BILLS vs Chiefs Divisional PLAYOFF Preview: The BIGGEST game EVER for JOSH ALLEN and SEAN MCDERMOTT

Summary

Buffalo Plus Podcast: Bills vs. Chiefs Divisional Playoff Preview

Episode Theme:
A high-stakes, in-depth discussion previewing the Buffalo Bills’ Divisional Playoff matchup against the Kansas City Chiefs. Hosts Mike Catalana and Dan Fetes analyze whether this is the biggest game ever for Josh Allen and Sean McDermott, delve into pressure, matchups, historical context, and address fan anxieties and injury updates.

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1. High-Level Episode Overview

• Main Purpose:
  To assess the monumental significance of the upcoming Bills-Chiefs playoff game for quarterback Josh Allen and head coach Sean McDermott. The hosts break down roster matchups, pressure narratives, injury updates, and how this game could redefine pivotal reputations in Buffalo, while dispelling common fan concerns about officiating and dissecting Xs and Os.
• Tone:
  Insightful, passionate, and conversational, alternating between detailed football analysis and relatable Bills fandom.

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2. Key Discussion Points & Insights

A. Significance of the Game for Josh Allen & Sean McDermott

• The Biggest Game Yet:

  • Dan Fetes considers the contest Allen's most important “for the last four years. The Bills have talked about ‘We've got to get Kansas City at home.’ Now it’s the real test.” ([01:05])
  • The narrative has shifted: “For the first time actually in the playoff spot, the pressure seems to be on Allen compared to Mahomes… they're the better team, they have the better roster, they're at home.” ([01:27])

• Historical Context—13 Seconds and AFC Championship:

  • Mike Catalana invokes “13 seconds”—the Bills’ heart-wrenching OT loss in Kansas City:

    “Even though he played…the best game a quarterback has ever played in a losing effort in the playoffs. It doesn't matter because they didn't win.” ([02:58])

  • The 2020 AFC Championship “felt like found money… they were ahead of schedule.” ([04:44])

• McDermott’s Pressure Moment:

  • “He bears 98.5% of the weight of 13 seconds.” ([11:47])
  • “You’ll never get rid of it, but you can put it in the box on the wall and you don’t have to talk about it anymore… if you win this game.” ([12:00])
  • The result “is the tipping point… If you lose, you got [the Chiefs] at home. You are the better team. You’ve got to win the game.” ([12:48])

B. Matchup Breakdown: Roster Strengths and Weaknesses

• Bills Are Favored—Why?

  • “This Chiefs roster is very flawed. The Bills' roster is complete.” ([05:18])
  • “They have a running game now… All those issues. It's kind of a flip script.” ([05:49])

• Home-Field Advantage:

  • Arrowhead (“an unreal environment”) still respected, but “if this game was in Kansas City, I’d still be picking the Bills to win it.” ([06:13])
  • Anticipation for Buffalo's crowd: “I expect Orchard Park to be unbelievable… This is the game you have been salivating for, dreaming of—To get Patrick Mahomes in your building in these conditions, with this high of stakes.” ([09:29])

• Chiefs’ Relative Weakness:

  • Mahomes “probably isn’t going to break a 52-yard run like Josh Allen could.” ([07:27])
  • “Their offense is marginal. I think they are an average offense with a Hall of Fame quarterback.” ([07:18])
  • “I would be stunned if they scored 30 points in a game. You're going to have to turn the ball over a bunch for that team to score.” ([08:35])

• Defensive Schemes & Expectations:

  • Chiefs DC Steve Spagnuolo’s blitz creativity: “He does so many creative things … just enough to confuse you, confuse you with aggression.” ([22:29])
  • Bills’ DC Sean McDermott relies on “pressure, pressure, pressure. What [Spags] does as well as anybody is surprise you with how, and where, he brings the pressure.” ([20:54])

C. Playoff Narratives, Motivation, Rivalry

• Regular Season vs. Postseason:

  • “You aren’t remembered because of regular season games.” ([13:41])
  • “It was always those… Peyton [Manning] would win in the regular season… and then they got to New England and just—it was New England and Brady in the postseason. That’s kind of where this is.” ([13:42])

• Bills Facing the “Car” They've Chased:

  • “You are the dog that has been chasing the car and you've got the car in your sight.” ([09:09])
  • “If they're going to make this magical run… it’s fitting—you have to go through the Chiefs, and it’s fitting that you get them in Orchard Park.” ([14:08])

• Allen vs. Mahomes Rivalry:

  • “Now all of a sudden, in terms of the rivalry… it’s not a rivalry until you beat him.” ([15:57])
  • “I think you can smell, if you're the Bills, a little blood in the water.” ([16:07])

D. Strategic Matchup Details

• Running Backs:

  • Chiefs’ Pacheco: “He's a good player. He is tough to bring down. Bills have given up some yards on the ground.” ([19:41])
  • Bills’ James Cook: “Five catches, 83 yards in that game. They used him a lot out of the back.” ([20:12])
  • Chiefs “defense isn’t very good against the run.” ([20:19])

• Quarterbacks’ Running Ability:

