The Japan Times - Latest NFL Chiefs-Bills duel has both chasing division leaders

The Chiefs are 4-0 against Buffalo in the playoffs, eliminating the Bills in four of the past five seasons, twice in the AFC Championship game.

The Bills have won four regular season meetings in a row since a Chiefs triumph in 2020, snapping a 15-game Kansas City win streak last year in Buffalo.

This time, however, both clubs are fighting just to remain atop their own divisions at mid-season.

The Bills (5-2) are second to New England (6-2) in the AFC East while the Chiefs (5-3) share second with the Los Angeles Chargers in the AFC West, both a game behind Denver (6-2).

That adds a bit more tension to an already intense rivalry, Chiefs quarterback Mahomes said.

"We have a familiarity with this team as many times as we've played them," Mahomes said. "But they do a good job with their game plans.

"We know it's going to take our best football. That's the biggest thing I've learned from this rivalry. It's going to be one play here or there that's going to change the outcome. You've got to go out there and make it."

The Chiefs won in Buffalo in the 2023 playoffs on the way to a Super Bowl triumph and know they will face one of the NFL's loudest and most passionate fan bases.

"It will be a great challenge for us," Mahomes said. "It will be loud. That's what you want as a football player, to go into a hostile environment. It comes down to players making plays in big moments."

Bills quarterback Allen, the reigning NFL Most Valuable Player, likes his club's chances of extending their regular-season win streak over Kansas City.

"I'm very confident. I'm very confident in the players that we've got. I'm very confident in myself," Allen said. "We (have) an opportunity this week against a team that has been the best team in the league for a really long time.

"They're playing really good football so we've got to put our best foot forward, have a good week of practice, and go out there and execute on Sunday."

Bills coach Sean McDermott said Bills-Chiefs games give each club a good measure of how they stack up against the NFL's elite.

"There have been great battles and I think that's one of the reasons you do this, is the competition," McDermott said. "You look forward to the competition and no different this week. We know the challenge that's in front of us."

The Chiefs will have Kareem Hunt at running back. He has five touchdowns and a knack for picking up key yards in clutch moments.

"Every time he's in there, it seems like good things happen," Mahomes said. "His track record speaks for itself."

- Colts visit Steelers -

The week's only other contest involving two clubs with winning records sends the NFL-best Indianapolis Colts, the AFC South leader at 7-1, at AFC North leader Pittsburgh (4-3).

The Colts are the NFL's top-scoring attack with 33.8 points a game. They have scored 27 or more points in every game and at least 30 in six of their past eight starts.

The Steelers come off losses to Cincinnati and Green Bay.

Sunday's other NFL games include Chicago at Cincinnati, Minnesota at Detroit, Carolina at Green Bay, Denver at Houston, Atlanta at New England, San Francisco at the New York Giants, New Orleans at the Los Angeles Rams, the Los Angeles Chargers at Tennessee, Seattle at Washington and Jacksonville at Las Vegas. Arizona visits Dallas on Monday.

K.Abe--JT