3 Takeaways from Bills' Week 6 Win vs. Chiefs
Sunday's game between the Buffalo Bills and Kansas City Chiefs wasn't the sort of shootout we saw in last year's playoffs, but it was exactly the sort of hard-fought, back-and-forth battle fans might have expected from two legitimate title contenders.
Buffalo went top after a late Josh Allen touchdown passes to Dawson Knox with just over a minute remaining. A Taron Johnson interception on Kansas City's final possession sealed it for the Bills.
In another classic showdown between Allen and Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes, the former finished off playing like an early MVP candidate. Buffalo, meanwhile, may have staked its claim as the team to beat in the AFC.
Here are our three biggest takeaways from the Bills' 24-20 victory over the Chiefs in Week 6.
Josh Allen Continues to Grow as Elite Signal-Caller
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In today's NFL, it's extremely difficult to become an elite team without an elite quarterback. While the Bills have seemingly had one in Allen for some time, the 2018 first-round pick continues to grow into a do-everything QB who can carry his team in the biggest moments.
In last year's playoff game against Kansas City, the 26-year-old never got that last big moment, as the Bills never got the ball in overtime. On Sunday, he got the ball with 5:31 remaining and delivered a 12-play, 76-yard touchdown drive that chewed up 4:27 of game clock.
On that drive, Allen converted a 4th-and-1 on the ground, tossed an 18-yard strike to Stefon Diggs, scrambled for a 16-yard game and threw the game-winner to Knox from 14 yards out.
Statistically, the Wyoming product may not be on Mahomes' level just yet, as many in the media have been quick to point out.
"The Mahomes-Allen argument is weird," Matt Verderame of FanSided tweeted during the week.
While that argument is valid—Allen has developed more slowly than Mahomes, hasn't had the team success and doesn't have the individual hardware—he showed on Sunday that he's as trustworthy as any QB in the league with the game on the line.
Allen may not have a Super Bowl win or an MVP on his resume, but may not have hit his ceiling yet wither.
This Defense Can Will Buffalo to a Championship
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Allen will get a ton of credit for Sunday's win, and rightfully so. However, it would remiss if we didn't talk about just how well the defense played in critical moments.
Yes, the Chiefs tallied 387 yards of offense and picked up 23 first downs, and Mahomes threw for 338 and two touchdowns. However, Kansas City also converted only four of 11 third-down attempts, while the quarterback's day was bookended by interceptions.
Johnson snagged the game-sealing pick with less than a minute remaining. Rookie first-round pick Kaiir Elam picked off Mahomes in the end zone on Kansas City's opening drive, which led to a field goal for the Bills and a potential 10-point swing.
The pass rush pressured Mahomes all afternoon, while the front seven severely limited the Chiefs' ability to run the ball consistently. Kansas City averaged just 3.8 yards per carry and picked up only four first downs on the ground.
It was a gutty performance by the Buffalo defense, on the road and in a hostile environment—something the Bills might not see in the playoffs until the Super Bowl if they capture the No. 1 seed.
With the defense playing as it did on Sunday, Buffalo has a very good shot at earning home-field advantage in the AFC.
Von Miller Signing Continues to Pay Off
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Perhaps the biggest change to Buffalo's defense this season has been the presence of pass-rusher Von Miller.
The team took a bit of a gamble when it signed the 33-year-old to a six-year, $120 million contract in free agency. That's a lot of money for an aging defender who could hit the wall at any time.
However, Miller continues to play at an All-Pro level and is still a difference-maker for the Bills. He started his 2022 campaign strong, flustering Los Angeles Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford in the season opener.
On Sunday, Miller got after Mahomes early and often. He finished the game with two sacks and flushed the Chiefs QB from the pocket on Johnson's late interception.
The Texas A&M product came into the game with four sacks and 12 quarterback pressures, according to Pro Football Reference.
While it remains to be seen if Buffalo will get its money's worth out of him for the entirety of his contract, he's doing exactly what the team paid him for.
Miller is coming up big in critical games and is likely to play a huge role in the Bills' push for the Lombardi Trophy.
*Contract information via Spotrac.
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