  • “Josh Allen's the better quarterback playing right now. I don't know if the Bills have the best running back in this game.” ([20:00])
  • Mahomes: “He leads the league in first down scramble runs.. That surprises me the most … he’s not a dual threat guy, but the way that he extends plays… is Romo in the pocket, Russell Wilson running the ball—smart, not flashy.” ([23:41]-[24:31])

• Impact of Injuries:

  • Ongoing uncertainty about several starters: Terrell Bernard, Gabe Davis, Rasool Douglas, Taron Johnson, Tyrel Dodson. Most are “considered day-to-day.” ([25:38]-[26:31])
  • “Things seem to be trending positively for some of these guys, which gives you hope for late Sunday.” ([28:37])

E. Addressing Officiating Worries

• Mike Catalana addresses fan paranoia:

  “The referees are not predetermined to cheat against your team... It’s about incompetence, not cheating.” ([29:18]–[33:45])

  • References to ref Sean Hockley’s record are dismissed as irrelevant.
  • Anecdotes about how officials’ tendencies are known but not proof of bias.

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3. Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

| Timestamp | Speaker | Notable Quotes & Moments | |-----------|---------|-------------------------| | 01:05 | Fetes | “This is the game…the Bills have talked about. We've got to get Kansas City at home… Now it’s the real test.” | | 02:58 | Catalana| "Best game a quarterback has ever played in a losing effort in the playoffs. It doesn't matter because they didn't win." | | 09:29 | Fetes | "What that environment is going to be like, I don't think can be put into words… I expect Orchard Park to be unbelievable." | | 13:41 | Fetes | "You aren’t remembered because of regular season games." | | 15:57 | Catalana| “It’s not a rivalry until you beat him.” | | 23:41 | Catalana| “As far as Mahomes, … one thing that's underrated… is how smart a runner he is… Not flashy, just smart.” | | 29:18 | Catalana| "The referees are not predetermined to cheat against your team… Stop the nonsense." |

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4. Timestamps for Key Segments

• [00:59] Main question posed: Is this the biggest game in Josh Allen’s career?
• [02:21] The 13 Seconds Game’s lasting significance
• [05:18] Why this Bills team is better than past iterations; “flip script”
• [06:39] Home vs. away advantage, Arrowhead vs. Orchard Park
• [09:29] What Orchard Park will be like for this game
• [12:00] Pressure on Sean McDermott, “tipping point”
• [13:41] Regular season wins don’t matter in legacy
• [16:07] “Blood in the water”—Bills’ psychological edge
• [19:41] Matchup breakdown: RBs Cook vs. Pacheco
• [21:19] Why Spagnuolo’s blitz schemes are unique
• [25:38] Injury updates: Bernard, Johnson, Dodson, Davis
• [29:18] Referee talk and addressing officiating anxieties

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5. Summary Table: Bills vs Chiefs – X-Factors, Pressure, and Narratives

| Area | Bills | Chiefs | |----------------------------|-----------------------------------------|--------------------------------| | Pressure/Legacy | High on Allen & McDermott | Mahomes less so, but still present | | Roster Strengths | Complete, balanced, running game | Flawed, defense solid, offense average | | Quarterback Edge | Allen playing better currently | Mahomes remains a threat | | Home Field | Huge advantage, crowd expected to be wild | Rare playoff road game for KC | | Historic Baggage | 13 seconds, postseason redemption | Confidence, but roster drop-off| | Injuries | Concerns but key guys trending up | Less banged up; but less skill depth | | X-Factor | Allen’s dual threat, Cook in pass game | Spags’ blitzes, Mahomes’ smarts| | Fan Narrative | Desperation, quest for playoff redemption | “Still the Chiefs” but cracks showing|

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6. Complete Notable Quote List (Speaker & Timestamp)

• “You aren’t remembered because of regular season games.” — Dan Fetes [13:41]
• “Right now he's the better quarterback. He's got the better surrounding cast. He's playing better.” — Mike Catalana [01:49]
• “He bears 98.5% of the weight of 13 seconds.” — Mike Catalana [11:47]
• “I would be stunned if they scored 30 points in a game.” — Mike Catalana [08:35]
• “It’s not a rivalry until you beat him.” — Mike Catalana [15:57]
• “Blood in the water…they haven’t found anything [new since last matchup]…their defense is a little worse.” — Dan Fetes [16:07]
• “He leads the league in first down scramble runs…he’s not a dual threat guy, but extends plays…reminds me of Romo in the pocket, Russell Wilson running.” — Dan Fetes [23:50]
• “The referees are not predetermined to cheat against your team…It’s about incompetence, not cheating.” — Mike Catalana [29:18]

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7. Final Thoughts

• Both hosts agree: the pressure is undeniable, and this is a seminal moment for both Allen and McDermott.
• The Bills are seen as the more complete, healthier, and hungrier team.
• The environment at Orchard Park is forecast to be uniquely electric.
• Injuries, refereeing, and Mahomes’s “magic” remain wildcards.

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“You are the dog that has been chasing the car and you've got the car in your sight.” — Dan Fetes [09:09]

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For more insight, analysis, and weekly locker room updates, subscribe to Buffalo Plus on YouTube and visit BuffaloPlus.com.

Transcript

[A]

You aren't remembered because of regular season games.

