:

I found it interesting that the Bengals only have wins over four above 500 teams this season

Am I missing something? I’m only seeing KC and Fins(minus Tua). 

[ArtVandalay]

11 hours ago, BuffaloBaumer said:

I think it is safe to say that the Bills are by FAR the most battle-tested team of 2022. Between the injuries, the weather, relocation, the compact schedule of 3 games and strength of schedule, they have weathered the storm. I would say the Chargers have also done an incredible job of getting through their injuries as well. Cinci for sure has had some nice victories and weathered their own storm when they lost Chase for 6 weeks.

 

That leads me to the Chiefs....Mahomes will always pose a threat but man, did this team get the breaks this year with the AFC West and now closing out the season with Broncos and Raiders (Minus Carr). The Chiefs are going to run into a brick wall when they eventually have to face a Bengals or Bills team in Round 2. If KC gets the 1 seed, their path will once again be the one of least resistance. We all know how big the Bengals game is Monday night and for me, it's going to be torture knowing what truly is on the line. It's going to feel like an AFC Championship game because I really feel it will foreshadow what happens in a month. 

 

My main point of this thread is to point out that KC is going to get a pretty massive reality check in the playoffs and I really hope we are the ones to deliver it in Orchard Park.

The Chiefs aren't battle tested??? You realize football existed before this season, right?

 

They are probably the MOST battle tested team in the AFC. Unlike any of those other teams they have actually won a Super Bowl and they have been to two.  They have played in more big games, heck they have won more big games than all 3 other the others combined have even played in. 

 

This is silly. Someone needs a reality check all right 😄

[ArtVandalay]

8 minutes ago, Stank_Nasty said:

Am I missing something? I’m only seeing KC and Fins(minus Tua). 

You're not, he probably got that stat a couple weeks ago. Bengals have 2 wins vs 500+ teams. 

 

But it isn't like that means much, the Bills only have 3 wins vs 500+ teams. They beat Baltimore, KC, and Miami.

 

Bengals have 1 more game after us vs winning team, Baltimore week 18... this is our last hand vs a winning team as we play the crapbox Patriots next week. 

[Bob Chandler's Hands]

1 hour ago, Starr Almighty said:

I said i could be wrong. No need to pout like a 5 year old

[BigAl2526]

KC will be dangerous in the playoffs regardless of how they got there. 

[BuffaloBaumer]

3 hours ago, ArtVandalay said:

The Chiefs aren't battle tested??? You realize football existed before this season, right?

 

They are probably the MOST battle tested team in the AFC. Unlike any of those other teams they have actually won a Super Bowl and they have been to two.  They have played in more big games, heck they have won more big games than all 3 other the others combined have even played in. 

 

This is silly. Someone needs a reality check all right 😄

Uh, you do realize this is NOT the same Chiefs team?

[Udubalum07]

To make 4 consecutive championship games is impressive.  They are a tough out.  Personally, I'd much rather face the Bengals regardless Monday night.  

[MJS]

The Chiefs seem to muddle through the season and turn it on in the playoffs. Of course, they don't have Tyreek Hill anymore, so we'll see. But it would be foolish to think they are not one of the most dangerous teams in the NFL, if not THE most dangerous.

 

But the Chiefs and Bengals feel the same way about the Bills too. All three teams know that the other two are going to be a huge challenge in the playoffs.

[GunnerBill]

17 hours ago, SoCal Deek said:

I’ve never bought into the Chiefs mystique. They’ve hosted four straight AFC Championship games and only won two of them. They then played in two Super Bowls and only one they won they needed a last minute comeback to get after trailing the entire game. Are they a good team…yes. Are they a great team….no. 

 

You realise that in the modern NFL hosting 4 straight Championship games is pretty incredible, right?

[BullBuchanan]

17 hours ago, SoCal Deek said:

I’ve never bought into the Chiefs mystique. They’ve hosted four straight AFC Championship games and only won two of them. They then played in two Super Bowls and only one they won they needed a last minute comeback to get after trailing the entire game. Are they a good team…yes. Are they a great team….no. 

I've never seen someone contort so extremely to try to turn an amazing accomplishment into a negative. EVERY year that Mahomes has played in the NFL they've gone to the conference championship. If you think that isn't a mark of a great team, I'm not sure your opinion holds much water.