BILLS vs Chiefs AFC CHAMPIONSHIP preview: 'Pressure' on JOSH ALLEN to take BUFFALO to SUPER BOWL

Summary

---

Buffalo Plus Podcast: Bills vs. Chiefs AFC Championship Preview

Date: January 24, 2025
Hosts: Mike Catalana, Jenna Cottrell, Dan Fetes

---

Episode Overview

The Buffalo Plus team—Mike Catalana, Jenna Cottrell, and Dan Fetes—deliver an in-depth, lively preview of the Buffalo Bills' upcoming AFC Championship clash against the Kansas City Chiefs. This episode is anchored in the enormous pressure and legacy implications for both teams, particularly quarterback Josh Allen, as Buffalo seeks to reach the Super Bowl and overcome the “Chiefs curse.” The hosts break down team momentum, Josh Allen’s maturation, coaching strategies, injury updates, and why this matchup feels like the ultimate test for Buffalo’s franchise narrative.

---

Key Discussion Points & Insights

---

1. Stakes & Significance of the AFC Championship

• Game is Franchise-Changing

  • Massive implications for both franchises and the NFL at large.
  • "Somebody is going to New Orleans. That is the thing. This game ends and it is a totally different feeling for franchises... It’s changing for everything that they do." – Mike (02:37)

• Pressure on Both Teams

  • Rare situation where both the Bills and Chiefs have enormous pressure to win due to legacies and the need to "unseat" Mahomes.
  • "It’s incredible because I can see both sides saying they have so much pressure. And very rarely do you think both sides have pressure." – Dan (03:11)

---

2. Josh Allen's Growth & Maturity

• Josh Allen: From Wild to Wise

  • Recaps a pivotal Ravens game play where Allen considered—but resisted—lateraling, demonstrating his maturity.
  • "Would young Josh Allen have done that? He would have done it, yes. It may have crossed the mind, but yeah, I didn’t do it." – Josh Allen (05:26)
  • Hosts admire Allen’s blend of competitive fire and measured decision-making.

• Allen’s Legacy

  • The panel weighs Allen’s career and how QBs are ultimately “judged on certain things… Getting to a Super Bowl is big.”
  • “Mahomes is there and he ain’t going anywhere. At some point, you got to beat him.” – Mike (16:22)

---

3. Locker Room Vibes & Team Mentality

• Looser, Freer Bills

  • Noted shift in energy; team is lighter, less burdened by expectation, carries 'quiet confidence.’
  • “This team is just looser than I felt like it has been in years. And I mean that in a positive way.” – Jenna (11:14)

• Redemption Mentality

  • Only twelve players remain from Bills’ 2020 loss to KC. Team framed as older, tougher, more prepared for this moment.
  • “They just have to be tougher longer. They hung in there. They got a break. They got all those things. They did it for 60 minutes in that game.” – Mike (10:16)

---

4. Narrative Weight & NFL Storylines

• “Chiefs Roadblock” and National Perception
  • For the Bills' national respect, there's a sense their journey to the Super Bowl “has to go through KC.”
  • “If the Bills were to go on and win the Super Bowl and they didn’t have to play Mahomes… there’d be a tiny bit that was like, well, they didn’t have to play Mahomes. This, to me, is fitting.” – Dan (12:38)

---

5. Coaching & Tactical Breakdown

• Sean McDermott & Bobby Babich’s Roles

  • McDermott is more CEO now, not making every play call, but critical in defensive gameplan vs. Mahomes/Kelce.
  • “Sean is a CEO head coach. He is not calling plays... but he's in charge of a game plan here, especially this week, of trying to contain Mahomes.” – Dan (21:01)

• The Dilemma of Blitzing Mahomes

  • Mahomes welcomes blitzes, making standard pressure packages less effective.
  • “Mahomes has said that he loves to get blitzed... McDermott's like, what blitz hasn’t he seen that we can threaten?” – Dan (22:04)
  • “Both Allen and Mahomes… are lethal when they’re on the move.” – Mike (23:26)

• Bills Defense: Flexibility and Turnovers

  • Babich praised for mixing responsibilities, spying QBs, limiting elite running games.
  • “They forced three turnovers in the game...I give Bobby credit for that.” – Mike (33:45)

---

6. Matchups: Injuries, Chiefs Offense & Bills O-Line

• Injury Updates:

  • Taylor Rapp likely out (“he is as tough as they get... But they haven’t seen him.” – Mike [24:50]), Benford in concussion protocol but limited practice.
  • Matt Milano, Bernard dealing with hamstring soreness but expected to play.

• Chiefs Offense: The Kelsey/Mahomes Connection

  • Kelsey's unpredictability and on-field chemistry with Mahomes is a nightmare for defenses.
  • “He doesn’t follow a route. … Every route for Kelsey is different.” – Cam Lewis, relayed by Dan (26:56)
  • "Kelsey and Mahomes...such a same page. There’s incredible trust between the two of them." – Mike (27:51)

• Chiefs’ Support Weapons

  • Hosts debate whether Hollywood Brown/Xavier Worthy will be keys or afterthoughts.
  • “But I am a little nervous about Xavier Worthy and what he can do.” – Jenna (32:23)

• Bills O-Line: An Underrated Edge

  • For first time, hosts feel Buffalo has advantage at the line of scrimmage.
  • “The Bills, for the first time in this rivalry, are better at both lines of scrimmage.” – Dan (47:39)

---

7. Offensive Identity: Run-First Buffalo

• A “Run First" Bills?
  • Reluctantly acknowledged, but the hosts agree: “They are a run-first offense with a superstar quarterback who can make the plays.” – Mike (37:45)
  • O-line and run game have provided needed physicality and stability, lightening Allen’s load.

---

8. Critical Players, Game Changers & X-Factors

• Predictions for Players to Step Up
  • Terrel Bernard – Called a difference-maker; hosts cite his toughness, leadership, and knack for splash plays (41:31).
  • Keon Coleman – Dan expects him to make a big play in critical moments, especially on broken plays (42:18).
  • Matt Collins & Tyler Bass – Jenna feels Collins could make clutch catches, Bass could deliver “the play” (43:48).

---

9. Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “Would young Josh Allen have done that? He would have done it, yes… but yeah, I didn’t do it.” – Josh Allen on not lateraling (05:30)
• “Mahomes is there and he ain’t going anywhere. At some point, you got to beat him.” – Mike (16:22)
• “You just have to be tougher longer.” – Mike (10:16)
• “If the Bills win, the celebration is going to come with a stage and a trophy…. The Lamar Hunt trophy. That’s the owners of the Chiefs.” – Mike (47:14)
• "Don’t throw to whoever McDuffie’s covering. That’s a bad idea. He is a stud, man." – Mike (48:53)

---

10. Predictions and Final Thoughts

• Picks:
  • Jenna: Bills win, 32-30 (“It’s already written.” – referencing Josh/Von Miller’s mindset, 45:01)
  • Mike: Bills win, 27-23 (predicts celebration at Arrowhead with Lamar Hunt Trophy, 47:14)
  • Dan: Bills win, 25-23 (believes OL/DL edge will be decisive, 48:43)

---

Notable Time Stamps for Key Segments

• Allen’s Growth/Lateral Discussion: 04:31 – 06:38
• Pressure & Legacies: 02:36 – 03:56 & 16:01 – 17:30
• Chiefs Curse & Bills Narrative: 12:38 – 13:13
• Locker Room Vibe: 11:14 – 13:25
• Injury Talk: 24:17 – 25:46
• Travis Kelce/Mahomes Connection: 26:52 – 28:34
• Coaching Chess Match: 21:01 – 24:17
• Bills OL Identity & Tactics: 37:14 – 39:37
• Key Players to Watch: 40:34 – 43:24
• Final Score Predictions: 44:14 – 48:43
• Closing Banter & Credit to Me: 49:39 – 55:10

---

Fun & Memorable Banter

• Light-hearted jabs about interrupting each other (often at Jenna’s expense), and the running “credit to me” bit for successful hot takes.
• Mike’s “Buffalo history lesson” (54:48): Ties past AFC Championship connections with the Chiefs into the present.