[B]

You're not.

[A]

You're just not.

[B]

Right now he's the better quarterback. He's got the better surrounding cast. He's playing better.

[A]

You are the dog that has been chasing the car and you've got the car in your sight.

[B]

This is the Buffalo plus podcast brought.

[A]

To you by car Connors and Ferris.

[B]

Hey, everybody. Welcome Back to the Buffalo plus YouTube channel and podcast presented by Connors and Ferris. I'm Mike Catalano along with Dan Fates. Please make sure to like, comment and subscribe. Jenna, we'll say Veterans Day off.

[A]

Yes, for her, I was last week. Yes, you were the week before.

[B]

So we've all taken our a little bit of time because we got to get ready. We got to get ready for the game. It's even beyond the. It's always the game of the year. Now it's the playoffs because it's the game. But Dan, I want to start out right away.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

Bills, Chiefs, Orchard Park. Is this the biggest game in Josh Allen's career?

[A]

Yes. And this is the game I think for the last four years the Bills have talked about. Yeah, it's been the talk of we got to get Kansas City at home and they've come close before, but this is going to be the real test. And, and Mike, we were just talking about it before we started rolling of the pressure for the first time actually in the playoff spot seems to be on Allen compared to Mahomes in this spot because of the fact they're the better team, they have the better roster, they're at home, all of these things. It is sometimes sports talky to be like, is this the biggest game? Who's all these pressures. But this kind of is.

[B]

And we're going to Talk about Sean McDermott and pressure on him in a little bit, but we really wanted to focus on Josh. And you're right, I think right now, not based on history, not based on accomplishments. Right now he's the better quarterback. He's got the better surrounding cast. He's playing better. He is Josh Allen and you have him at home. Mahomes has played once in Orchard Park. I was at the game. There was about, I don't know, 50 of us at the game because there was no fans allowed. It was one of the strangest experiences. He's going to experience something this week.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

He's never played in a road playoff game before. Now he's played road games before. It's a road playoff game in Orchard Park. So it's going to Be different for him. But for Allen, you're right. They've gone there. It all goes back to 13 seconds. It goes back to that game. And we know that's not on Josh Allen, other than in his history, that would have taken him to the AFC Championship game again and would have gotten him past the Chiefs out there. So even though he played, and I've said this to you, I think the best game a quarterback has ever played in a losing effort in the playoffs. It doesn't matter because they didn't win.

[A]

Correct. After a perfect performance.

[B]

Right.

[A]

Like, that's why. When it's like the Bills haven't had this success and Josh Allen and all this talk, he was perfect against Belichick and then was maybe a slow start in that game, but then he was otherworldly, Godly, like in that game.

[B]

Best game he's ever played.

[A]

Correct.

[B]

When you look at circumstances and results.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

And the constant coming back and coming back and the way he made the plays and he, you know, Gabe Davis had a superstar day that day, and Josh was finding him, getting the ball. But the reason I. I asked that is because it's not just, look. You could argue and say, well, look, he played in an AFC Championship game in Kansas City, and he did, on paper, that's the biggest game he's ever played in because the winner goes to the Super Bowl. We get that. But that's like hindsight. You look at it, I remember there and thinking, like, okay, this is huge. It would be incredible if they've jumped already to the super bowl and they jumped in the lead in that game. Josh wasn't great. They got beat on both lines of scrimmage. The better team won that game 100%. They did. This is different because of the negativity of the way they've gone out of the playoffs the last few years, especially last year, and now to get it all back and to say it's fitting to me. Jenna said, it's Bilzian for this team to go to the super bowl. Part of that run would be beating the Chiefs in the playoffs. No matter what you think about their roster right now and the way they're playing, beating them to eventually maybe get to a Super bowl would be right on par for what this team needs.

[A]

And finishing that. That thought where you say that AFC Championship game. Yeah, guys, that's. That's the biggest game that he's played it. That felt like found money.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

That felt like you were ahead of schedule at that point. They were still retooling that roster, they had just gone from snapping the drought to missing the playoffs, to Josh making the playoffs, losing in Houston. Then you play two games again. This is the COVID world where there wasn't fans in the stands. And then to have that game where you're right, they just weren't the better team. Since that moment, they've been retooling the roster to play. Like we said after the, the, the game. They just, they played the postseason to be a more physical team for this game.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

Like they are now. Especially in the view of the grand scheme, especially the league. This Chiefs roster is very flawed. The Bill's roster is complete. They have a running game now. They're better at offensive injuries we can get to in a second too. But this is a team that for the longest time it's kind of like the roles reversed. Josh was kind of dragging that team that wasn't very good. You had Cole Beasley, you had weapons on there, but it wasn't really there yet. Mahomes is trying to drag a makeshift offensive line, a wide receivers that lead the league and drops and all those issues. It is kind of a flip script. And you get him in Orchard Park.

[B]

Yeah. I think that the Bills play really well in Kansas City. Not that they couldn't win there. And I'll tell you this right up front, if this game was in Kansas City, I'd still be picking the Bills to win it though I don't think he would. I think they're the better team.

[A]

Arrowhead is an unreal environment.

[B]

It is.

[A]

It's an unreal environment in the postseason. It's different.

