The AFC rivalry wrapped up in familiar form in Week 9, as the Buffalo Bills once again got the better of the Kansas City Chiefs with a 28-21 win. However, the Chiefs’ continued struggles against Buffalo in the regular season have started raising eyebrows. A former NFL player suggested that head coach Andy Reid might already have a sense of how things tend to play out between these two teams, and that the HC didn’t give his all to this matchup.

After weighing in on the pattern, former Broncos cornerback Aqib Talib suggested that coach Andy Reid is likely saving his strategies and energy for the playoffs. He believes that Reid doesn’t want to pressure the Bills’ defensive end, Joey Bosa, just yet.

“Andy Reid didn’t chip Bosa, he know what he doin’,” Talib said. “He don’t let you win, but he keep all his shots and doesn’t empty the gun. I guarantee you, if they [Chiefs] do see them [Bills] in the playoffs, Bosa’s side is gonna be Chips A-Hoy, you better believe that, chip after chip after chip.”

Talib further mentioned during The Arena show. “Andy is a playoff coach. He’s not going to show you his whole game plan during a week nine game. Like why would he do that?”

No doubt, Reid is a great playoff coach with 27 postseason wins so far. His record of five AFC championships, one NFC championship, and three Super Bowls since 2004 is second best in the league after Bill Belichick’s 31 postseason record. But it’s hard to believe coach Reid could be holding back in his efforts to elevate the team. After all, the Chiefs just took their fourth loss this season, losing the edge on third down and in the red zone.

However, after the game, the coach took the blame upon himself for the disappointing loss.

“It starts with me doing my job better and giving our guys an opportunity,” the coach said. “And put them in good positions where they can make some plays.”

He further added that he should have helped the team more. “Listen, I could’ve helped the guys out, and I didn’t do a very good job of that,” Reid said. “And then we’ve got to obviously do a little better when given that opportunity.”

But it’s nothing new. As the leader, he took responsibility for the loss, though there were obvious holes on both offense and defense. But still, Aqib Talib believes that Reid didn’t give his all in that game. Well, we can’t blame the former CB, too.

According to NFL history, the Bills have now won five straight regular-season games against the Chiefs. However, when it comes to the playoffs, the Chiefs hold a 5–2 record. Strange! So, perhaps, Talib’s theory has a strong base. Nevertheless, the 2025 road to the postseason is still too far.

And not to mention, now, Andy Reid’s Chiefs are behind in the AFC race heading into their bye week. Yeah, no one’s counting the Chiefs out. But for that, the second season after their bye will be crucial for the team.

Andy Reid’s Chiefs still believable after the Week 9 loss?

If we are to believe in patterns, the Chiefs appear to have an upper hand. While they have lost to the Bills in the regular season, history shows that the Chiefs tend to turn the tables in the playoffs. The Kansas City Chiefs have defeated the Buffalo Bills in their last four playoff meetings. This is a tradition that the Chiefs can look to and hope to replicate. At least, that’s what Chiefs analyst John Breech believes.

“If there’s any upside to this loss for Kansas City,” Breech wrote. “It’s this: Mahomes was bad and the defense gave up more than 400 yards, but the Chiefs still ALMOST won. The last three times that the Chiefs lost a regular-season game to Buffalo, it ended up spurring them to a Super Bowl appearance, so no one should be shocked if that once again happens this year.”

So, the stakes will be high after their bye week. The team will face the Denver Broncos and the Indianapolis Colts in Week 11 and Week 12, respectively.