Josh Allen is well aware the Buffalo Bills need to beat the Kansas City Chiefs in order to win the Super Bowl.
The Bills have been one of the top teams in the AFC since Allen’s arrival in 2018, clinching six consecutive postseason berths and advancing to the AFC Championship Game twice. However, the Chiefs — who have won three Super Bowls and been to five total during that time frame — have been a thorn in their side.
The Bills have gone 0-4 against the Patrick Mahomes-led Chiefs in the playoffs over the past six years.
“I try to approach it just like any other game, just going out there and try to perform at my best,” says Allen in an exclusive interview with Esports Insider. “Obviously, when you play some of the best quarterbacks in the league — and Pat’s been one of, if not the best in the league — the last six, seven years, you got to bring your A game.”
Allen and Mahomes are widely regarded as two of the best quarterbacks in the game, with NFL executives recently voting the pair as the two best passers in the game. Mahomes was voted No. 1, while Allen — the league’s reigning MVP — was voted No. 2.
Allen: ‘I’m Getting Tired’ Of Question About How To Beat Chiefs
It makes it even more difficult considering Mahomes and the Chiefs are consistently good every year. Since Mahomes became the starting quarterback in 2018, Kansas City has never advanced to at least the conference championship game.
“You got to make sure that you’re doing everything right on your side of the football and not giving him short fields and turnovers,” says Allen of how to beat Mahomes and the Chiefs. “Getting over that hump, it’s been the question. I hear it all the time. I’m getting a little tired of it. But the way to stop getting that question asked is to go out there and do it.”
The Bills have lost three of their four playoff games against the Chiefs by one possession. Their last two losses against Kansas City was by a field goal.
In other words, Allen’s statement — that they need to take care of the football — is true. In fact, it’s a matter of just making one more play — or committing one less turnover — that’s the difference in a playoff game against the Chiefs.
“We got to go put our best foot forward and keep working hard and just kind of try to find ourselves to get back to that position where we have that opportunity to do it,” says Allen when it comes to beating the Chiefs. “One won’t get asked this question if we’re not in that position. Just got to keep working hard and make the plays when we need to make them.”
Allen: Mahomes ‘Sees Things Before They Happen’
When asked on what makes Mahomes — a two-time MVP and three-time Super Bowl MVP — so great, Allen says it’s his ability to “extend” plays.
“He can extend plays with the best of them,” says Allen. “He’s got an absolute cannon for an arm. He sees things happen before they happen. Super smart. He works extremely hard, you know? And he’s won three of them, so we can’t argue with the results.”
Allen continues to give high praise for his top rival, saying he’s a “heck of an athlete.” That’s a hell of a compliment for someone who is widely regarded as one of the best running quarterbacks in the NFL. Allen is coming off of a season in which he ran for 12 touchdowns.
“He’s an extremely talented player,” says Allen of Mahomes. “He’s a heck of an athlete. You see him play some basketball, I’ve seen videos. I’ve played golf with him myself. He’s a great guy. I think guys love being around him in their locker room. That’s a trait that I think most quarterbacks need to have in order to be successful in this league.”
While Allen and Mahomes have met four times in the playoffs, the funny thing is, their rivalry likely isn’t done anytime soon. Both quarterbacks are 29 years old and in the primes of their careers. Furthermore, Allen just recently signed a contract extension that keeps him in Buffalo through the 2030 season, while Mahomes’ contract keeps him in Kansas City through the 2031 season.
We could be seeing these two quarterbacks match up in the playoffs several more times over the next five-to-six seasons. For perspective, Peyton Manning and Tom Brady — two of the best quarterbacks of their generation — met a total of five times in the playoffs during their illustrious careers.
Allen and the Bills will look to win their first Super Bowl this season, but they’ll likely have to beat Mahomes and the Chiefs for the first time in the playoffs in order to do so.