[B]

13 seconds. They should have beaten him.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

And they've beaten him there the last, what, three times in the regular season?

[A]

Last three times. Yep.

[B]

Yeah. And it's, it's a great environment in the regular season too. I get it. The playoffs is another notch and it is. I, I just think the Bills are the better this year. They're the better team. They're the better team. And I think they, they would go.

[A]

There and win, I think top to bottom. And you said the coaching. I think Andy Reid and Patrick Mahomes should get a ton of credit for one, the fact that Pat hasn't thrown every wide receiver under the bus. I remember talking to Haley Lewis back when they played earlier in the year and he's like, yeah, they're just not that good and things like that. And I was like, that was so. When Patrick like wasn't as frustrated.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

Then you had. Obviously you had the moment where they lose the game and he's all upset about the calls. Ref, you've started to see that frustration with Mahomes start to boil over. But what they have done to get to this point, I think that's a. It's a very good defense. I think their offense is marginal. I think they are an average offense with a Hall of Fame quarterback. That's. That's where they are right now.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

And even Mahomes has his limitations because he's probably not going to break a 52 yard run like. Like a Josh Allen could.

[B]

No. Okay. Don't get mad at me, Bill's fans. I'm going to give credit to Nick Wright for a second. He said something. I don't know why I was listening. I was watching before the Chiefs Dolphins.

[A]

Oh, yes. Yeah.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

No, I love this.

[B]

And he said I love this. The Chiefs are going to win and people are going to overrate where they are right now. Now personally, I think he was setting himself up for when they lose to the Bills. He will never.

[A]

It was a hedge. It's a hedge.

[B]

But the Dolphins were a shot, physically shot team. I'll give them that. Defense is totally beaten up.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

Terrible injuries. They were terrible in the game. TUA was terrible in the game. Kansas City's defense dominated. They still had a chance to be in that game and Kansas City won and they made some plays and it was better. But they used to be a team. To me that would say I don't know how you keep them under 35.

[A]

Agreed.

[B]

Now I would be stunned if they scored 30 points in a game.

[A]

100%.

[B]

They just.

[A]

100%.

[B]

You're going to have to turn the ball over a bunch of times for that team to score.

[A]

When the line opened up as the Bills only being a two point favorite, I was very surprised. Now injuries are a massive concern. And the way the Bills finished that game against the Steelers with. I saw somebody commented in. If Dan makes one more comment saying the defense is being held together by tinfoil and bubblegum. Well, here's another one for you. But the fact of how many guys were out at the end of that game, I think that played in a factor of where the line opened up. They seem to be getting a little bit healthier.

[B]

Right.

[A]

But. But I think even with the injuries, even with the Bills on shorter rest are still a better. If they had to go and play this game in Atlanta, I still think the Bills should be a two point favorite, let alone at home.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

And what that environment is going to be like I don't think can be put into words. Yeah, there is a lot of. We joke around Bill's fans. There can be some pandering at times of takeovers and things like that. At road games. I expect Orchard park to be unbelievable.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

On Sunday at 6:30. Because this is the game you have been salivating for dreaming of. To get Patrick Mahomes in your building in these conditions, in this. With this high of stakes.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

I expect it to be unbelievable.

[B]

Now, I will say this. I think the reason Mahomes could struggle in this game is because he doesn't have as good a team. And the Bill's defense is really good. If he was bringing to town the team that had Tyreek, a pre Taylor Swift, Kelsey, and that full offensive line.

[A]

Pre Taylor Swift.

[B]

Yeah. I might think, okay, I don't care if it's home or away.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

Like try to slow them down. I mean, they were unstoppable for years. And even when they'd fall behind in playoff games, like they would just light somebody up. Yeah, they can't do that anymore.

[A]

Was it a Tennessee game where they were down 21?

[B]

Yeah, it was like crazy. They had multiple Houston. They were down in a playoff housing. Yeah, heck, they were. No, they weren't down to Jacksonville last year, were they? I don't think they were down, but the game was close. Yeah, but in this case, they just don't. They just don't have that. Now, believe me, it's still Patrick Mahomes. Andy Reid, still a brilliant play caller. Wait. Oh, that mustache gets filled up this week. And Kelsey still. Kelsey, even though he's not what he was, he still has the ability. So believe me, don't think I'm sitting here looking at this saying that team can't come to Orchard park and win. Of course they can't. I just think that it sets up well for the Bills.

[A]

I agree.

[B]

And for Josh Allen. Now that's Josh Allen, Sean McDermott Biggest game he's coached.

[A]

Oh, absolutely. Yeah.

[B]

And he bears 98.5% of the weight of 13 seconds.

[A]

100%. Yeah, 100%. Yeah, he does.

[B]

He does. And you'll never get rid of it, but you can put it in the box on the wall and you don't have to talk about it anymore.

[A]

If you win this game, you can put it with the drought and then.

[B]

Go take care of business. But this game, Dan, is the tipping point to me. For the entire season, everything for McDermott. If you go and win this game, you're back in the afc. Championship game, maybe on the road in Baltimore. It's going to be a heck of a place to play. Maybe at home, we don't know. But the pressure then shifts. If they're in Baltimore, they're probably slight underdogs in that game. Baltimore's been great all season. That's a tough game. You go, you try to win, you're back to the AFC title game. You beat the Chiefs. If you lose, you got them at home. You are the better team.

