In life, the biggest challenges often persist, and for the Buffalo Bills, overcoming the Kansas City Chiefs has become a significant hurdle. Just like Michael Jordan’s Bulls had to face the “Bad Boy” Detroit Pistons multiple times before winning their first title and Peyton Manning’s Colts had to contend with Tom Brady’s Patriots in several postseason clashes, the Bills are seeking redemption against the Chiefs, who have ended their season twice in the last three years.
This Sunday, the Bills will host the Chiefs at Highmark Stadium in Orchard Park, NY, a reversal from previous matchups where they had to travel to Kansas City. The situation draws parallels to the historic rivalry between Tom Brady and Peyton Manning in the 2000s, a comparison not lost on Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes, who is embracing the challenge.
Mahomes sees himself in the role of Brady, a two-time Super Bowl winner looking to maintain dominance over an AFC rival. On the other side, Josh Allen is cast as Manning, needing the rivalry to shift to his home stadium before overcoming Brady’s Patriots.
“When you compete against your friends, you almost want to win even more because of it, Josh is a great dude. I respect the way he plays football and just the guy that he is. But when two guys that are ultra-competitive that are friends off the field go up against each other, we obviously both want to win. We see each other in the offseason, and you want to have a little bit of those bragging rights.” : Mahomes shared.
Patrick Mahomes on playing familiar Buffalo foe: "We've been lucky enough to get them in the playoffs, but they beat us earlier this year."https://t.co/YL7uLUtnXZ pic.twitter.com/y42DHl8Zux
— Around The NFL (@AroundTheNFL) January 19, 2024
This time, Allen’s Bills hold home-field advantage, a factor that could pose a challenge for Mahomes, who is playing his first postseason game outside of Kansas City or a neutral site. The Bills, with an impressive 8-1 home record this season, including playoffs, have proven to be formidable at Highmark Stadium.
The Bills have already defeated the Chiefs once this season, setting the stage for a playoff showdown where Buffalo aims to beat the same opponent twice. Mahomes acknowledges the challenge, emphasizing the need for the Chiefs to play their best football to secure a win on the road.
As the saying goes, it’s tough to beat a team twice, and Buffalo hopes to accomplish this feat, aiming to overcome a formidable opponent and advance to the next round.