---

Takeaways for Listeners

• This matchup is more than a game—it could redefine the Bills’ place in NFL history and Josh Allen’s personal legacy.
• Both fanbases, and the whole NFL world, recognize the enormous weight of beating the Chiefs in Arrowhead.
• The Bills' improved physicality, balanced offense, and looser mentality set up the most anticipated AFC Championship matchup of the Allen era.
• For all the X’s and O’s, Buffalo's ability to be “tougher longer”—both physically and mentally—will be put to the ultimate test.

---

If you want exclusive Bills insight with a pinch of kitchen-table banter, don’t miss this episode. The Buffalo Plus crew bring both the detail and the heart of Western New York to the AFC’s greatest modern rivalry.

Transcript

[A]

In the time it takes you to actually board that flight from Group 8.

[B]

Now boarding Premier Altitude Elite club members.

[A]

You could have bought a Hyundai on Amazon. Yes, that Amazon, where you buy everything else.

[B]

Mid tier Altitude Elite. Feel free to board now.

[A]

So while you're waiting for them to make up new boarding groups, you can order your dream car and the dealer.

[C]

Will have it ready in no time.

[B]

Now boarding groups one through seven.

[A]

So close.

[C]

Visit HyundaiUSA.com or call 562-314-4603 for more details.

[A]

Limited availability pickup through participating Hyundai dealer in select markets. In the fourth quarter. Three minutes to go. Third down, you get stopped. There looked like there was a moment where you thought about laddering the ball back to James Cook. Did that go through your head?

[C]

No.

[A]

Would young Josh Allen have done that?

[C]

He would have done it, yes. It may have crossed the mind, but yeah, I didn't do it.

[A]

I didn't know. I interrupted Jenna until the drive home when I. What? Yeah, I interrupted somebody. It was like.

[B]

I was like, yeah, that was me.

[A]

I went. I had no idea. I was not going to be determined. No, I was like, Josh Allen from the three yard line. I was just rumbling in.

[C]

Hold on. I just got it. You were not going to be deterred. You were determined.

[B]

Damn it. Every week, so close every time.

[A]

What did I say?

[C]

You said I was not going to be determined.

[A]

I think I meant to say deterred.

[B]

Yes.

[C]

Right.

[B]

That's what I say.

[A]

This is the Buffalo plus podcast brought to you by Connors and Ferris.

[B]

All right, welcome to the Buffalo plus podcast presented by Connors and Ferris, Mike Catalana, Dan Fates. I am Jenna Cottrell. Please be sure to, like, comment. Subscribe. Subscribe and share. All right, everyone, we are talking about the AFC championship game. Bills, Chiefs, we're going to get into the matchup, we're going to get into the injuries, we're going to get into the vibe in Buffalo right now. We're going to talk all about it. Do a little credit to me as well. But first things first, Michael. We are talking about the AFC championship. The Bills, the window was closed and then all of a sudden, that's my joke. It opened back up. Like, you don't take whoever's joke is.

[C]

Good credit to you. Yeah. Because this is. This is awesome. It's an awesome experience to see this. I think the last time they played it because of COVID it was just an odd thing and I think we felt like it was a little early.

[B]

Yeah.

[C]

And the Bills were there, which was great. That they got There and they got that experience. Man, A lot of stuff has happened between that championship game and this one, but somebody is going to New Orleans. I mean, that is the thing. It's like this game ends and it is a totally different feeling for franchises. It's. It's changing for everything that they do. And I think the Bills have put themselves in a great spot.

[A]

I think it's more franchise changing, obviously for Buffalo.

[C]

Yeah.

[A]

To. To. Not only that, it. It's a changing for the NFL for somebody to Unseed Mahomes in the Kansas City Invitational.

[C]

Yes.

[A]

Like to do this. And because they. Before it was, they couldn't go on the road. Well then they went on the road last year and did just that. So the pressure. And I know we'll get into it too, and I know we've talked about it earlier this week on, on other videos. But like, how much. It's incredible because I can see both sides saying they have so much pressure. And very rarely do you think both sides have pressure. Usually it's. Well, this side, like perfect example is the NFC championship.

[C]

Yeah.

[A]

Eagles have all the pressure. The Commanders have none. That is not the case in the AFC with so much on the line legacies and all of these things. And, and the way they're viewed, not only nationally, but in their own resume against their own quarterbacks. It's ma. It's massive.

[B]

And Barbara Jones commenting in redemption. And I think that is on the. On the minds of a lot of Bill's fans. And. And there are 12 players that were on that roster back in 2020 when Bills went. Faced off against Chiefs and lost in that AFC championship. And that was a very young team. Like, I think they were ahead of schedule. It was not what was expected. And now to think about where this team is at and also Dan, just the maturation we've seen from Josh and where he is at now as a competitor, as a leader and as just a quarterback in general.

[A]

Yeah. We've asked Sean a bunch this year about what has changed with Josh and how have you seen him mature and, and Josh has said, well, Shawn has said when Josh puts his mind to something, he's so determined and, and, and all these things. But it was never on display more than. Than against the Ravens on third and two with like three minutes to go. And it was talked about like, hey, I think Josh may have actually tried to want to lateral that ball back.

[C]

Yeah. Romo said it like right away.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

And then it was. I actually had to go back and listen to the post Game press conference. Because it, it never got brought up. Yeah, there were a couple of other plays that, that were talked about. And I go, like. And I even said on the. You ask, we answer. I, I said, I go, I gotta ask Josh.

[C]

Yeah.

[A]

And, and I did. In the fourth quarter, three minutes ago, third down, you get stopped. There looked like there was a moment where you thought about laddering the ball back to James Cook. Did that go three your head?

[C]

No.

[A]

Would young Josh Allen have done that?

[C]

He would have done it. Yes. I, it may have crossed the mind, but yeah, I didn't do it.

[A]

And he pretty much went into the explanation of the smirk and the no. And, and then I asked, would young Josh Allen have done that? And he said, yeah, young Josh Allen would have done that, but I didn't.

[C]

And so, because, because the, the, the good angel on the side, not the devil on the other side.

[A]

But I loved how he also broke down. Elena Getzenberg of ESPN had a follow up of like, well, then what goes through your mind? And he goes, well, you feel like you're kind of stood up there forever and you have all this time to make a decision. All of the thoughts went through his head to lateral it. He goes, he goes. There was a window that I saw that I could pitch the ball back. So it was more than just like a. It was in there for a sec. He really considered it. But again, this is a bill scene that has adopted not only Joe Brady and Josh Allen, but Sean McDermott of like, hey, this is the type of football we want to play. We are going to not give the ball away. We're going to stop the run. We're going to own the line of scrimmage, and that's how we're going to win games.

[C]

Yeah, great question. You got a response out of Josh that it was, it was awesome.

[B]

How many views?

[A]

2.5 million.

[C]

2.5 million. Now, I did want to say something that I made a New Year's resolution to not interrupt Jenna. And I'm really trying because it happens, but at least I did not interrupt Jenna at Josh Allen's news conference.

[B]

So behind Inside Baseball, we're at the Josh Allen press conference. All three of us, all three of us were. I was starting to ask a question and Dan just trampled over me.

