Josh Allen spent most of Wednesday downplaying the excitement around the upcoming game between the Buffalo Bills and the undefeated Kansas City Chiefs, led by Patrick Mahomes, calling it just another regular-season game out of 17.
Outside the Bills’ practice facility, CBS trucks were pulling into the parking lot to set up for their national TV broadcast. There was also talk about whether Taylor Swift might show up, as she had a break in her tour in nearby Toronto.
Inside, Allen explained why he was thinking of the game as just another week when asked about the similar stats between him and Mahomes from their previous seven matchups, including playoff games.
“Well, I know we haven’t beaten them in the playoffs,” Allen said. “So that’s the only thing that kind of matters.” Here lies the problem.
While Allen and the Bills have won three straight regular-season games against Kansas City since losing their first matchup in 2020, they’ve lost all three playoff games to the Chiefs in the last four years.
One of those playoff losses came in January, when the Bills lost 27-24 after their final drive stalled at the Chiefs’ 26-yard line. Allen threw two incompletions, and kicker Tyler Bass missed a 44-yard field goal attempt with 1:43 left in the game.
Even though this Sunday’s game isn’t a must-win for either team, as both are in good shape to make the playoffs, Allen’s focus is on continuing Buffalo’s winning ways, with an emphasis on maintaining a team-oriented approach. The Bills (8-2) are off to their best start since 1993.
“I know the media perception and the fan perception is of what this game means. But for us, it’s just Week 11,” Allen said. “Just continuing to trust the process, not changing anything because there’s no need to. … It’s gotten us to 8-2 thus far.”
Allen is having one of his most efficient seasons, though his numbers are lower compared to previous seasons. His 2,281 passing yards and 17 touchdowns are his fewest through 10 games since his second year in 2019. His four interceptions are a big improvement from last season when he had 11 interceptions at this point.
This could also be Allen’s most complete season, as he has adapted to the team’s challenges, like injuries. Rookie Keon Coleman will miss his second straight game, and trade acquisition Amari Cooper has missed two games and is questionable for Sunday.
The Bills began the season with only one receiver, Khalil Shakir, who had caught a pass from Allen, after losing Stefon Diggs and Gabe Davis in the offseason.
Still, Allen has led the team to five straight wins, and the Bills are now just three wins away from clinching their fifth consecutive AFC East title.
“It’s hard to put a number on it. He just keeps improving,” said backup quarterback Mitch Trubisky. “And that’s what we challenge him every week. Just keep going, like how far can you push this thing? How good can you possibly be?”
Trubisky, who returned to Buffalo this year after spending two years in Pittsburgh, praised Allen’s work ethic, particularly the effort he puts in each offseason to improve his weaknesses and become a more complete player.
“When you really work on your weaknesses and maybe even take them out of your game, it’s like what do you do against these guys?” Trubisky said. “Like, they really don’t have any weaknesses. You could probably say the same for Josh and Pat (Mahomes).”
Allen and Mahomes have a lot in common. Since 2019, Mahomes leads the league with 181 passing touchdowns, while Allen has 174.
In their seven head-to-head meetings, Mahomes has 2,243 yards from scrimmage (2,024 passing), 16 touchdowns (15 passing), and 5 interceptions. Allen has 2,194 yards from scrimmage (1,801 passing), 20 touchdowns (16 passing), and 3 interceptions.
Allen pointed out that Mahomes has the edge in one big way — he’s a three-time Super Bowl champion. The closest Allen’s Bills came to the Super Bowl was losing to Kansas City in the 2020 AFC Championship Game.
“To be mentioned with him is very cool from the football aspect of it,” Allen said about Mahomes. “But I don’t really get caught up in that too much. I just try to focus on what I can do for the Buffalo Bills.”
