KSL Sports Insiders And Writers Predict AFC Championship Game
Jan 23, 2025, 11:32 AM | Updated: 2:23 pm
ORCHARD PARK, NEW YORK - NOVEMBER 17: Josh Allen #17 of the Buffalo Bills greets Patrick Mahomes #15 of the Kansas City Chiefs after defeating the Kansas City Chiefs 30-21 at Highmark Stadium on November 17, 2024 in Orchard Park, New York. (Photo by Bryan M. Bennett/Getty Images)
(Photo by Bryan M. Bennett/Getty Images)
KANSAS CITY, Miss. – The Kansas City Chiefs and Buffalo Bills will face off in the AFC Championship game for the first time since 2021. The Bills are seeking their first Super Bowl appearance since 1994 and the Chiefs are on the doorstep of winning their third championship in a row.
Josh Allen and Patrick Mahomes have had their fair share of legendary battles over the years, and now the rivalry between the two titans of the sport will once again return to the biggest stage.
RELATED: KSL Sports Insiders And Writers Predict NFC Championship Game
Allen. Mahomes.
Bills. Chiefs.Once again for the AFC Championship. #NFLPlayoffs pic.twitter.com/uov3Q3mNMv
— NFL (@NFL) January 20, 2025
The Kansas City Chiefs’ Road To The AFC Championship Game
The Kansas City Chiefs went 15-2 in the regular season. One of their losses came at the hands of the Denver Broncos in week 18 with the large majority of their starters resting as they had already secured the No. 1 seed in the AFC, and the other came in November to their next opponents, the Buffalo Bills.
While the Chiefs owned the best record in the NFL, they did have several scares throughout the regular season. Kansas City played in a whopping 11 one-possession games, winning every one of them, tying the 2022 Vikings for the NFL record.
Their championship pedigree shined through in those pressure moments, allowing them to outlast opponents in the regular season, but it had to be wondered whether they would have the same luck against the league’s best in the postseason.
With their first-round bye, Kansas City watched the rest of the AFC play in the Wild-Card Round, awaiting their second-round opponent from the initial matchups. The Chiefs ended up drawing the Houston Texans who they beat by nine points last Saturday, punching their ticket to the AFC Championship Game.
With these two, anything is possible 🔥 pic.twitter.com/uH0JmWEUF5
— Kansas City Chiefs (@Chiefs) January 21, 2025
The Buffalo Bills’ Road To The AFC Championship Game
The Buffalo Bills were led to a 13-4 record in the regular season by an MVP candidate at the quarterback position in Josh Allen. Three of their four losses came to playoff teams, all of them coming on the road.
The Bills were the No. 2 seed on the AFC side of the bracket and took on the Denver Broncos in the first round. Buffalo took care of business at home against the Broncos, pulling away late to win 31-7. In the Divisional Round, the Bills faced one of the four teams that took them down during the regular season, the Baltimore Ravens.
The Ravens took down the Bills all the way back in Week 4, even dominating Buffalo 35-10. However, none of that seemed to matter in the Playoffs. The Bills’ defense was able to cause three critical turnovers that put Buffalo in a position to maintain and defend a lead. Even then, Baltimore had a chance to tie the game late in the fourth quarter but came up short when Mark Andrews dropped a pass on a 2-point conversion attempt.
Playoff Victory Mondays are #EasyToCelebrate. 😎@BudLight | #BillsMafia pic.twitter.com/CAJld5Jltq
— Buffalo Bills (@BuffaloBills) January 20, 2025
Buffalo vs Kansas City In The Regular Season
Buffalo beat Kansas City 30-21 at home. Josh Allen threw for 262 yards, throwing one touchdown and rushing in for another. The Bills’ defense held Kansas City to more than 100 fewer yards than Buffalo and they were able to pick off Patrick Mahomes twice, contributing to their dominance in time of possession.
Josh Allen was Buffalo’s leading rusher in the game with 12 carries for 55 yards, including a 26-yard scramble for a touchdown with 2:17 remaining, putting the final nail in the coffin.
Wow that’s crazy… anyway, here’s Josh Allen handing the Chiefs’ their lone loss as he evades half their defense. https://t.co/tU35r1Dscp pic.twitter.com/bPWCyL2Wkg
— Buffalo Sports Talk (@BUFSportsTalk) December 26, 2024
KSL Sports Writers Make Their Predictions
Chandler Holt – Chiefs / 28-21
Mitch Harper – Bills / 34-31
Steve Bartle – Bills / 24-27
Cole Bagley – Bills / 28-21
Ben Anderson – Chiefs / 34-33
Brian Preece – Bills / 23-14
Tanner Tripp – Bills / 31-21
How To Watch Kansas City Chiefs vs Buffalo Bills
The Kansas City Chiefs and Buffalo Bills will face off in the AFC Championship Game from GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium. Kickoff is set for Sunday, January 26, at 4:30 p.m. MT. Jim Nantz and Tony Romo will be on the call.
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