[C]

So if you've heard the questions in these post game news conferences or even there, usually a couple reporters start talking at the same time and usually one.

[A]

Of us, the battle of attrition, you.

[C]

See how far you can go without sounding like a Jerk. And then usually the other person backs off. There's like a little bit of. Of. You understand that sometimes you. You wait, you pause.

[B]

Yeah.

[C]

And just kept going.

[B]

Usually there's a little chivalry and I.

[C]

Thought, like, oh, who interrupted Jenna? And then I look behind me and it's there.

[A]

The best part about it, it was. This was kind of my credit to me. So say it here. But, like, you always want to deliver a question that is thoughtful and that gets a good answer. There are a lot of bad questions out there. But I knew that time had to be the right point of the press conference. You can't just ask something like, oh, what is. What is going on here? And then being like, we got to focus on the Chiefs. Hey, Josh, last week, I want to bring up this play. And it was after a question about him being better at not turning the ball over. So I was like, oh, there's my opening.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

And I went there.

[B]

Then you just.

[A]

But the best part about it was I didn't know I interrupted Jenna until the drive home when I went, yeah, I interrupted somebody. It was like.

[B]

I was like, yeah, that was me.

[A]

I went. I had no idea. I just. I was not going to be denied.

[C]

That was Buffalo plus on Buffalo plus crime.

[B]

Yeah, that's what that was.

[A]

And there's the Open. Was not going to be determined.

[B]

No.

[A]

I was like Josh Allen from the three yard line. I was just rumbling in.

[C]

Hold on. I just gotta. You were not going to be deterred. You were determined.

[B]

Damn it. Every week, so close every time.

[A]

What did I say?

[C]

You said I was not going to be determined.

[A]

I think I meant to say deterred.

[B]

Yes.

[C]

Right. That's what I chose.

[B]

What we were saying.

[C]

He just.

[B]

All right, let's get back on track.

[C]

So good.

[B]

Okay. All right.

[A]

Come for the Bill's take.

[C]

Stay.

[A]

For all the dumb grammar that Dan has.

[B]

I don't think that's grammar, man. That's just. All right. Okay. So we were in Buffalo.

[C]

Yeah.

[B]

We were in Orchard Park. In the building at practice. We were in the building. And I think one of the things that we have talked about and. And the Bills were asked to speak just about some of their fearlessness. Some of their. They're not tightening up in spots where we have seen Bill's teams in the past kind of lose sight or. Or force things. And, you know, Sean McDermott was asked Mike about, you know, this team isn't afraid to lose.

[C]

Yeah.

[B]

And I think that that is. We've seen the vibe throughout the season of just the Team being lighter in general. But I think it was kind of highlighted this week about. There isn't that oppressive feeling of like, you can't. You can't make a mistake. But also, it doesn't feel like that that pressure is on there.

[C]

Dan made a good point about the pressure in terms. If you look at this game because you start to go, wow, it's about narratives and it's about legacies and all those things. Here's the pressure they took away. They took away that pressure of getting past that round.

[A]

Yep.

[C]

That didn't make this season a success. Success, but it sure kept it from being a failure.

[A]

Yes.

[C]

They had to beat the Ravens, and they beat a team they don't match up great with.

[A]

Nope.

[C]

And they fought and they played. What do I say? It's that old saying, you don't have to be the toughest team, you just have to be tougher longer. They were tougher longer. They hung in there. They got a break. They got all those things. They did it for 60 minutes in that game, so they got past that game. This game is a different level because guess what? When they win, there's pressure in the next game to win the Super Bowl. It might feel differently, but when you're in that game and in that moment, there is pressure. So there is in this one. But I do think this team needed to get past that Ravens round. That could have been the Chiefs just was last year, but they needed to get past there. I think there is a. You know, Josh talked earlier this year. He said we're freed up a little after they had clinched the division. I do think while there's pressure, I think it does free them up a little as they go into Kansas City. They've played well there. They've been there before. They've been there for the playoffs.

[B]

This team is just looser than I felt like it has been in years. And I mean that in a positive way.

[A]

You are just a bull in a China. You are knocking over the mic. You're knocking over the. Your laptop.

[B]

I gotta stand my ground.

[C]

Before you interrupt wingspan. Look out.

[A]

Just boxing out.

[B]

I do have long arms.

[C]

Yeah.

[A]

Yeah. I think, Mike, to your point of, like, now, it's not a disappointment of a season, but this is still what you prepare for.

[C]

Yes.

[A]

All offseason, the Chiefs have talked about it, that they're like. We look at them during the offseason because we know we're going to see them twice a year, and here's the second time. And even when the Bills beat them, the first time, I remember Deion Dawkins in the locker room afterwards. Like, we'll see him again. Like, you kind of saw this coming. And I said on our TV show, like, this just feels like the NFL writers got it right. Like. Like to have the Bills, if they are going to go to the super bowl, if they are going to prove all the doubters wrong, and, you know, Emmanuel Acho's championship window that he closed, it was going to have to be through arrowhead in the. And the Chiefs, you know, to exercise those demons. Like, even if. I know this is very stupid, but if the Bills were to go on and win the super bowl and they went and hosted the Houston Texans and then won the super bowl, there would be a small asterisk that they didn't have to go through the Chiefs. There'd be a tiny bit that was like, well, they didn't have to play Mahomes. Somebody else took care of Mahomes. This, to me, is fitting. And to your point where you said, I don't think they matched up as well against the Ravens, I 100% agree. I think they match up pretty well. Pretty well. Because this is also kind of the team that you've been building your roster to beat.

[C]

Yeah.

[B]

Yeah. Do you feel like, Mike, Because I think we talk so much about the Chiefs being the thorn in the side. I didn't get the impression, though, this week that it weighed as heavily on Josh Allen's mind. And maybe that was just me reading into things more because he did talk about. You're anxious about this game. Of course you are. It's human nature. But I didn't feel like it was weighing quite like we have felt in the past.

[C]

Yeah, I mean, I think this team, if you. You go back wherever you were at the beginning of the year, they obviously exceeded expectations from outside the building and to somewhat inside the building.

[A]

Absolutely.

[C]

Okay. And then now you've gotten into the playoffs and they were very impressive in the first game. It's what good teams do. Blew them out and then fought in a playoff game to get to this. So they have done those things. So I think it has put them in a position of feeling really good about themselves, feeling like not an accomplishment. And when we say in Genesis and we're saying loose, it is not a lack of focus. It is a. It is a.

[B]

Is a quiet confidence.

[C]

Quiet confidence is the best way you describe it. And they do have that. And I do think it has helped them, honestly, it has helped them win in that building, even though it's Regular season. You've been in those games like they may be regular season, but they are awesome.

[B]

Yeah.

[C]

And they're great games. And they have won there. And then they have competed to the end with them twice. I mean, let's. You lost a three point game. Missed field goal, ended it. And the one before was in overtime. So they know they are. They aren't the equal of this team, but they're right there with them. They can't be the equal. They've beaten them in the playoffs three times. But they're close.

[A]

Yeah. It is funny. Cause you think about all those matchups where you say the Chiefs have ended the bill season and rightfully so. And we talk about 2020 because that was the last AFC championship game that the Bills were just a little bit over their skis in that game. A little bit too young, too dumb, a little bit filled with too much vinegar. That was even the game when Josh threw the football at. At the. The Chiefs lineman's face after he got sacked, there was frustration that had kind of worn on them. But you talk about that 13 seconds game. They were up to the task. Josh Allen, you've said it before. I couldn't agree more. You can't play better in a losing effort in the history of football.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

And then I think because you. You just think of the losses piling up. You are too zoomed out from the loss last year.

