Picture by Kathryn Riley/Getty Photographs
It’s lastly Buffalo’s yr.
The Buffalo Payments have waited years for this second. Now they’re again, and going through a well-known foe. As soon as once more the destiny of the AFC hinges on a sport between the Payments and Chiefs, however that is the primary time since 2021 that they’ve met within the Championship sport.
For Buffalo that is about turning a web page. Getting the monkey off their again. Lastly slaying the soccer large that has ended their season in three of the final 4 years. So what has modified? And why can this 2024 marketing campaign finish otherwise for the Payments than their previous failures?
No. 1: Higher weapons
I do know Payments followers bristle on the suggestion that anybody is healthier than Josh Allen, however there nonetheless exists a gulf between Patrick Mahomes on the prime, and each different NFL quarterback. That mentioned, it’s been an especially disappointing yr for Mahomes as a person, with this season being the yr the Chiefs’ entrance workplace might need pushed him too far with a scarcity of weapons on the offensive facet of the ball.
Travis Kelce has been sporadically nice, however he’s removed from being the constant, every-game menace the Chiefs have relied on him to be lately. Hollywood Brown being injured damage the skin passing sport, DeAndre Hopkins hasn’t actually meshed with the offense but, and a variety of strain is being placed on rookie Xavier Worthy to be a difference-maker.
The opposite facet of the ball is a really totally different story. Whereas there isn’t a real standout weapon for Josh Allen, he has a deep expertise pool to drag from. The Payments thrive by primarily turning anybody right into a menace relying on the down and distance, which has allowed for Khalil Shakir, Keon Coleman, Dalton Kinkaid, and extra, to all succeed this season.
No. 2: Proudly owning the bottom sport
There isn’t a query that Buffalo is healthier suited to play hard-nosed offensive soccer. James Cook dinner had a breakout this season with a career-high 16 speeding touchdowns, whereas the ever-present menace of Josh Allen’s working potential can preserve a protection off steadiness. It’s a component of this sport the Chiefs’ merely can’t match, particularly contemplating they rank twenty second within the NFL in speeding yards this season.
If the Payments can flip this sport right into a defensive battle the place neither QB is ready to make a distinction by way of the air then they’ll win this simply. Buffalo is solely higher outfitted to choose up yards on the bottom — and have a significantly better effectivity relating to their speeding offense vs. the Chiefs protection, and vice versa.
- Payments: ninth in speeding offense, twelfth in speeding protection
- Chiefs: twenty second in speeding offense, eighth in speeding protection
That disparity might make the distinction.
No. 3: Josh Allen
The assumed NFL MVP for the 2024 season is the last word x-factor on this sport. His dual-threat potential is one thing groups need to account for on each single down, and it’s going to place immense strain on the Chiefs’ defensive position.
Allen had a stellar sport in Week 11 in opposition to Kansas Metropolis when he threw for 262 yards, rushed for one more 55, and scored two touchdowns within the Payments win. This exhibits that Joe Brady and the Buffalo offense is aware of how you can goal Steve Spagnuolo and KC.
The Payments QB has been comfy taking up the function of taking part in hero ball an increasing number of because the season has progressed, and it’s paid dividends. At this level the success of the Payments offense is inexorably tied to Allen, and he’s proved he can do it.
Most seasons it might be Mahomes who would have the sting in opposition to Allen, however not this yr — and that might be the largest difference-maker within the Payments win.
Picture by Kathryn Riley/Getty Photographs
It’s lastly Buffalo’s yr.
The Buffalo Payments have waited years for this second. Now they’re again, and going through a well-known foe. As soon as once more the destiny of the AFC hinges on a sport between the Payments and Chiefs, however that is the primary time since 2021 that they’ve met within the Championship sport.
For Buffalo that is about turning a web page. Getting the monkey off their again. Lastly slaying the soccer large that has ended their season in three of the final 4 years. So what has modified? And why can this 2024 marketing campaign finish otherwise for the Payments than their previous failures?
No. 1: Higher weapons
I do know Payments followers bristle on the suggestion that anybody is healthier than Josh Allen, however there nonetheless exists a gulf between Patrick Mahomes on the prime, and each different NFL quarterback. That mentioned, it’s been an especially disappointing yr for Mahomes as a person, with this season being the yr the Chiefs’ entrance workplace might need pushed him too far with a scarcity of weapons on the offensive facet of the ball.
Travis Kelce has been sporadically nice, however he’s removed from being the constant, every-game menace the Chiefs have relied on him to be lately. Hollywood Brown being injured damage the skin passing sport, DeAndre Hopkins hasn’t actually meshed with the offense but, and a variety of strain is being placed on rookie Xavier Worthy to be a difference-maker.
The opposite facet of the ball is a really totally different story. Whereas there isn’t a real standout weapon for Josh Allen, he has a deep expertise pool to drag from. The Payments thrive by primarily turning anybody right into a menace relying on the down and distance, which has allowed for Khalil Shakir, Keon Coleman, Dalton Kinkaid, and extra, to all succeed this season.
No. 2: Proudly owning the bottom sport
There isn’t a query that Buffalo is healthier suited to play hard-nosed offensive soccer. James Cook dinner had a breakout this season with a career-high 16 speeding touchdowns, whereas the ever-present menace of Josh Allen’s working potential can preserve a protection off steadiness. It’s a component of this sport the Chiefs’ merely can’t match, particularly contemplating they rank twenty second within the NFL in speeding yards this season.
If the Payments can flip this sport right into a defensive battle the place neither QB is ready to make a distinction by way of the air then they’ll win this simply. Buffalo is solely higher outfitted to choose up yards on the bottom — and have a significantly better effectivity relating to their speeding offense vs. the Chiefs protection, and vice versa.
Payments: ninth in speeding offense, twelfth in speeding protection
Chiefs: twenty second in speeding offense, eighth in speeding protection
That disparity might make the distinction.
No. 3: Josh Allen
The assumed NFL MVP for the 2024 season is the last word x-factor on this sport. His dual-threat potential is one thing groups need to account for on each single down, and it’s going to place immense strain on the Chiefs’ defensive position.
Allen had a stellar sport in Week 11 in opposition to Kansas Metropolis when he threw for 262 yards, rushed for one more 55, and scored two touchdowns within the Payments win. This exhibits that Joe Brady and the Buffalo offense is aware of how you can goal Steve Spagnuolo and KC.
The Payments QB has been comfy taking up the function of taking part in hero ball an increasing number of because the season has progressed, and it’s paid dividends. At this level the success of the Payments offense is inexorably tied to Allen, and he’s proved he can do it.
Most seasons it might be Mahomes who would have the sting in opposition to Allen, however not this yr — and that might be the largest difference-maker within the Payments win. Learn Extra