Despite being down multiple starters on defense, the Buffalo Bills made a defensive statement.
It wasn’t always pretty, with the team allowed a 4th and 17 and some 3rd and longs, but the unit held Kansas City to just 21 points. One reason why they had so much success? Buffalo’s pressure up front forced a lot of incomplete passes.
By the end of the game, Patrick Mahomes had completed fewer than 50 percent of his passes (44.1). That was the first time that this had happened in Mahomes’ career.
It was a statement performance by Sean McDermott and his unit.
Following the 28-21 win, here are reasons to be encouraged and worried.
Encouraged
Bills TEs: The Chiefs entered Sunday’s game as a top-5 unit against tight ends. They looked like a bottom-5 squad against the Bills.
Dalton Kincaid was a major factor in the passing game. He hauled in all six of his targets in the win for 101 yards and one score.
Dawson Knox also got in on the fun with a long reception down the right sideline for 30 yards and Jackson Hawes added an 18-yard reception.
It was a big-time showing by Kincaid and Buffalo’s other tight ends.
Reggie Gilliam: Speaking of tight ends, the hybrid fullback/tight end had multiple blocks that led to big gains for James Cook and Buffalo’s backs. He also deserves credit for helping Allen get across the goal line on his first tush push.
Cole Bishop: What a game for the second-year safety.
Cole Bishop was all over the field making plays for Buffalo. He had four pass breakups, one tackle for loss and seven total tackles in the win. It was, by far, Bishop’s best performance as a member of the team.
Bishop may have turned a corner in his career, based on his play the past two weeks.
James Cook: James Cook continues to run the ball well.
Kansas City does not generally allow teams to rush for 100 yards against them, but Cook finished with 114 yards on 27 carries in the win. It was the first time the Chiefs had allowed 100-plus yards on the ground to a player since Lamar Jackson did it in Week 1 of the 2024 season.
He added one reception for 11 yards in the win.
Josh Allen: Allen was locked in against the Chiefs. The quarterback was nearly flawless on every scoring drive against Kansas City. He finished with a career-high completion percentage of 88 percent after connecting on 23-of-26 pass attempts.
Bills OL: Buffalo’s offensive line did a great job of creating run lanes for James Cook and keeping Allen upright. The unit has bounced back post-bye after a few lackluster performances.
Bills defensive line: The biggest difference between this game and any other matchup between Buffalo and Kansas City in the Josh Allen and Patrick Mahomes era? Buffalo’s defensive line was getting pressure on its own.
Joey Bosa was brilliant with five quarterback hits and one sack and two tackles for loss. Greg Rousseau had four quarterback hits and recorded one-half sack, Michael Hoecht added one quarterback hit and one-half sack and Deone Walker and AJ Epenesa combined for three quarterback hits.
It was an outstanding effort by the unit.
Max Hairston: Buffalo’s first-round pick was excellent on Sunday. He did a great job in press-man throughout the game when on the field and he recorded one of the biggest plays of the game when he picked off Patrick Mahomes late in the game on a prayer to Xavier Worthy.
Getting your first interception against a future first-ballot Hall of Fame quarterback is quite the way for Hairston to get things started.
Worried
James Cook’s ankle: It didn’t hamper Cook at all on Sunday, but it was worrisome to see the back get his ankle taped up after the team’s first two drives. Cook’s importance to the offense does not need to be stated.
Wide receiver play: Buffalo’s tight ends were excellent against the Chiefs, but the wide receivers were quiet for the most part.
Khalil Shakir had seven receptions, most of them on the quick throws at the line of scrimmage for 43 yards. Besides Shakir, here’s how Buffalo’s other wide receivers fared:
Keon Coleman: 2 receptions for 17 yards
Elijah Moore: 1 reception for 28 yards
Tyrell Shavers: 1 reception for 7 yards
Curtis Samuel: 1 reception for 6 yards
Buffalo needs more from the position.
Michael Hoecht’s injury: Michael Hoecht looked outstanding for Buffalo through seven quarters following his six-game suspension. Unfortunately, that may be all we see from Hoecht this season after he exited Sunday’s game with a non-contact Achilles’ injury. Hoecht refused to leave immediately after the injury as he wanted to stay on the sidelines with his teammates. Hoecht’s injury will be a massive loss for Buffalo’s defense.
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