[C]

Right.

[A]

To actually go into the minutia of it and see the guys that were missing and to see that Josh drove them down the field and to know that he was this close away. If Chris Jones doesn't get a little bit more, he gets just enough pressure for Josh to miss the throw in the end zone. And then Tyler Bass misses the field goal. So like it's. When you say that they go, They've been. I understand you. You only horseshoes and hand grenades.

[C]

You're right.

[B]

No, that was. Right.

[C]

That's it.

[A]

Okay.

[C]

That one. Right? Yes.

[B]

Because he's.

[A]

I'm in a pretzel.

[B]

Yeah.

[C]

Isn't he always gonna say a little bit.

[A]

Well, but that they've been close?

[B]

Not enough.

[C]

No, but closest. Yes, they have been horseshoes and hand grenades. Yes, you are right.

[A]

That's. That's what I was getting at, boss. I appreciate it. Thanks for helping me out there. That's like The Dwayne Wade, LeBron James.

[B]

I hear what you're saying. I think they have been very close, but they have not been able to get. What do. What do we always say over the.

[C]

Hump yeah, they need to be.

[A]

And one last river.

[B]

Well, there would be two rivers to.

[C]

Cross, but this one is a big. And you talk about. This is not something Josh Allen ever talks about. But sometimes we can take a step back and look at his career. It's been incredible so far. But he's a quarterback, and quarterbacks are judged on certain things. Numbers are great. I mean, a lot of guys who put up numbers. Numbers are great. It would have been nice to see him get the MVP this year. I think we think he's not going to happen. But just for your legacy. But also getting to a Super bowl is big in that way. And that Mahomes is there and he ain't going anywhere. At some point, you got to beat him. And like you said, he's in the way. Why not do it this year? And then you become that team. That is. That's when I say, then you're an. You're an equal with them in a sense of saying, we came into your place and beat you. We should have beaten you the other time. We've beaten you four times in the regular season and go win the Super Bowl. You know what I mean? You do all those things. You can't do it without this. But those are those legacy hall of Fame, gold jacket things that. That are there for Josh Allen. But this guy's going to be in the way for a lot.

[B]

Yeah.

[C]

And you got to get past him at some point. And it might be Sunday.

[B]

Brian Kennedy saying, the Chiefs have never beaten Josh Allen. They've only beaten the Bills. That a quote from Rex Ryan? Actually, I completely agree with that.

[A]

One of the more comprehensive things that Rex Ryan's ever said.

[C]

Yeah, I. Yes. The first. You want to.

[B]

You want to hate. Okay.

[C]

No, no. But the first championship game. No, I'm not saying. Well, actually, I would say Josh was really good in the last game and he had a chance. Listen, if you're going to judge a quarterback, they had a chance on the last drive to take the lead.

[A]

Yes.

[C]

And he. He did not get it done. Now, I'm not blaming it all on him, but this is the level we put on quarterbacks. Mahomes, as frustrating as it is, has always gotten that. Feels like he's always gotten that done. That's where we judge Josh on a very different scale than the rest of the team.

[A]

Short time out. We have ruined the dynamic at times, and we are crumbling ourselves from within with this. Well, actually, we. We. You are. We are all on so much edge about the fact of. Inside the sports Office. We've hung around with the drives to Buffalo, the games. Jenna's laughing because at times we will. Well, actually each other. Yes. And then when we do it and the other person doesn't feel like they're actually doing it, like we're testy, like everybody's on pins and needles. Like, Jenna said that. And Mike instantly was like, I didn't.

[C]

I didn't. Well, actually, I just thought that it's. Because it's not fair.

[A]

It's not fair to. We're tearing our family apart.

[C]

It is not fair to Josh. But it's the reality of Josh.

[B]

Yes, I could see that.

[C]

It's the reality of who. That's why actually I say in other positions, I'm talking about, say, like, the hall of Fame. Hall of Fame guys are going to be announced this time. You got to get to a Super bowl win. Mvp, all those things. He has been awesome, but he's judged differently. So the. The person who said that is right in a general sense, that the other rest of the team hasn't come through. But, like, Josh is just held to a different standard than anybody else, and quarterbacks are held to that standard. Can you come through in the. Joe Burrow got to a Super bowl, and we all saw that game. His defense got him to a Super bowl in the second half of that game against the Chiefs, if you remember. Yes, that defense was great, but it's still got Joe Burrow there. He's had other awesome games, but he got to the super bowl because. And that would be his teammates. But he's had those awesome moments. Josh has been phenomenal, and certainly in 13 seconds, he needs to do it this week because it's going to take that Josh Allen effort to get them there. Even if the rest of the team plays well.

[A]

We're so. It's just so funny now.

[B]

Well, somebody said we should have a. Well, actually counter. George McKay, start A. Well, actually counter. I don't think.

[C]

Well, actually, George, what will really happen.

[A]

Is that somebody will repeat a comment that we've heard, whether it's a tweet or something we see on tv.

[C]

That's me.

[A]

And then. And then Mike.

[B]

I get mad.

[A]

And then Mike will go, well, actually, it's like, we're just.

[C]

No, I don't always say the word.

[A]

You're right.

[C]

I will just be like, well, that's stupid.

[A]

Well, you'll go, but it's a. Well, actually. So, yeah, that's where we're at.

[B]

All right. We talk about Allen. How much pressure, though, Dan, Sean McDermott massive.

[A]

Absolutely. Tons of. Of pressure in this spot. It's stopping Travis Kelce. It's about trying to contain Patrick Mahomes.

[C]

It's.

[A]

What do you have? Because you have, for the most part. And we'll get into injuries. It doesn't look like Taylor Rapp's gonna play, but you have. Bernard Milano's a little banged up with some hamstring soreness. But this is, again, with a new. With a new guy calling the plays. Obviously, Sean has his hand in on things, but Sean is a CEO head coach. He is not calling plays. He may have input during timeouts of what he's. He's calling timeouts. He's managing the game, but he's not telling Joe Brady to take your foot off the gas and go conservative. He's not doing any of those things, but he's in charge of a game plan here, especially this week, of trying to contain Mahomes. This isn't anything new. It's just a whole. It's just probably the hardest thing to do in football right now.

[B]

Yeah, no, it's fair.

[C]

We've had conversations with Sean McDermott at times. It's amazing, sort of off the record, but this is. I don't think it's anything like it was that. And he joked that sometimes people will just say to him, you should blitz Mahomes.

[A]

Yes.

[C]

Like, that is the secret sauce.

[A]

And Mahomes has said that he loves to get blitzed. Like, that's his thing. And kind of the point was Mahomes or McDermott's like, what blitz? Hasn't he seen that. That we can threaten? And again, you're trying to confuse the quarterback, and there's nothing really that. Now, again, I still think that the Bills will blitz Mahomes, and I think they will have more success maybe than in years past, because I think the Chiefs offensive line is more susceptible than they've been in years past. Before that was their. After they got. After Mahomes got his ass kicked in that Tampa Bay super bowl, they completely reworked the offensive line. They realized, hey, we can't get this guy bashed in all the time.

[C]

We.

[A]

We got to keep them upright. And then they went on their run. This year. It has been, at times a turnstile at. At both tackle positions. They've been penalized. We can get to the penalties in a second, but there will be more opportunities. It's not as good of an offensive line as Denver, and it's not as good of an offensive line as. As Baltimore.