[A]

Yep.

[B]

You've been playing well. Gotta win the game.

[A]

Yeah. The magnitude. And it's funny, you think about not necessarily narratives, but you look at motivation and I know there's people, oh, this isn't. Teams aren't motivated by this. We can disagree about Miami and the motivation that Josh has against that team and things like that.

[B]

Okay, what's the motivation for these guys?

[A]

This is the team for all of their regular season wins. And I was there in 2021 when Emmanuel Sanders and them, and they're dancing on the sidelines and it was this vindication of, we got him here and you know what? If we get him again, you got him again and you lost again. And that was the 13 seconds. All those things for as much as we say, like, oh, the Bills can't say, have their number, but they've. Like you said, they've won the last three regular season games. You aren't remembered because of regular season games.

[B]

You're not.

[A]

You're just not like the Chiefs, despite, like I said, you have Patrick Mahomes, but you've also had this team's number in the postseason. And it's. It was always those. I mean, correct me if wrong, it was Brady and Manning and Peyton would win somewhere in the regular season and they would be the better team. And then they got to cold weather and they have to go to New England and they would just. It was just New England and Brady in the postseason. Like, that's kind of where this is.

[B]

And then he finally got him.

[A]

And that is where I think this is between. You've got it at home. You are the dog that has been chasing the car and you've got the car in your sight. Yeah, you finally have it. And so the added motivation of you've gotten here, you've gotten the team. If the. It's funny, I think I wouldn't have wanted to play Houston, but it is Bilzian to go back to what Jenna said for them if they're going to make this magical run and what this super bowl being three wins away it's fitting. You have to go through the Chiefs and it's fitting that you get them in Orchard Park.

[B]

Yeah. And look, they've only played twice in the playoffs. It's just they've been out there so much.

[A]

5.

[B]

Right. They've played them all these times. So like I said, you know, the game, the game in Orchard park that is. Most people forget about that game ever being played was awful. It was just, it was a boring game. They actually ran on the Bills. It was on A Monday at 4, 5 o' clock was a weird time.

[A]

Monday or Tuesday, I think.

[B]

I think that was Monday. I know Tuesday was Tennessee.

[A]

Tennessee.

[B]

I think that was Monday at 5 o'. Clock. But anyhow, so you had that game, the AFC championship game again. But then the rest of them, they've been great regular season games. The Bills won all three of them there. And then the other game was 13 seconds. So you remember for those two playoff games, one sent the Chiefs to the super bowl and the other one was their incredible comeback, you know, to make the plays, get it to overtime and then Kelsey got the touchdown. So if the Bills can find a way and win the game. Now all of a sudden in terms of the rivalry, it's. They still have the Super Bowls. I get that you got to go to there and win that. But now all of a sudden it's. Well, now you've beaten them in the regular season a bunch of times and now it's only 2 to 1 in the playoffs. Now you keep winning and go get your Super Bowl. And then all of a sudden the Mahomes Allen conversation at least is a real rivalry because it's, it's not a rivalry until you beat him.

[A]

No. And I think that's the added motivation of. I think we talk about the dog chasing the car. I think you can smell if you're the Bills, you can smell a little blood in the water. Yeah, this is. We said it when the Bills after the loss to the Eagles.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

They can go into Kansas City and win. We, we, we just looked at that team. That team to me is no different. The Chiefs team that they played five games ago that started their winning streak.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

To me that they haven't found anything. For me their defense is actually if you look at dvoa, which getting all that has dropped off a little bit.

[B]

They'Re still pretty good.

[A]

They're still a damn good defense. And to see what they did and it's so tough to those conditions and so cold at Mahomes. Helmet breaks. I mean the Resiliency. I give the Chiefs credit in that environment, in those cold of conditions. But again, I don't think the Dolphins wanted to be there. We kind of said that when we left Miami that that was a dead team to begin with. But I think that when people saw that win to credit to Nick Wright went like, here come the Chiefs again. Yes, the same old Chiefs. And I just don't think that's the case. And that's not pandering. That's not being a homer or guy. I'm just looking this as two teams, elite quarterbacks. I still give the edge to Josh, the way that he's playing and the weapons he has around him and the balance of this team.

[B]

You guys ask us a lot if we're fans of the team and we talk about covering the team, which makes me feel very much free to just tell you exactly what I thought. Which is why when we got to that Kansas City game, we both felt very confident in them winning. As a fan, you're gonna. You're nervous about everything. You're nervous about what can happen. You're right. Bad stuff can happen. And I said at the time they were gonna win out, they were gonna win the division and they were gonna win. I was nervous. Gotta tell you, this will sound funny to you. I was more nervous about Pittsburgh than I am about this game. I'm not for the Bills. I'm. I'm very confident in them. The reason I was nervous about Pittsburgh is you could not lose that game. You can't. You are considerably the better team. I was really worried about the weather impacting the game. I was really worried about it getting uglied up. And then all of a sudden you're in trouble instead. They played efficiently, played well. If it wasn't for the injuries, I think that game would have been a real blowout and they won. So take the breath. I feel very confident in this game for the Bills.

