Josh Allen Sends Strong Message on Rivalry With Patrick Mahomes, Chiefs

The first of the seemingly biannual Kansas City Chiefs–Buffalo Bills game is upon us, so by now Bills quarterback Josh Allen knows what he is up against.

Allen spoke about the “heightened sense of awareness” that comes with squaring off against the three-time-reigning AFC champs and their MVP quarterback Patrick Mahomes.

This will be the 10th meeting between the Chiefs and Bills in the 2020s, since the teams have squared off every year in the regular season plus four times in the postseason in that span. The Bills have won four of the previous nine meetings, but the Chiefs have won each of the four playoff head-to-heads, while ending the Bills’ season in each of the past two years.  Kansas City (5-3) and Buffalo (5-2) will play at Highmark Stadium in Orchard Park, New York on Sunday at 4:25 p.m. ET.

Josh Allen: ‘You Have To Play At The Top Of Your Game’ Against Patrick Mahomes, Chiefs

The Chiefs are in third place in the AFC West, but Allen still, of course, recognizes them as one of the best teams in the NFL.  “Any time you’re playing against a top team and a top quarterback, you have to play at the top of your game,” Allen said.

Allen has played remarkably well against the Chiefs in his career, since he is one of the few quarterbacks with an above-.500 record against Mahomes in the regular season. Allen is 4-1 in the regular season against Mahomes, with a 10-3 touchdown-to-interception rate through the air, while also averaging 44 rushing yards per game and posting three scores.

Last year, he threw for 262 yards and a touchdown while also rushing for 55 yards and a score — a memorable 26-yard scamper in the fourth quarter of Buffalo’s 30-21 win in Orchard Park.

Still, despite his success against Mahomes and the Chiefs in the regular season, Allen is aware of the challenge Kansas City poses.

“There’s a heightened sense of awareness to understanding who is on the other side of the football,” Allen said. “Our goal is to try and score on every single drive, and that’s what we try to do.”

Josh Allen’s Approach Hasn’t Change Despite Playoff Losses to KC

Despite Allen’s regular-season success, the Chiefs have broken the Bills’ hearts in a variety of ways over four playoff games — both in Kansas City and Western New York.

So one might think the regular-season head-to-heads may feel less important. Yet, Allen doesn’t agree with that.

“I think every year presents itself in a different way, in a different manner,” Allen said. “They’ve gotten our number in the playoffs a few times, and we understand that, but we’re just focused on trying to go 1-0 this week.”

The winner will have the tiebreaker for home-field advantage in the postseason. That may not seem super-important now, since neither team is in first place, but it may end up being a factor down the road, since each is still predicted to win its division.

The Chiefs have not had trouble winning in Orchard Park in the playoffs, since they claimed a 27-24 win in the divisional round two seasons ago. But KC would want to play as many playoff games at the friendly confines of Arrowhead Stadium as possible this January.