[C]

The reason I think blitzes well, they can work. But part of the issue is with these guys, you speed up the clock in the two of them, both Allen and Mahomes. So you say to yourself, we're coming at him with a corner, we're coming at him with a linebacker. But they move into that mode that, let's be honest, as good as they are thrown from the pocket, both of them are lethal when they're on the move.

[B]

Yeah.

[C]

So you speed this up with a lot of quarterbacks. You'll see them, that pressure comes, they bail out, they go to the right, they throw the ball away or they take the sack. These guys are both so good and they've seen so much that the blitz puts them in that next mode pretty quickly. So the one thing I'd say that the Chiefs are elite at when they come with a blitz, it's from all over on any down. And that is what has made it so effective on in general. But Josh Allen handles a blitz pretty damn well. His numbers are really good.

[B]

Yeah.

[C]

It's just a matter of if you're trying to manipulate their defense, that is a speed up that is getting them out of what they want to do. And I, I, I think you're right, Dan. I think on occasion they will do that to try to make it a little bit different. But it's so hard to do against moms.

[B]

We have a comment from Therese Teo. Super tip. Hi from Alaska. Do you think Rap is only is the only one that won't play? Isn't it sad how our defense is not getting credit for the win against the Ravens? Do you think so? Taylor Rap did not practice. He obviously was carted off against the Ravens with a hip slash back injury. He as well as Christian Benford, he has been in concussion protocol. But Matt Milano was limited on practice and Wednesday. In terms of the injury report, I do not expect Taylor rap to play.

[C]

Yeah. John is saying he's he got carted off. He hasn't practiced. We're this is obviously you're watching this live. If you watch this taped, it's Thursday night that we're doing this. He didn't practice. I would say this. He is as tough as it gets, that guy. Yeah, he is. He throws his body around. He is tough. There is injuries and there is hurt and there is injuries and I think he has an injury.

[A]

Yeah.

[C]

And you don't just play through it now. If come Friday he's out on the field on a limited basis, then it opens up that possibility. But they haven't seen him he's getting treatment. I'm sure the rest of the guys, I think, will be there. I think it's a plus sign to see Benford out there on a limited basis, leaning through a protocol to get there. But, you know, that's not a great sign if you've got Demar and Bishop as your safeties. And that's what Andy Reid is staring at right now.

[A]

Yeah. Especially as Travis Kelce, who has had 14 consecutive playoff games with 70 plus receiving yards.

[C]

And his numbers against the Bills have been tremendous. Fantastic. Yeah.

[A]

Now, back in week 11, he had two catches for eight yards.

[C]

Like, yeah, it's his playoff. Kelsey, I was.

[A]

I was. I was telling my wife about that because she's like, oh, I want to get back into sports betting. Like, she. She bets on.

[C]

It's. She.

[A]

She is really part of, like, the Taylor Swift. Like, oh, there's games on now. Like, oh, like, what about this and that? And we talked about Travis Kelsey, and she goes, well, he hasn't been good this year. And it's like, yeah, it doesn't matter. He doesn't care about that. This is when all of a sudden I think that Houston Texans were like, yeah, Kelsey's washed. No. No, he's not. And I think, Mike, you and I talked to Cam Lewis this week about how difficult it is to prepare for Kelsey, and we've joked around at times and we see it all over social media. Just cover Kelsey. Just. Just cover him. Like, why. Why don't they cover him? Players do so much film and there's so much analytics about the routes that players run, where their strengths are, where the weaknesses are, all these things. He doesn't follow a route. You know, Cam Lewis said he goes.

[C]

No, I wasn't going to correct you. I was going to just interrupt you.

[A]

You didn't, though. Well, actually, you did. But the fact that he goes, it's a whole lot of backyard football. And when you're a player and you can say you see it all the time with players, say, I saw this route coming. We studied this route. Every route for Kelsey is different. And there's very few guys that have that level of one freedom because they've earned it. Because normally the quarterback wants you to be at a certain spot, at a certain depth on a certain drop of his route. But Kelsey is just, I'll go over here, I'll go over there. I'll do this. Yes, he's still physically gifted, but he's beating defenses with his brain.

[C]

So I always think about if you took a quarterback I'm not even going to say put Carson Wentz in the game. He's their backup. See how he does with Kelsey. That's different. I mean, if you legitimately took Josh Allen and said you're going to quarterback with J. With Travis Kelsey, I still think as talented as Josh is, it would not be the same.

[A]

No.

[C]

No matter how good he is. Because Kelsey and Mahomes, we talk about backyard football. They're on such a same page. They've done it so many times. There's incredible trust between the two of them. And that is what. It's so frustrating. There are players who have been backyard type players and they do things a little differently, but they don't have that same relationship with a quarterback that knows where they're going to be. And that's what I think these two have. Which makes it for the best coaches in the world with the best defensive players. I mean, look at the guys. They. I mean, you know, the guys in the secondary in Baltimore gave up a bunch of plays to him. You've got Hamilton and talented guys. The Bills have had that with, with Poyer and Hyde. And he still does it.

[A]

Yeah.

[C]

Because he and Mahomes are just.

[B]

Well, yeah, you said he has the freedom to do it, but it's like he has the freedom and. And the chemistry.

[C]

Yes.

[B]

And that is what makes him so.

[C]

One sentence.

[B]

I honestly sometimes think that you're right.

[C]

Yeah. I just kept going and going.

[B]

Yeah.

[C]

And you just said freedom. Freedom. And chemistry.

[B]

And chemistry. And that is what has been so successful for him. And I think it almost approaches it like load management, like NBA. If, like, I'm gonna pick my spots, I'm gonna play. Hey, this is a big moment. I'm gonna show up in the big moments. Maybe throughout the regular season, it was like he was trying, but it's not the same level. And. And when you've been in seven straight. This will be seven straight AFC championships. I think you can have the freedom to pick and choose.

[A]

And I don't know if you listen to part of my take or got to the point when Ryan. Ryan Fitzpatrick was just on it talking about him ripping his shirt off. Jenna, Great video. How many views?

[B]

2.4 million.

[C]

Oh, yeah.

[A]

That's pretty good.

[C]

Yeah, you'll catch him.

[B]

So annoying.

[A]

But he was asked. They asked 2.5. They asked Fitz about that level of chemistry in backyard. And he goes, Fitz, who played 47 years in the NFL with 17, all the things. He goes. They asked him, did you ever have that kind of level of trust with another wide receiver where you could pretty much do your own thing. And the only guy he said he did it with was Stevie. And he goes, they would line up and they would have three guys on one side and Stevie on the other. And he goes, if I gave him a Y, that was you, do you.

[C]

And it was hilarious.

[A]

Do whatever you want and I'll throw you the ball. And he goes, and if they. If it was man, he would run this route. He goes, but that level of you think about football. Like we always talk X's and O's and scheming game plan. Sometimes it's just a dude getting open against another guy and it's that simple. Like when you dumb football down to the basics of hey, get open, I'm a throw you the football.

[C]

Now that's really fascinating because there are other players and look, let's forget for a second the way Aaron Rodgers talks and acts sometimes. But he is a precise thrower. He likes the ball. He and Devonte Adams. You have seen breakdowns of the way Adams runs routes. The why they were together all the time. This, the very specific cuts and distances where he wants the ball, how he runs it. And they just did it over and over again. Marvin Harrison and Manning just over and over. They were so good at figuring those out. That is so different than these two. That is precision. This is like you said, it's freelance. And it's trust that they have interpretive dance. And it's. It is. And it's hard. I don't think I would go there, but I would say that is what makes it so difficult. And the other thing Cam Lewis said was very good moms. The other thing Cam Lewis said was and sometimes people forget he's big.

[A]

Yeah.

