There’s probably one lopsided matchup on the NFL’s Final 11 schedule that warrants more prospects than, well, the same matchup that’s captivated audiences for years: the Buffalo Bills against the Kansas Town Chiefs.
Of the six conferences of the week between AFC heavyweights, five have been single-score contests, playoff matchups or both. Of the postseason games in that span, one was an AFC championship, one went in overtime and another came down to an ignored yard goal.
In other words, when they face off, it’s must-see television. That’s why CBS Sports will give special coverage to this Sunday’s event, broadcasting “The NFL Today” live from Buffalo before the sport broadcast. Fans can join the team in Series 6 at the launch from Highmark Stadium at noon ET on Sunday, hours before these two Super Bowl contenders travel head-to-head again.
How can you track it? Which avid gamers could be X-factors? And who is, to tell the truth, prepared to win? Here is our sports betting preview and prediction for the expected showdown:
Bosses vs. Expenses where to look
Was: Sunday November 17 | Month: 4:25 pm Eastern Time
Location: Highmark Stadium (Orchard Ground, York intact)
TV: CBS | Current: Supreme+
Apply: CBS Sports App
Odd: Expenses -2.5, S/U 46.5 (FanDuel Sportsbook)
key matchups
USATSI
- Chiefs WR DeAndre Hopkins vs. CB Rasul Douglas Expenses: JuJu Smith-Schuster might be back in the Kansas Town lineup, but Hopkins is the most reliable outlet for Patrick Mahomes on the perimeter, hauling in 14 passes for over 140 yards in his last two games as a star. Douglas, meanwhile, is Buffalo’s top hawk, with five snaps, though he’s still looking for his first pick starting in 2024.
- TE Dalton Knox vs. Expenses Chiefs S Justin Reid: Buffalo could have several of its wide receivers sick due to concussion, and tight end Dalton Kincaid is out with a knee injury. As a result, Knox appears to have a more famous role as a safety valve for Josh Allen. Reid is easily one of Okay.C.’s smartest defensive backs, and could be tasked with covering the center.
- Chiefs OT Jawaan Taylor vs. Greg Rousseau Expenses: Kansas Town’s front will be under control on the left, where Wanya Morris is injured, but the biggest challenge may be off the right side, where Taylor’s spin continues to generate dialogue. Rousseau has loved standing out as Buffalo’s top running back, racking up a career-high 16 quarterback hits and 12 tackles for loss in Hour 4.
burning questions
USATSI
- Expenses: Can Josh Allen attack Steve Spagnuolo’s defense without using a healthy arsenal of weapons? Spagnuolo is once again overseeing a dominant “D” in Kansas Town, with the Chiefs giving up the fifth-fewest problems of any team and largely stifling opposing running games. Allen is as capable of playing Superman as anyone, and he’s also proven to be excellent against the blitz, but when top receivers like Amari Cooper aren’t available or at top speed, and the field game run by dinner James Cook can’t. If a fracture is not felt, you may have difficulty resisting.
- Chiefs: Can Patrick Mahomes-led offense finally hit an intact team? Once again, protecting KC is not a priority. However, Mahomes and company have won almost solely on the margins, relying on late-game conversions and defensive posturing to remain undefeated. Meanwhile, the Expenses rank second in overall picks (19) going forward and also check in as a top-10 scoring defense. With throwing ball carrier Isiah Pacheco still out, and big-name tight end Travis Kelce functioning as a puny short-yardage outlet, manager Andy Reid might need to get resourceful in freeing up breakaway plays.
Prediction
There will be a different confusion if there is a physical advantage to this, and it will be a mild stunner if it is not the same. However, there is one particular trend in the Allen-Mahomes day matchups that is likely to continue: While Mahomes is undefeated against Allen and the Expenses in the playoffs, it is Allen who has the decisive advantage in the regular season. , who owns a 3-1 professional record against Kansas Town. Of course, Expenses are also scarce in general terms, and the Bosses are, intelligently, the Bosses. But Allen has done more as a big-play quarterback in 2024, and Sean McDermott’s defense has held up pretty steady in the red zone, putting the home team on the brink.
Select: Expenses 24, Bosses 23
