It’s time to take bills seriously after toppling leaders | News, sports, jobs

Buffalo Bills cornerback Rasul Douglas (31) reacts during the second half against the Kansas City Chiefs in Orchard Park on Sunday. AP photo

ORCHARD PARK – It may be time to start taking the Buffalo Bills seriously, and there’s nothing coach Sean McDermott and quarterback Josh Allen can say to convince anyone otherwise.

‘No, it’s not an explanation. It’s the next game,” McDermott said Sunday after a 30-21 victory over the previously undefeated Kansas City Chiefs.

“It means we have nine wins,” Allen added.

“Last time I checked, nine wins probably won’t get you into the playoffs.”

Well, almost.

At 9-2, Buffalo’s magic number to capture its fifth straight AFC East title is down to two, as it has a five-win lead over second-place Miami (4-6) and has already won the season series.

Certainly, the Bills still have plenty to accomplish and overcome as they enter their bye week. Getting healthy is a must.

That includes changing their past by knowing that beating the Chiefs for a fourth straight regular-season meeting since 2021 doesn’t carry over to the playoffs, where Buffalo is 0-3 against Kansas City since 2020.

And yet there’s a lot of meaning to be taken from the win, including Buffalo pulling within a half-game of Kansas City (9-1) in the race for the AFC’s top seed.

A bye week entering the playoffs would do wonders for the Bills and an upgraded roster that would welcome the return of starting linebacker Matt Milano (torn left biceps), who has resumed practice after being sidelined since August. Allen could especially use the break, given the blows he continues to take.

The win was also yet another confirmation of what has become Buffalo’s complementary approach to winning this season.

Although Allen sealed it with an NFL MVP-like season-high 26 yards on fourth down, there were many key contributions.

Receiver Amari Cooper, protecting his injured left wrist, made a one-handed 30-yard grab to set up Buffalo’s game-opening TD. Receiver Curtis Samuel broke out of a season-long slumber with a season-best five catches for 58 yards and his first touchdown.

Running back James Cook, despite being limited to 2.2 yards per carry, powered through for two rushing touchdowns. And Buffalo’s defense opened and closed the game by intercepting Patrick Mahomes while limiting the Chiefs to a season-low 259 yards.

These are the kinds of collective efforts that were missing — partly because of injuries — in Buffalo’s losses to Baltimore and Houston over consecutive weekends.

The Bills no longer need to be questioned for bolstering their record against weaker opponents and belong in the conversation as among the AFC elite. And Buffalo still faces a number of challenges, including a showdown in Detroit on December 15.

But to suggest that beating the Chiefs is simply “another win” diminishes what the Bills have achieved by nine wins or better in 11 games, for the sixth time in team history and the first since 1992.

Two-time Super Bowl winner Von Miller has been around long enough to appreciate the victory.

“Coach McDermott’s speech, as if it were just another game, no one will remember in a hundred years. We were like (forget),” Miller said. “It was a special moment. And to be optimistic and create great things is certainly a great feeling.

Cooper had a completely different reason to enjoy the victory. In his previous nine NFL seasons, the 30-year-old has made the playoffs just four times and won just one game, with Dallas in 2018. And it’s unlikely Cooper would be sniffing the postseason had the Bills not been acquired. him in a trade with Cleveland last month.

“When you’re a kid, man, and you dream about football, this is the stage you dream about,” Cooper said.

“It doesn’t happen that often, especially if you’re not on a really good team,” he added. “It’s the first time in a long time that I actually felt joy in winning this competition.”

WHAT WORKS

Generate sales. With two more interceptions, the Bills have a takeaway in all 11 games and enter Monday with an NFL-leading plus-14 turnover differential.

WHAT NEEDS HELP

Committing conversions. After going through his first seven games without an interception, Allen has thrown five in his past four.

STOCK OUT

Samuel. He entered Sunday with 16 catches for 127 yards and has been on the road for 11 months since finding the end zone in a two-TD outing with Washington on Dec. 17.

STOCK DOWN

Kicker Tyler Bass. Just when it looked like the fifth-year player had found his rhythm, Bass went just wide as he missed his fourth extra-point attempt of the season.

INJURIES

No one reported during the match. Receiver Keon Coleman (right wrist), tight end Dalton Kincaid (knee) and right tackle Spencer Brown (ankle) will get an extra week to heal.

KEY NUMBER

5 — Consecutive games in which the Bills have scored 30 or more points, matching the team’s longest streak since Weeks 2-6 in 2021.

NEXT STEPS

Enjoy a week off before preparing for San Francisco in prime time on December 1.