[A]

I think I was more nervous in the Miami game as the week came closer. Yeah, I still thought that that offense could present issues, except now we're looking.

[B]

At going, when does that offense present issues for the Bills? I don't know.

[A]

When is that? Yeah, nothing presents issues for that team.

[B]

Don't you wish you were playing Miami this week because you know that would be a win?

[A]

Well, you would have played Houston.

[B]

Yeah, I know, but I'm just saying, as if Miami was coming in here at any point. I want to look back at the game earlier this year. We were looking at. I was looking at some of the numbers she Rice at seven catches for 72 yards.

[A]

You don't need your glasses for this.

[B]

No, I write in really big font for those when I don't write them down.

[A]

A couple of old men here.

[B]

Yeah. See, that's what you do. Like I do like on. When we print scripts, I put them in that Super 23. Like whatever.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

So I can avoid the glasses when I need them. But let me tell you something. They're sitting here waiting for me when I need them. But. And he was good.

[A]

Yeah, it's fine.

[B]

And Kelsey, I think had 6 for 83.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

Here's the big difference in this game. Pacheco's playing.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

He's a good player. Yeah, he is tough to bring down. Bills have given up some yards on the ground. They were better last week, but again they made them one dimensional.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

You know, and they had their superstar quarterback, Pittsburgh, making plays for them the second half of that game.

[A]

Yeah. This is. I'm. I think that Josh Allen's the better quarterback playing right now. I don't know if the Bills have the best running back in this game.

[B]

They're different kind of backs, though. Cook was really. I was looking back at Cook's numbers. Five catches, 83 yards in that game. They used him a lot out of the back.

[A]

Yeah. They're going to need to again because this Chiefs defense isn't very good against. Against the run. Unlike Pittsburgh, obviously, with. With K Haywards out there. Different game. You're going to need to have.

[B]

A run game.

[A]

He said it. He said it, not me. You're going to need to be able to run the ball in this game to keep Chris Jones at bay as well as man. Trent McDuffie is so aggressive blitzing off the edge. They provide a bunch of different confusing.

[B]

Things and they come at different times. It's not like third down. They're bringing the heat. He'll do it on first down. He'll do it on second down. Wild man spags he with McDermott. These are guys who grew up with Jim Johnson. They believe in bringing pressure, pressure, pressure. And what he does as well as anybody is constantly can surprise you with how he brings it and where he brings the pressure. That's the key to their defense.

[A]

Yeah. That I'm more confident in the Bill's defense even with the injuries of keeping this Chiefs offense at bay.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

And for as much as this offense is rolling and like I said, you're a blocked field goal away from being up 24 nothing at halftime. It being a completely different game. Going into the break, Spags does concern me. He does have things. Josh has talked about it where he was just talking about it today as we record this on Wednesday. The fact of he's used his legs so much, right, because he talked about how his 52 yard run, they thought it was zone, it was man and they didn't have a good man beating concept on that play. So you take off because a lot of guys, the defenders have their backs turned to the quarterback. Josh said that even in that last game they played, he thinks it's man. But they'll have a spy. So they'll have somebody that's just dedicated to stopping Josh Allen and running. So I don't know how much his legs will impact this game, but man, I saw a clip on Twitter today where Spags had the safeties. It looks like they have two high safeties and that's one of the first things quarterbacks address. And as the play is the ball is snapped, they rotate into what looks like it's a one high safety and the safety switch all the way back. It's insane. I was talking to my friend who played Division one football and he goes, it's insane to even think about executing that content. I don't think we give. Maybe it's worn out just because the Bills have played him so much, but what an insane. He's not necessarily the Jim Schwartz 0 blitz every single time, but he does so many creative things that like you said, in weird spots where it's just enough to confuse you, confuse you with aggression. So I think James Cook is going to need to be able to run the ball in this game. I think the Bills offensive line is going to have to win the line of scrimmage in this spot and they're.

[B]

Going to need Cook in the passing game because there's going to be hot reads when they're going to come off it because like you're going to have James Cook back there blocking, that's not what he does. But if you're having out there, he's going to have to be the hot read, especially if they're coming depending on where they're coming from and be ready to catch the football and make plays there. So I think it's, I think it's big for him. As far as Mahomes, I think the one thing that's underrated about him and that you see it all the time and people just don't think about. They think about the side arm throws, they think about getting it to Kelsey is how smart of A runner.

[A]

He is unbelievable. Run.

[B]

Now, he only ran the ball one time in the first game against the Bills, but it feels like every time Patrick Mahomes runs the ball one, it's a first down, two, he gets out of bounds.

[A]

Yeah. He leads the league in first down scramble runs. I think they said in the last game he had 26. He had another big one against Miami driving down, I believe late in the first half. It's the one thing that surprises me the most and it's partly because I'm not thinking about it. And you think about Josh Allen being this dual threat quarterback and Mahomes is not a dual threat guy. But the way that he extends plays in the pocket to me in the pocket reminds me of Romo because he can extend plays in weird ways. But then he, while he's not a mobile quarterback, he's mobile enough to make plays.