[C]

And he boxes in front of you and he's. He's a large guy and can catch the ball. And so that makes him a problem. But they got other. They have a very interesting pass catching group. DeAndre Hopkins has done nothing. I think he had only 15 snaps maybe in the last game. And everybody in the beginning. Old Collinsworth, I don't do a good Collinsworth. There's a guy, you know, he's got that. But he was going. No, he was going out of his mind. When the first game they were together and he had the two touchdowns.

[A]

Yeah.

[C]

And Collinsworth was just losing it on this was going to reinvent football. Here's a guy and he's done nothing. Really. He has become a afterthought. They've got Hollywood Brown.

[B]

I was about to say and they have Xavier Worth. I'm.

[C]

You're dreading.

[B]

I am a little nervous for Xavier Worth.

[C]

Yeah. This.

[B]

Will De Carter be active?

[A]

No.

[B]

He will. Yeah. I mean, that was a rhetorical question because.

[A]

Oh, but. Well, actually it was a real question, but.

[B]

But I am a little nervous about Xavier Worthy and what he can do.

[C]

We saw him in the first game, one drive. I think he had five catches and a score, and then he kind of went away, which is fine. But I do think that speed is impactful. And it's also impactful for Kelsey.

[A]

Yes.

[C]

In Hollywood Brown. It's pretty fast.

[B]

Go ahead, Stephen. Ben Felt said if Dan and Jenna were both sick for Buffalo plus Live, I think Mike could fill the show by himself.

[C]

Oh, no question. What was that like?

[A]

Yo, Steve, you and me are on the totally same page of this, of that. Like, it was reading my mind. It's like there should just be a Catalana.

[C]

Plus I would.

[B]

I would.

[C]

I could talk the entire time. Yeah, that's. That's not even a. It's not even a consideration.

[B]

Okay. All right, back to the show.

[A]

Hey, get him under control, host.

[B]

All right, I'll try. What is your confidence level.

[A]

In the.

[B]

In. I'm sorry, I forgot.

[C]

Well, I'm confident. I think Dan's more confident than me.

[A]

Oh, we're off the rails.

[B]

Not high. What is your comment? Just in Bobby Babich, this defense, obviously it went well in week 11 or whatever that was, but yeah, now it's different.

[C]

It is very different. And I don't think he did get enough credit for what they did against Baltimore. And I saw people saying in the second half, they couldn't stop them and they didn't get punts. They forced three turnovers in the game. They got three turnovers. And I thought he switched things up enough. I think they spied. Look, Lamar did not kill. Lamar did not kill them in the run game, which he could have threw the ball pretty well, but I mean, they had an eight point lead with four minutes to go. It's tough to stop them in that spot. And they went down and scored. But they were fortunate. They didn't get the two. Derrick Henry was really good on one drive, but he was a. An actual human being running the football in that game. He wasn't a tracker like we talk about the robot and the Fox posters. Like, he was just good, but he didn't kill you. And that's what he needed to do. So I give Bobby credit for that. You were talking about Sean and Bobby. I think this is A game where he should be more involved with the defensive game plan. He has so much experience with, certainly Andy Reid and Kelsey and Mahomes, and it's been frustrating, but not many teams have beaten the Chiefs four times.

[A]

Yes.

[C]

So they. It may be regular season, and we all know it doesn't count the same way, but I think, you know, Josh has won there. The Bills have won there three times in Kansas City. I mean, they've only lost. Yeah, it's absurdly low. And it's like since Bong's been there, 12th game. Or is it?

[A]

Well, I know Mahomes has only lost 26 games in his career.

[C]

Yeah, I think he's only lost like 11 at home or something, so. And Josh has won there three times. So I'm saying is they have shown the ability, if back to Leslie Frazier writing down on his sheet, don't blitz. Yeah, right. I mean, it's been different approaches against different teams, but this is wildly different than we used to see from the Chiefs and from the Bills and what they try to do offensively.

[B]

Then on the other side of that, Dan, like Joe Brady, what we've seen this year, I think a couple of moments we thought about in, in that Ravens game, specifically the screen to Dawson Knox on third down, like some of the times, maybe a little too cute in some aspects. What do you expect to see out of Joe Brady's game plan? And do you think he will stick to running the ball as much as he has in the. And really throughout the season?

[A]

Yeah, I, I don't expect to see a big change, especially because Denver had the second best defensive line or tied for the second best defensive line in football with maybe Philadelphia. And then the Ravens were viewed as the biggest, baddest defensive line in football, and they weren't intimidated. They ran the ball 20 times in the first half. That wasn't that. That wasn't because of the, the way the, the flow of the game went. That was their intention of. The Ravens went down the field and the bill said, that's fine. We're gonna, we're gonna show you that we can run the ball down your throat as well. I think the Bills believe in Joe Brady and we can talk about the confidence. And maybe after this, we say, like, what player needs to step up? But outside of Josh Allen, I think the Bills, Joe Brady, Sean McDermott believe their five best players on offense are the guys in front of Josh Allen. Maybe Shakir is the only other thing, but everybody else feeds off of that offensive line that has become their Identity. That is what they haven't had in these previous postseason games against the Chiefs. I believe they have an advantage at the line of scrimmage for the first time against Kansas City in the playoffs in the history of this rivalry.

[C]

So if you were explaining to somebody without naming names on the offense, what kind of offense do the Bills run? I want to hear you say it.

[A]

I'm not going to say it. I won't say it. You can say I'm not going to say it.

[C]

They're a run first offense.

[A]

Not going to say it.

[C]

They're run first.

[B]

And why is that? And that is. I just want to clarify. So you said that was an advantage. It was in this matchup.

[C]

They are run first offense with a superstar quarterback who can make the plays. They believe they are bigger, better and tougher than the other team. I love that feeling that they have.

[B]

Well, it's so much of what we have talked about of Sha McDermott wanting to add a fill physical element to this offense and this season you've kind of seen what that has done for the entire team and how it's nice when Josh Allen might not. We used to talk about, obviously Josh Allen has his fastball of the passing game. But also it doesn't always have to rely and weigh on Josh's shoulders. And James Cook has had a phenomenal season and you look at what the O line has been able to do and that is. I don't think it's a coincidence. That is why this team is in the AFC championship.

[A]

It's because of how good this offensive line has been, has made it an effective running game. Now listen, in the first matchup they didn't run the ball effectively.

[C]

You're right.

[A]

James Cook got stuffed. Spencer Brown didn't play in that game.

[B]

That's an important caveat.

[A]

That's part of it. But I don't think the Chiefs will be as stout. I don't think they can be any better defensively against the run. But I still think and like the Bill's chances to go in there and control the line of scrimmage, dictate, throw the first punch and kind of lean on defenses. And as that game goes on, that opens up more things for Josh to put on the superman cape and come out of the phone booth.

[C]

Something to keep an eye on. When you're watching the game, you know, some people do it maybe for, you know, because you're nervous or you're watching it the first game the Bills were outstanding on third down and that was great. But during that game we were talking about it, they were not running it well and they survived on third and sevens, third and eights, third and nine. And I remember we talked about it and I said that can't be repeated. You cannot be in third and seven and third and eight. All day on the road against the.

[A]

Chiefs, they ran the ball so many times into nothing on first and second down that Mike is sitting there going, Dan, are you seeing this? Like, are you seeing? They can't keep, they can't keep doing this.

[B]

But they kept doing it stressing me out.

[C]

They kept doing it. So if you see in the beginning of the game, Josh makes a play on third and eight, that's great. Third and six, you get a penalty. Like that's. But man, that is hard to sustain against a championship team on their home place playing for the super bowl. Like it was great that they did it. Josh made some amazing plays, he beat the blitz, they got some penalties. Like those things worked out. That's. It's tough to live that way in the NFL on third and relatively long all the time.

