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AFC Championship Game: Kansas City Chiefs vs Buffalo Bills Prediction and Analysis

Published 01/23/2021, 11:41 AM EST

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USA Today via Reuters

The Andy Reid-coached Kansas City Chiefs are on track to defend their Super Bowl title after sealing a spot in their 3rd-straight AFC Championship.

Despite the absence of their star QB, Patrick Mahomes, the Chiefs made their way to a narrow 22-17 win over the Buffalo Bills last weekend.

They will host an equally strong offensive unit in the form of Sean McDermott’s Buffalo Bills at the Arrowhead Stadium on Sunday. Josh Allen and Co. were impressive in both their playoff games this season and will look to pull off a major upset against the Chiefs. But that is something that’s easier said than done.

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Here’s a detailed look at both teams, along with injury updates and AFC Championship Game predictions.

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AFC Championship Game

Patrick Mahomes most likely to start for Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday

Coach Andy Reid and the Chiefs’ faithful will breathe a sigh of relief after Patrick Mahomes confirmed that he passed the 5-step NFL concussion protocol and was eligible to feature on Sunday.

But they will be without LB Willie Gay Jr. and are still sweating on the fitness of RB Le’Veon Bell, Clyde Edwards-Helaire, and WR Sammy Watkins.

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The latter three will be a game-time decision, and coach Reid will assess all possible options before making a call. But with Mahomes back in the starting line-up, this game is the Chiefs’ to lose.

They have turned the Arrowhead into something of a fortress in recent years. It is not easy for opponents to travel to Missouri and find their way back home with a win on their hands.

But the Chiefs know what they are capable of and will play to their strengths as they attempt to outscore a strong Bills team.

Josh Allen gears up for the biggest game of his Buffalo Bills career

Josh Allen is having the best season of his NFL career at the moment. After a shutout win over the Baltimore Ravens in the Divisional Round, the Bills confirmed their appearance in the AFC Championship game for the first time since 1994.

Coach McDermott did a brilliant job to bring in former Minnesota Vikings WR Stefon Diggs in the offseason. Allen has formed a strong bond with Diggs and Cole Beasley, who have been explosive over the course of the last 5 months.

But the Chiefs’ defense is not an easy one to crack, a number of NFL teams can attest to that. It’s going to take a performance of a lifetime from this young Buffalo Bills team to outsmart the defending champions.

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AFC Championship Game

Kansas City Chiefs vs Buffalo Bills Update

Kansas City – Out

LB Willie Gay Jr. – Ankle

Questionable

WR Sammy Watkins – Calf

RB Clyde Edwards-Helaire – Ankle/Hip

CB Rashad Fenton – Foot

CB Bashaud Breeland – Concussion/Shoulder

RB Le’Veon Bell – Knee

Buffalo – Questionable

DT Vernon Butler – Quad

WR Gabriel Davis – Ankle

Chiefs vs Bills Prediction

Kansas City Chiefs 30 – 25 Buffalo Bills

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USA Today via Reuters

This game features two of the most talked-about young quarterbacks in the AFC, along with Lamar Jackson, of course. But we feel the Chiefs have enough attacking options at their disposal as they aim to make it back-to-back appearances at the Super Bowl.

With the potential return of Watkins and Edwards-Helaire, the Bills will need to stay alert all night to stop the free-flowing Kansas City offense led by reigning Super Bowl MVP, Patrick Mahomes.

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It’s game time in Missouri, and we couldn’t be more excited.

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Written by:

Daniel Arambur

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Daniel Arambur is an NFL writer and content strategist for EssentiallySports.With more than 1,000 articles, he is one of the senior writers in the NFL cohort at ES. A mass media graduate from the University of Mumbai, Daniel has found the perfect blend of vocation and passion in the sports content niche.
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