Will Buffalo’s playoff fate be decided by the Bills-Chiefs rivalry?

ORCHARD PARK, NEW YORK — Stefon Diggs stood with his hands on his hips as confetti fell at Arrowhead Stadium, watching the Kansas City Chiefs celebrate their second consecutive Super Bowl victory.

The Buffalo Bills receiver taking in the moment after the 2021 AFC Championship Game is one of many memorable images from the Chiefs and Bills’ hard-fought games over the years.

While the Chiefs have been to three Super Bowls since the 2019 season, winning two of them, the Bills have not advanced past the AFC title game and have been eliminated from the playoffs twice by the Chiefs.

The Bills’ playoff chances could be on the line when the teams meet again at Arrowhead Stadium on Sunday (4:25 p.m. ET, CBS). Buffalo is 6-6 after a bye week and currently sits in 11th place in the AFC heading into the weekend. The Bills are trailed in the conference standings by three teams that have already defeated them.

“There is definitely a sense of urgency. “We know what’s coming,” said left tackle Dion Dawkins. “We have to win every week.”

According to ESPN Analytics, the Bills have the toughest remaining strength of schedule, beginning with the game in Kansas City. The game will be the sixth meeting between the teams since 2020, and the fifth in Arrowhead Stadium. And if history is any indication, the game will be memorable.

• The Chiefs have a 3-2 advantage in the teams’ five meetings since 2020. However, the Bills have won their last two regular-season games, while Kansas City has won both playoff games.

• In the previous two regular-season meetings, the Bills’ defense held the Chiefs to 20 points. However, Kansas City has scored 38 and 42 points in the postseason.

• The last playoff meeting will be remembered fondly by Bills fans. After Buffalo scored a touchdown with 13 seconds remaining in regulation, Kansas City marched down the field to kick a game-tying field goal. The Chiefs won 42-36 after scoring a touchdown on the first drive of overtime, which contributed to a rule change requiring both teams to have at least one offensive possession in overtime.

“Kansas City is a great rough stop.” A lot of history, and I imagine a lot of battles, man. “There are a lot of emotions there,” Dawkins said.

According to ESPN Analytics, the Bills have a 24.7% chance of making the playoffs heading into Week 14. With a win over the Chiefs, those odds rise to 37.6%, while a loss drops to 9.2%.

“These next five weeks are big and excited to come back fresh off the bye week and be able to give it our all for these next five to see what happens,” Gabe Davis, the team’s wide receiver, said.

A combination of factors, including inconsistent play, injuries, and inability to close tight games, have left the team with almost no margin for error in the playoff chase. Turnovers have also been a factor, with quarterback Josh Allen throwing an interception in eight consecutive games.

But Allen has also been instrumental in the team’s offensive success, particularly in the last two games, when he has thrown five touchdowns and two interceptions. Allen had 81 yards rushing in the overtime loss to the Philadelphia Eagles. The team scored more than 30 points against the New York Jets and the Philadelphia Eagles.

“That’ll win you a decent number of games, so that gives me hope.” “We’re hoping to get guys back healthier,” general manager Brandon Beane said on Wednesday.

This crucial game comes amid a turbulent week for the Bills, with a number of potential distractions. Von Miller turned himself in last week on an arrest warrant for allegedly assaulting a pregnant woman. Miller practiced on Thursday and Friday and the team has stated that he is available for the game, with Beane stating that the team is waiting to see how the investigation unfolds and is following the NFL’s lead.

A story published by Go Long on Thursday revealed a 2019 speech in which coach Sean McDermott told the team to come together and used the 9/11 terrorists as an example. McDermott addressed the issue at a team meeting on Thursday to clear the air for players who were unable to attend.

However, the Bills are focusing on the upcoming challenge.

“We have a very, very important game this weekend and, we got a lot riding on this game and these next few games that we have, so, and that’s been the focus,” Trent Sherfield, who plays wide receiver, said.