[A]

Who is the player that you believe steps up and makes a big difference and maybe a game changing play in this game? Jenna first.

[B]

Well, I don't want to take who you said in the show. That's why.

[C]

Yeah, because I think you agree with me on this person. We both think Terrell Bernard, he did not play in the playoff game last year and that guy is, is tough as nails and couldn't get on the field, was emotional to tears. Sean told us. Yeah, and then he played in that first game and he was great and he came up at the interception late and then he played on Sunday against Baltimore and made a all time defensive play for the Bills. Top 10 defensive play for the Bills in their history. And that's saying a lot. But that moment of that game was incredible that he did. He is such a leader. But I'm not just talking about him going out and playing well. I'm talking about him making that play. He's been there to make the play those two games. He's been there to make the play in Kansas City when they're undefeated Baltimore in the playoffs. I'm going to say him, he's so good. Yeah, he is.

[B]

You just cannot overstate what he means to this Bill's defense and the way he has been able to make splash.

[A]

Plays that we haven't heard though how he gets the guys in and out of the huddle.

[C]

So that is Dan's line he likes to repeat because that was said about Tremaine Edmonds. Often he gets him in and out of the huddle. Yeah, he did.

[A]

It's like when you don't have anything nice to say about a player or like, even. Even a quarterback, they'll be like, he's great in the huddle. How is he. When the ball's in his hands is usually more important than his pronunciation of the play call.

[B]

Yes.

[A]

For me, it's a guy I think, that I've been critical of this year, but I think Keon Coleman can make a play. I think if we're talking about play, that's what it might come down to.

[B]

Okay.

[A]

And I think it could be the play. Whether it's. You look back at that Kansas City game again, know the ball that went through Diggs's hands. We also know the ball that Josh put in perfectly to Trent Sherfield's hands that bounced off of him. Keon's got to make that play. He's going to get an opportunity. They're going to play man coverage against him, and that is going to be the moment where Keon has to win a 50. 50 ball.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

And. And like I said, when the play breaks down and Josh extends, because, listen, Josh is going to run the ball. I was just looking it up. It's the eight games he has played against the Chiefs. He has run the ball 10 plus times in six out of those eight games, and he's done it in two out of the three postseason games. Josh is going to extend plays. Chris Jones is going to flush him out of the pocket. And at that point, it's the backyard football style of play that Keon has excelled in. He hasn't been as dependable on intermediate routes and short routes, but he's made the wild plays. So Keon, to me, is the guy where I think that Spags is going to try and take away Khalil Shakir. I think he had like 12 targets in the first game. Spags is going to want to try and make you play left handed.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

And Shakir is the safety blanket for Josh this season. He's going to blitz him and he's going to try and take that away. Somebody's got to step up. And we go down the list of guys that people Josh trusts, and it's not that long of a list right now. Keon could. Could become that guy that has to step up in that moment.

[B]

Matt Collins. I think Matt Collins could have a couple of really huge catches for this team.

[C]

Yeah.

[B]

And I also think Tyler Bass.

[C]

Okay.

[B]

I would Call in my shot.

[C]

That would be something to seem.

[A]

I did call it in the show.

[C]

You did in our TV show.

[B]

Oh, I don't. I don't even remember.

[A]

Just don't listen to me.

[C]

Yeah, I just.

[B]

I heard you say Terrell Bernard.

[A]

So do you want to get into our picks then?

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

And you can go first.

[B]

Okay. Yeah. I have the Bills winning this game. I think they are just a lighter team. I don't think that the Kansas City the narrative Mahomes versus Allen. I don't feel like that is weighing as heavily on this team's shoulders as it has in years past. Arrowhead is a very challenging place to play. I don't want to diminish that. I just think with the Bills one two punch of Josh Allen and their run game, I think they have the capability to win this game. I have them winning the game 32 to 30. I think it's going to be very close, but I just believe that this is the year. It's already been written.

[A]

Oh, go off.

[B]

That's it.

[A]

Because you, Josh and Von and their conversation. Do you want to go into that?

[B]

They've talked about how the reason they feel lighter is because in the off season Vaughn had a conversation with Josh just about like his career and his success and how do you not overthink the moment? And Vaughn Miller talked about how what gives him space and grace is when he realizes and he thinks to himself it's already done with. It's already been written. The story has already happened and it's just coming together how it is. And that is freed up Vaughn and obviously Vaughn has had a spectacular career in the NFL and I think that Josh Allen has adapted that and the entire team has as well.

[C]

Wow. It's already written. Bet the money line.

[A]

Yeah. Vaughn also. It was like a four and a half minute answer.

[B]

Yeah. I do believe though. And like there is not just in football but in life. There is a lot of people that talk about the mindset of like it is what's for you will not pass you by. And what will happen is already been told, essentially.

[C]

Wow, that's very deep.

[B]

Yeah, I had some dark moments in my life.

[A]

So. Yeah, so we're good.

[C]

By the way, I could do a show for the whole time. Von Miller could do a show the whole time.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

We got V on Mike's patio. We would talk more. No, we'd still be there be a three hour pod. It'd be three hours.

[C]

All right. Am I next?

[A]

You're next.

[B]

Someone said Chris Vasquez Says Jenna. Sounds high. Damn.

[C]

Wow.

[B]

No.

[C]

Yes. The Bills are. I'll put it to you this way. They should have won the 13 second game. They could have won the one last year. They will win this game. I think they were not the better team last year because of injuries. I think they. If they would have had Bernard out on the field, I think it would have been a different game. Regardless, didn't matter. They lost the game. That's the way it went. They certainly should have won 13 seconds. You can't get the lead three times in the last few minutes and not hold on. They blew that game. I think this one is different. I think they have the confidence to go out there and win. I really do believe going in that building in my mind. It's funny, I see them coming off the field celebrating because we have seen it multiple times when they've said to us it's just another game and they go into Kansas City and they lose it after they win. And it's fantastic. They have celebrated on that field before. This time the celebration is going to come with a stage and a trophy. And what's going to be sweet for them is it's the Lamar Hunt trophy. That's the owners of the Chiefs. So they'll be getting that to win the AFC and go to the Super Bowl. I have the Bills winning at 27, 23.

[A]

I was nervous last week, didn't love the matchup and my wife was asking me, oh, can the Bills win the game? I said, yeah, they can absolutely win the game. And I of feel the same way about this one. The one caveat is, is that it's Patrick Mahomes and we know how clutch he has come up in. But I look at this matchup as the line of scrimmage and I think for the first time in the this rivalry, the Bills are better at both lines of scrimmage. Even though how good Chris Jones is, I'm not diminishing that. But Ed Oliver has stepped up in big moments. I think Greg Russo makes a play, maybe even a Von Miller sack. I don't have any worry about Josh and spreading the ball around and in finding success against a Hall of Fame defensive coordinator in Steve Spagnolo. But I think this game comes down to the line of scrimmage. It's what Sean has been begging for for the last five plus years to be the more physical team at the line of scrimmage. I believe they are. I think the Bills win this game on a Tyler Bass field goal late 25 to 23 all right, we'll see.

[B]

Let's do. Credit to me.

[C]

One thing I wanted to add, we were talking about who Josh throws the ball to. Don't throw to whoever McDuffie's covering.

[A]

That's a bad idea.

[C]

He is a stud, man. That guy is a tremendous player, and I would just, wherever he is, go the other way. It's not worth it. There's other guys you can pick on. You can make some plays on this defense. I would not go near McDuffie.