[B]

He's Romo getting around in the pocket and then he's Russell Wilson running the ball. Smart. Not. You wouldn't think of Russell Wilson. You know he's not doing what Josh did the other night.

[A]

Correct.

[B]

But man in that, in his prime, which is seems to have passed, he would always get the first down, get out of bounds, make a play, avoid the hits. That's what Mahomes does. He's good at it. That's what you have to watch.

[A]

And I always think about that on third down and it's like, okay, make sure you're doubling, Kelsey. Make sure watch this hot read. Like they would always be so creative with, with motions and to give momes easy throws. And then when you take all of that away in the two and a half seconds after the ball snapped and then he just scoots off to the side and gets you the first down and it's back breaking. It's what Josh does to defenses. Mahomes. Mahomes can do it too.

[B]

I'm going to wrap this up. Good going. This part going back. Oh, go ahead.

[A]

I want to do one more thing before you go on your rant. Injuries, obviously. We're still waiting to see Sean McDermott talk today. Again, we're recording this at 3:30 on Wednesday. There is hope. I think the big thing is the. There is Sean McDermott's words. There is hope. Not that Terrell Bernard will play this week, but there's hope that he avoided a serious injury. We watched went back and I'm sure people have looked at it. You would have thought he broke his ankle. It appears he's.

[B]

He thought he broke his ankle.

[A]

It Appears he rolled it and we've all been on basketball courts or whatever and you think it's broken, like cut my leg off. I'm in so much pain. They air cast it, they cart it up because you don't take any precautions. Sean said he was in meetings today with the team. That's positive. Again, I don't think that means this week, but maybe against Baltimore, we don't know that. Maybe against the super, like all those things. There's nine guys that are on the injury report and Sean said they're all pretty much considered day to day. Yeah, Sean would be very open. He would say this guy's not playing. It's week to week. Gabe is one that I'm looking out for. The positive thing was Rasool Douglas and Tyrell Dotson return to practice on Wednesday.

[B]

And Taryn Johnson listed as limited is encouraging in concussion protocol could mean yes, he could get himself ready or they would clear him for Sunday.

[A]

So I saw something banged up Bills on Twitter.

[B]

Right.

[A]

Great. You know they break down a lot of the bill's injuries when you've had more than one concussion. I believe the tweet said. And I'll put the tweet in here. It takes an average of 12 days to pass a concussion test. The pro get out of the protocol. Taryn has passed every single one of his concussion tests within the week. He has never missed a game because of a concussion. I think Taren's going to play and he's massive.

[B]

So I. We saw him on the field after the game, before he went into the locker room. I mean, he looked engaged. He was watching the play.

[A]

He was pissed. He had to come off the field.

[B]

And then we saw him leaving the locker room again, walking by us leaving the locker room is not exactly getting a concussion test. I'm saying is I have seen guys when they are really banged up and you just think that guy's not going to be able to come back this week. At least anecdotally seeing him in that way. I feel there's a chance.

[A]

Even when guys have been in the concussion program. Like I remember when Josh had the concussion against the Patriots, like he was just sitting there in his locker. Yeah. Like, so all those things been considered.

[B]

And he came back that week.

[A]

Yeah, they brought back in. That was the Tennessee game.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

That was Duke Williams touchdown. Yeah, they brought in Matt Hawk because Sam Martin has a hamstring injury. Taylor Rapp was still but dealing with a calf. Gabe with a knee, Christian Benford with a knee. All those things we haven't talked enough about on this channel or things like that about how well Tyrell Dotson has played this. Yeah, it's energies. And again, he was kind of in the doghouse through training camp because of how much fighting he was kind of doing with players like Sean's like, I love the energy.

[B]

Teammates.

[A]

Yeah, I love the energy. But like it's, you gotta play and pff. And some of those grades. He's played extremely well. He's a really good against the run. We've talked about AJ Klein last, you know, earlier on this channel about his game that he had. But things seem to be trending positively for some of these guys, which gives you hope for late Sunday.

[B]

Yeah, got to keep AJ Klein's family vacation until the end of February.

[A]

How about a vacation early February in Vegas?

[B]

Why not?

[A]

Great shows.

[B]

Bring the rv. He can bring the RV with the whole family and then we'll all go out to Vegas too. The last thing I wanted to mention about the game was I said this about how much pressure's on Sean McDermott. He's got to beat Andy Reid and then after the game he has all the respect in the world for Andy and then he can say, I finally got you. You fired me years ago. Yeah, he did.

[A]

So much motivation.

[B]

He loves Andy. I'm joking, man. You can't go 03 in the playoffs against him. Gotta beat him.

[A]

No.

