Here is who national experts predict will win Kansas City Chiefs-Buffalo Bills game
In their previous five games against the Chiefs, the Bills have averaged 29.6 points per game, but quarterback Josh Allen is aware Kansas City’s defense is the best its been in years.
“I think their d-line is playing at a very high level,” Allen told reporters, per the Bills website. “I think their cornerbacks have been playing very well, they’re a physical group, they like to get up and jam and press. But anytime you have a d-line that can go disrupt a quarterback, it makes it a lot easier for the back end. ...
“So we have to be prepared for whatever they can bring ... make sure, ‘Am I doing things correctly?’ And making sure if I don’t, finding my answers as quickly as possible.”
The Chiefs and their fans will be hoping those answers never come. Sunday The majority of national pundits believe the Chiefs will win Sunday, but many see Buffalo, 6-6, leaving Arrowhead with a much-needed victory.
Here are who 75 national experts are predicting will win the game, which kicks off at 3:25 p.m. and airs on KCTV (Ch. 5) in Kansas City.
A 30-23 Chiefs victory is the prediction from the Sporting News’ Vinnie Iyer. Here is part of what he wrote: “Buffalo is working to stretch the field better all-around, while Kansas City is learning it needs to lean more on the run with the passing compressed by shaky downfield connections. The Chiefs get a little more creative and can shore up their defense a little easier than the Bills.”
A 27-23 Chiefs win is the pick for the Associated Press’ Rob Maadi. This is a snippet from his story: “The Chiefs (8-4) are 18-3 after a loss with Patrick Mahomes. Josh Allen and the Bills (6-6) have no margin for error.”
Five of eight writers at CBS Sports think the Chiefs will win: Pete Prisco, Jared Dubin, Ryan Wilson, Jamey Eisenberg and Tyler Sullivan. The picks for Buffalo: Will Brinson, John Breech and Dave Richard. Prisco sees a 34-33 score. He wrote: “The Bills need this in the worst way for their playoff hopes, while the Chiefs need it for seeding. This will be a high-scoring game, which will be won by the Chiefs late. It will be a classic.”
Nine of 11 writers at the Athletic picked the Chiefs: Mark Kaboly, Austin Mock, Larry Holder, Zack Rosenblatt, Tashan Reed, Chad Graff, Josh Kendall, Zak Keefer and Ben Standig. The picks for Buffalo: Zac Jackson and Michael-Shawn Dugar. This is an excerpt from the story: “The Chiefs are 2-3 in their past five games, scoring 19.4 points per game during that stretch. This is the lowest their scoring offense has ranked (11th) in a season since the 2016 season when Alex Smith was still the starting quarterback.”
Picking the Chiefs are seven of the eight USA Today writers: Jarrett Bell (24-20 final score), Chris Bumbaca (27-24), Safid Deen (30-24), Tyler Dragon (27-21), Victoria Hernandez (28-21), Michael Middlehurst-Schwartz (24-23) and Lorenzo Reyes (27-20). Taking the Bills is Nate Davis (27-23). Here is what Deen wrote: “They might be weaker than they were when they entertained us in the playoffs, but the Chiefs and Bills will deliver another heavyweight matchup. Patrick Mahomes and Josh Allen will dazzle us, but the Chiefs defense will leave its mark in this one.”
Four of five writers at NFL.com picked the Chiefs to win: Brooke Cersosimo (26-21 final score), Dan Parr (25-22), Gennaro Filice (27-24) and Tom Blair (22-17). The pick for the Bills: Ali Bhanpuri (25-24). This is part of what Filice wrote: “In a quarterback league that’s currently ravaged by quarterback injuries, the football gods owe us an enticing display from two of the position’s very best — Josh Allen and Patrick Mahomes — and I think we’ll get it! Wishful thinking? Perhaps a bit, considering neither signal-caller is playing his best football in 2023. That said, these two always seem to bring out the best in each other.”
The four writers at the Buffalo News are split. Taking the Chiefs are Katherine Fitzgerald (24-21 final score) and Mark Gaughan (26-23). Going with the Bills are Ryan O’Halloran (27-23) and Jay Skurski (27-21). This is an excerpt of what Gaughan wrote: “If the Bills’ offense can roll like the last two games, against the Jets and Eagles, they have a great chance. Kansas City’s defense, however, is better than it ever has been in the Pat Mahomes era. I don’t see the Bills getting big plays on the Chiefs. I see it as a move-the-chains game. Both Mahomes and Allen are great at that. But it likely will produce a tight game, not a shootout, like last year’s 24-20 decision. Until the Bills’ defense proves it can close the deal in the waning minutes, I’ll pick against it.”
The Bills are the choice for Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio (27-24 final score) and Chris Simms (24-21).
Four of eight experts at ESPN predict the Chiefs will win: Mike Clay, Lindsey Thiry, Jason Reid and Seth Wickersham. The picks for Bills came from Matt Bowen, Dan Graziano, Kimberly Martin and Moses Moody.
Five of seven experts at Sports Illustrated see the Chiefs winning: Mitch Goldich, Gilberto Manzano, Matt Verderame, John Pluym and Claire Kuwana. Taking the Bills are Albert Breer and Conor Orr.
Six of the 10 members of the Dallas Morning-News think the Chiefs will prevail: Dana Larson, Damon Marx, Craig Miller, Newy Scruggs, Kevin Sherrington and Calvin Watkins. Picking the Bills are Tim Cowlishaw, Michael Gehlken, Joey Hayden and David Moore.
Seven of 10 SB Nation writers see the Chiefs winning: JP Acosta, James Dator, Debby Emory, Jeanna Kelly, Michael Peterson, Mark Schofield and Jared Mueller. Going with Buffalo are RJ Ochoa, Matt Warren and Brandon Lee Gowton.