The idea that the Bills prevented an expedited Patrick Mahomes scoring drive at the end of the game Sunday to hang on and win exorcises some number of demons. Had Mahomes carved up the Buffalo secondary again in some multiple of 13 seconds to steal the game, Bills coach Sean McDermott would have had a real pickle on his hands, needing to amass a quantity of cleansing sage for Orchard Park too large for standard shipping.
We don’t necessarily buy the idea the Bills were totally able to cling to the platitude that a date with the Chiefs was just another game on their schedule, though it was certainly part of their psychological preparation for this week. But it’s not all about what happened last year. It’s a safe bet there was a real curiosity on their part to see how good they really were after thumping the Rams in the opener, beating the Titans by 34 and the Steelers by 35. Everyone knows the Bills are the best team in football, but it’s weeks such as this one that cement the idea bone-deep.
The Chiefs represented their last real hurdle, both mentally and physically, for the only goals that will truly eviscerate how the 2021 season ended in January: gaining home field advantage in the playoffs and a first-round bye to make the ludicrously difficult task of making it to the Super Bowl a little bit easier.