[B]

Got him at home. Last thing I wanted to bring up. The referee is Sean Hockley. Already I've seen, I think, complain about calls. There are bad calls in games, bad officials, bad calls. They miss things is bad. The referees are not predetermined to cheat against your team. I think some of these numbers, I read all these people that this team, the guy is four and oh, and he was, you know, he went to college in Pittsburgh, so he's going to cheat for the Steelers. Stop the nonsense. Sean Hockley did the game in Philly. I know you're all mad about that game. He also made two calls late in that game against the Eagles that made it a 59 yard field goal and the Bills ended up losing the game. They got bad calls in that game, no question. They also missed a game winning touchdown, missed a field goal, turned the ball over, did dumb things in that game. Hockley's done four games for the Bills. The other one was in 2020, I think it was 2022. They went to Foxborough and won easily. The first two were in Josh's rookie year. The first one, Nate Peterman started for your team, you Got beaten Baltimore by 150 points. That had nothing to do with the refs in the second game. They ended up losing a close one to Miami. Sean Hockley is not predetermined to cheat for one team or another. He may make lousy calls in the game. All these betting sites, everybody that wants to give you all the numbers, just stop. Stop pregame complaining that this ref has it out for us. I don't care who was ref in the game for the Cowboys on Sunday. The Cowboys lost that game. They got lit up. The Eagles should have had all these cheating refs for them over the last seven weeks because they've been horrendous. You know why they lost? Cause they've been horrendous. Not because of the refs. I just hate the. Oh, boy, we got this ref. We. He's called 18 penalties and refs. Some refs are predetermined to call defensive holding. Some are called offensive holding. Like coaches, players know about those numbers coming into the game. They know don't grab the jerseys. They're going to call it this group. That's it. Not because the guy went to community college in Chicago and he's going to root for the Bears.

[A]

When Mike, you were saying that when you played high school basketball.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

You knew that ref was going to.

[B]

Call hand, checking, checking, or he loved to call palming or whatever it was. Our coach would tell us, like, you know, this guy loves that. To call that.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

And don't say anything to him. He'll tee you up. Like those kind of things.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

Not like he went to, you know, Cape May High School. And he's going to have something against us.

[A]

Shout out to my Fredonia State former teammates, we had an umpire that used to umpire because he. You do a region, right. He would ump like 90% of our home games, and he was behind the home plate. His strike zone was bigger than this table. And he used to sit there and if the pitch was close on the outside corner and I was a catcher and I'd frame it and he'd be. He say ball. And I'd be like, ooh, is that close? And he'd be like, you want it? I'd be like, yeah. He's like, make it look good the next time it was a strike. You went up there as a hitter knowing that if this thing was anywhere.

[B]

Close to you, dude wouldn't get paid by the hour, man, to swing.

[A]

So shout out Rick Antonio. Because we used to joke around that our coach, like, we got Rick behind the plate. Today. So like guys, we're up there hitting like it was hysterical that you would be like.

[B]

But you knew it, you knew it.

[A]

And like I said that's. That is where the sites, the people, the analytics that say, hey, this guy is. The Eagles are 6 and 0 over the last two years with this referee. Yeah. The Eagles have won like 19 games and they've played bad commander teams.

[B]

Right.

[A]

They, they, it didn't matter who.

[B]

By the way, I'm going to look up his numbers. Rick.

[A]

I'm Rick Antonio.

[B]

Rick Antonio.

[A]

It was amazing.

[B]

I'm going to see if sharp analysis.

[A]

Shout out to anybody that watches and I'm sure I'll get a text from Ian being like, Rick Antonio, man, he was, he made the pod. It was unbelievable. And we had former catchers that would say the same thing. Like if you frame it and make it look anything remotely close and you just as a hitter, you just knew it. So again this, these teams know holding offsides, anything like that.

[B]

That's what I'm saying is. And look, we're saying all this. He may make a really bad call against the Bills. That happens. It happens every week.

[A]

There's been a lot of bad calls.

[B]

A lot of bad calls. It's about incompetence. It's not about cheating. So go off. That's my, that's my venting. I, I think it looks weak as a fan base.

[A]

Get mad at the call, especially preemptive.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

If you want to get mad after the game about that call was terrible. Fair. But don't go into the game being like this guy already has us out for us.

[B]

Cowboys, Lions. Last thing as much as you know, I hate the Cowboys when they got those bad calls against the Lions and they took away the two point conversion. I always say to people, if that ref really wanted to cheat against the Cowboys, do you think he's waiting until the last play of the game on the two point conversion? It, it doesn't work that way, folks. So it was just an incompetent ref making a bad call hopefully for the Bills and I don't want to see him. You want to see them win?

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

Hopefully there's not a call. You remember in the last game against the Chiefs, you might have gotten a call at the end of that game.

[A]

The other injury and he was outsides too.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

Rasool Douglas told Tim Graham after the game on Monday that he was going to play. So that's another big bonus to get some support back in that defense.

[B]

Yeah, it's a big game. If they can play again. Stay. Difference between being hurt and injured. Anybody who's hurts playing in this game, injured, it's tougher. You know, it's tough. They, they'll try, they'll push as best they can. But the guy can't run and can't play. And that may be the case with Terrell Bernard, but we'll see. Yeah, if I'm betting, I think maybe he's out there. I don't know. Just guessing.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

Tough guy. Anyhow. All right, that's going to do it for us. Thanks for watching. Please make sure to, like, comment and subscribe. Jenna will be back. She got a rest. She needed a rest. We gave her the rest. Carrying around that big old rock on her finger tired her out. I think that's what it was. That's going to do it for Dan Fates. I'm Mike Catalana. Thanks for watching the Buffalo plus podcast presented by Connors and Ferris. And we will see you next time.

[A]

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[B]

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