KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The Kansas City Chiefs get their week six rematch against the Buffalo Bills on Sunday. The reigning Super Bowl champions got the best of the Bills in October with a 26-17. Kansas City is one step away from punching their ticket to a second consecutive Super Bowl appearance. Here are the keys to make that happen.
1. Get Allen of his spot and more than two bounces
Bills quarterback Josh Allen has a certain set of mechanics he likes for his setup. He wants to drop back to his spot and get the ball out when his back foot hits or before his two bounces from timing are up. Allen will routinely throw the football high, wide or low if he is forced to reset his feet, move or has his timing disrupted with more than a two bounce quota. It is part of the reason the Chiefs held Allen to 122 passing yards.
2. Double Diggs and get physical
Stefon Diggs is the key to the Bills passing attack. He is the receiver that gives Allen confidence and helps him find his rhythm. The Chiefs will need to take him away with press coverage, brackets and doubling him throughout the game. It will allow John Brown, Gabriel Davis, Isaiah McKenzie and Cole Beasley to give some additional catches, but you can disrupt them with press coverage.
3. Have the safety valves ready
Patrick Mahomes return requires the Chiefs offensive line to be on point in pass protection, their blitz pickups and check downs to get the ball out quick. The Bills did not blitz in their previous matchup with Mahomes. Defensive coordinator Leslie Frazier will likely want to test out the quarterback's foot with a trip to Tampa Bay on the line.
4. Hit them hard with the run
The Bills will likely have tightened up their issues on run defense after Kansas City gashed them for 245 rushing yards. The Chiefs found success with counters, traps, draws and tosses with the light boxes Buffalo showed. Kansas City’s offense wrecked the Bills light box with 33 carries for 220 of their 245 rushing yards.
5. Stretch Singletary to the sidelines
Devin Singletary is a downhill runner. He wants to make his one cut and go. That is how he gets to top end speed and can become tough to tackle. When he is stretched to the sidelines he loses his effectiveness. Just like last week, if the Chiefs can stretch him their run game won’t exist.
6. Get hold and kick on point
James Winchester, Tommy Townsend and Harrison Butker are going to need to have a good day. The wind might be a factor and their ability to snap the ball perfectly, catch it, rotate the ball and have the laces in the preferred spot for Butker to kick it in the sweet spot could be the difference between the Super Bowl or the offseason.
The Chiefs have battled through every team’s best shot, a pandemic and staying hungry for greatness. This football team faced a very unique road to run it back. Just one more opponent stands in their way of making plans for Tampa Bay.