The Chiefs are coming off a road loss to the Green Bay Packers and have lost three of their last five games. Not only is K.C. reeling, but it is also dealing with multiple key injuries. The Chiefs now trail the Baltimore Ravens and Miami Dolphins by one game in the AFC standings.
The Bills are coming off their bye week following a crushing overtime loss to the Philadelphia Eagles. At 6-6, Buffalo hasn’t lived up to expectations this season and is currently on the outside looking in at the playoff picture. A loss to the Chiefs this week will all but dash the Bills’ postseason hopes.
Joe Brady is the Bills’ interim offensive coordinator, following the firing of Ken Dorsey back in Week 11. Brady can’t completely change the offense this late into the season, but he has made some tweaks and will certainly have some new wrinkles following the team’s bye week.
One of Brady’s goals is to cut down quarterback Josh Allen’s interceptions by running the ball and using pre-snap motion more frequently. Brady has accomplished pounding the rock more, with Bills’ running backs combing for 61 carries over the last two weeks. Allen’s interceptions have persisted, however, as he’s thrown one in both games since Brady took over.
Despite the interceptions, Buffalo has the No. 5 ranked passing offense in the league and Allen ranks in the top six in passing yards and touchdowns among quarterbacks. As we all know by now, Stefon Diggs is Allen’s go-to receiver. Diggs will face a tough matchup against Chiefs’ cornerback L’Jarius Sneed, who’s had some fantastic performances against elite receivers this season.
Sneed’s performance against Diggs will be crucial for the Chiefs’ defense. Limiting Diggs could keep Allen in his turnover-prone habits. The second biggest threat to the Bills’ offense is Allen’s legs. He has a rare blend of size and speed for a quarterback and has already tied a career-high in rushing touchdowns with nine on the season.
Although it takes a defender out of coverage, keeping a spy on Allen would be worth it. The Chiefs are likely to get linebacker Nick Bolton back from injury this week and he would be the perfect guy for the job. Keeping Allen in the pocket is another recipe for forcing him into interceptions.
