With just over 48 hours until the highly anticipated matchup in Orchard Park, the Buffalo Bills are preparing to face the undefeated Kansas City Chiefs in what is shaping up to be the game of the week. At 8-2, Buffalo is aiming to be the first team to hand the Chiefs their first loss of the season, and they’ll need to bring their A-game to do so.
The Chiefs, who are 9-0, are undoubtedly undefeated for a reason, despite some close calls—like their narrow escape against the Broncos last week. Kansas City may not be invincible, but they’ve been consistently making the right plays when it counts.
For the Bills, this game is the biggest of the year. Though they’ve had success against the Chiefs in recent seasons, this year feels different.
Many had pegged 2024 as a “rebuilding year” for Buffalo, yet here they are, sitting at 8-2 and firmly in the playoff hunt. But the Chiefs have been a tough team to beat lately, and Buffalo faces an uphill battle with a few key injuries.
Earlier this week, head coach Sean McDermott confirmed that wide receiver Keon Coleman will be out for Week 11, which was expected after he sustained a wrist injury against the Miami Dolphins. Coleman is likely to return after the Bills’ bye week.
Additionally, tight end Dalton Kincaid has been ruled out with a knee injury, further depleting Buffalo’s offensive weapons.
Kincaid’s absence is significant. While his numbers don’t jump off the page—he’s only scored twice this season and has yet to surpass 52 yards in a game—he’s been a crucial piece of the offense in other ways.
Kincaid’s ability to make key sideline catches and move the chains on critical third downs has been vital. Losing him means the Bills will likely lean more heavily on Dawson Knox and Quintin Morris in the red zone, but neither offers the same versatility as Kincaid.
The situation is further complicated by the fact that wide receiver Amari Cooper is still listed as questionable for Sunday’s game. If Cooper is unable to play, the Bills’ passing attack could be severely limited, leaving Khalil Shakir as their primary option at wide receiver.
With both Coleman and Kincaid out, and potentially Cooper unavailable, Buffalo will need to get creative to move the ball against a high-powered Chiefs defense.
It’s shaping up to be a tough challenge for the Bills, but if there’s one thing we’ve learned this season, it’s that Buffalo is capable of stepping up when the stakes are highest. However, they’ll need to play a near-perfect game to overcome the Chiefs—especially without some of their key contributors.