[B]

I'm worried the turnovers. You have to play a clean game like they have been playing. I worry the first turnover swing, the.

[C]

Bills had the lowest amount ever, and the Chiefs haven't turned it over since they lost to the Bills.

[A]

Yeah, the bills have gone 21 consecutive games without losing the turnover battle. This is Sean McDermott's dream of a football team, of being physical at the line of scrimmage, not turning the ball over, running the ball and stopping the run. Okay, so real quick, before we get into this, Chuck Trob, text me.

[B]

Oh, nice.

[A]

And he was wondering if this was a stress ball for you or if that you were going to throw it at Mike or myself.

[B]

I've thought about both, actually. Yeah. I think it technically is. Is a stress ball.

[C]

Okay.

[B]

Yeah. Okay. Also, speaking of.

[C]

So good.

[B]

I don't know who sent this to me, but they made a Jenna is right mug and I made an adaptation. I added an edit. Always.

[C]

Everybody knows this one.

[B]

Yeah.

[C]

And then on the other side, it's.

[B]

Just Jenna is right. And I know that's what always right.

[C]

That is so good.

[B]

I don't know who you are, though. It didn't say who it was from. So thank you so much. And, like, this is definitely staying in the studio.

[C]

I mean, I mean, it's not true, but it's a nice mug.

[A]

It is.

[B]

Oh, it's true.

[A]

I'll go real quick. Because my credit to me was getting levity out of Josh in the time when I thought it was very serious time. I think Josh play. Some of the players were battling the flu. I know Dion was sick. People were talking about Josh being under the weather. Look, it's tough to ask questions. I also think that people in the media sometimes ask questions just to hear their voice, and their questions aren't necessarily the best. So when you get a response, there's kind of like a little bit of like, oh. Oh, that was. That was good. You try and make some. Some fun comments. I know I joked around about it on the US we answer. I gotta ask Him. It was. I seized the moment. I interrupted Jenna just shoved her out of the way. So it was. Again, we've always talked about it. We're not the savvy vet, and at times, we get nervous to ask a question.

[B]

Yeah, of course.

[A]

I'll never forget I asked Sean McDermott back in 2018.

[C]

He was not happy with Dan Fates.

[A]

Oh, he was 2019.

[B]

Could you be more specific?

[A]

I asked John McDermott if he was satisfied with the production of his offense, and he gave me a whole lot of sass and said, what do you mean? I gave him stats, saying, you're 27th in scoring, you're 30th in yards per game. He's like, I don't have stats. Other things. So there is always. Again, as a younger person in this media, that is a lot of. A lot of older people that have been covering the team for years. You're trying to pick your spots.

[C]

Hey, there's a lot of old guys that ask dumb questions, too.

[A]

You're right. I don't want to be the young one asking a dumb question. So, yeah, I thought it was funny. And yes, 2.5 mil.

[B]

You're so annoying. Okay. My credit to me was a take that I had that I got laughed at for. There's no way that could be the case. Are you sure you want to make that pick? That doesn't seem right. Do you want to pick another guy? No. I said Khalil Shakir would lead the Bills in receiving yards this season. And guess who led the Bills in receiving yards this season? My king. Khalil Shakir. The Yak King. Khalil Shakir. He has been everything and more for this Bills team. I expect him to have another big game on Sunday in the af2 championship man game. Give the man his flowers. He's been phenomenal this season. And credit to me. And credit to Khalil Shakir. You guys are so annoying. I knew you were gonna do that.

[A]

I think it's so pretentious when they give credit to themselves.

[C]

I know.

[A]

I was right.

[B]

I win the bet. I win the best.

[C]

Everybody thought we were bad.

[B]

I win the bet.

[C]

No, you win the bet.

[B]

You win.

[A]

Jenna. Just bad taste when you give credits to yourself.

[B]

Oh, I swear to God.

[A]

Just bad taste.

[B]

I was right. What was the bet?

[A]

I don't.

[C]

I don't think we had one. Oh, I think it was the winner. Has to do Pilates.

[B]

Well, we won that, too.

[C]

You guys had the winner. Okay. Credit to me. This will be the Bills seventh AFC championship game, and I Have covered. This will be my sixth covering the team. And it was wild back in the day, the Chiefs game when they won. I did not cover the game. They played the Cincinnati Bengals and they lost. The Bengals went to the super bowl, but then the next one they were in was against the. The Raiders. And then they beat Dan Marino, they beat John Elway, and then they beat the Kansas City Chiefs. That was the Bills last Super bowl was a win against the Chiefs. In these moments, the Bills and the Chiefs have these connections. So the Bills last Super bowl that they went to was a win against the Chiefs. If the Bills win this, they will be going back against the Chiefs and go all the way back in the 60s. And no, I did not cover those games. But the Bills had won two straight AFL championships going for a three peat and. And they lost to the Kansas City Chiefs. So when one of these teams needs to step up, it's been the team that needs to win. And I think that's the Bills on Sunday. I say not that the Chiefs don't need the win, but the one who is the upset or the one who is changing the narrative.

[B]

Yeah.

[C]

And I think it's going to be.

[A]

The Bills history lesson with Mr. Catalan.

[C]

Yeah, they beat Joe Montana. They knocked him out of the game when he was playing for Kansas City. Thurman ran all over them and they won. And it was four in a row. And you think people are pissed that the Chiefs would go back. You should have heard the stuff people were saying about the Bills going to their fourth in a row.

[B]

Yeah.

[C]

And they.

[B]

Were they using that carrier pigeons.

[C]

And that really hurt my feelings.

[B]

Sorry. It was fun.

[C]

See, she's bragging about herself and she's being mean. Jenna.

[B]

No.

[A]

You guys see what we put up with?

[B]

Oh, my God. You guys are too much. Okay. All right. Anything else? We are leaving for Kansas City on Saturday.

[C]

Yep. We will be out there. We will. We will update if we're going to do. We'll be able to do some live coverage.

[A]

Don't worry about it.

[C]

He was just checking.

[B]

Making faces.

[A]

Yeah, well, you were talking, so I took the camera to you. But then you stopped talking because Mike interrupted you.

[C]

No, I was just saying we'll be doing some. We'll let you know when we're doing.

[B]

Some live coverage out there.

[C]

Yes, that's kind of the stuff they were saying.

[B]

Yeah.

[C]

With the Bills.

[B]

I think there was a sign. I feel like I remember saying, see, it's a deal within America. Okay. All right. For Mike and Dan, please be sure to like Comment. Subscribe and share Share with your favorite Bills fan. Just let them. Let them know we have Buffalo plus here and waiting. We have plenty more coverage.

[A]

Oh, for everybody that's going to Kansas City.

[C]

Yes.

[A]

Thought you're gonna throw it at me. What bar are we going to on Saturday?

[C]

Well, that has not been.

[A]

Sorry. When we went to Indianapolis, people wanted to know where.

[C]

Well, we're going to dinner.

[A]

I'm not talking about dinner. I thought we were going to stop at some of the Bills bars and get. Talk to some of the people.

[C]

Yes, we're finalizing our plans.

[B]

Yes.

[C]

Maybe in downtown Kansas City. Maybe a very short trip. Maybe to a bar owned by a Buffalo native. Most people who know that would know that bar.

[B]

So you know, you know.

[C]

If you know, you know.

[B]

Okay.

[A]

Hey.

[C]

Put me on the spot.

[B]

We go, Dan. All right, here's the guy. All right. Thank you for joining us here on Buffalo plus, presented by Connors and Ferris. For Mike and Dan, I'm Jenna again. Please be sure to, like, comment, subscribe and share. We will see you next time from Kansas City.