By JOHN WAWROW
ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. (AP) — It is perhaps time to begin taking the Buffalo Payments critically, and there’s nothing coach Sean McDermott and quarterback Josh Allen can say to persuade anybody in any other case.
“Nah, it’s not assertion. It’s the subsequent recreation,” McDermott stated Sunday, following a 30-21 win over the beforehand unbeaten Kansas Metropolis Chiefs.
“It means we’ve 9 wins,” added Allen. “Final time I checked, 9 wins in all probability doesn’t get you into the playoffs.”
Properly, nearly.
At 9-2, Buffalo’s magic quantity to clinch its fifth straight AFC East title is down to 2 in holding a five-win lead over second-place Miami (4-6), and having already swept the season collection.
Certain, the Payments nonetheless have lots to perform and overcome whereas getting into their bye week. Getting more healthy is a should.
So is altering their previous in realizing that beating the Chiefs for a fourth straight regular-season assembly since 2021 doesn’t carry over into the playoffs, the place Buffalo is 0-3 towards Kansas Metropolis since 2020.
And but, there’s loads of significance to attract from the victory, together with Buffalo pulling inside a half recreation of Kansas Metropolis (9-1) within the race for the AFC’s high seed.
A bye week getting into the playoffs would do wonders for the Payments and a banged-up roster that stands to welcome again beginning linebacker Matt Milano (torn left biceps), who has resumed practising after being sidelined since August. Allen may particularly use the break, given the pounding he retains taking.
The win was additionally one more validation for what’s grow to be Buffalo’s complementary strategy to successful this season.
Although Allen sealed it with an NFL-MVP-like season-highlight 26-yard landing run on fourth down, there have been many key contributors.
Receiver Amari Cooper, defending his injured left wrist, made a one-handed 30-yard seize to arrange Buffalo’s game-opening TD. Receiver Curtis Samuel broke out from a season-long slumber with a season-best 5 catches for 58 yards and his first landing.
Working again James Cook dinner, regardless of being restricted to 2.2 yards a carry, muscled by way of for 2 touchdowns dashing. And Buffalo’s protection opened and closed the sport by intercepting Patrick Mahomes, whereas limiting the Chiefs to a season-low 259 yards.
These are the sorts of collective efforts missing — partly due to accidents — in Buffalo’s losses to Baltimore and Houston over consecutive weekends.
The Payments not must be questioned for padding their report towards weaker opponents, and belong within the dialog as being among the many AFC elite. And Buffalo nonetheless faces a couple of challenges down the stretch, together with a showdown at Detroit on Dec. 15.
However to counsel beating the Chiefs as merely being “one other win” diminishes what the Payments have with 9 wins or higher by way of 11 video games for simply the sixth time in group historical past and first since 1992.
Two-time Tremendous Bowl winner Von Miller has been round lengthy sufficient to understand the win.
“The speech from Coach McDermott, prefer it’s simply one other recreation, 100 years from now no person’s going to recollect it. We had been like (overlook) that,” Miller stated. “It was a particular second. And to be optimistic and communicate nice issues into existence is a superb feeling for certain.”
Cooper had an altogether completely different cause to benefit from the victory. In his earlier 9 NFL seasons, the 30-year-old has made the playoffs simply 4 instances, and received only one recreation, with Dallas in 2018. And it’s unlikely Cooper could be getting a sniff on the postseason had the Payments not been acquired him in a commerce with Cleveland final month.
“If you’re a child, man, and also you’re dreaming of soccer, that is the stage that you just dream about,” Cooper stated.
“It doesn’t come round that always, particularly in case you aren’t on an excellent group,” he added. “It’s the primary time in a very long time I truly felt pleasure from successful this recreation.”
What’s working
Producing turnovers. With two extra interceptions, the Payments have a takeaway in all 11 video games, and enter Monday with an NFL-leading plus-14 turnover differential.
What wants assist
Committing turnovers. After going the primary seven video games with out an interception, Allen has thrown 5 in his previous 4.
Top off
Samuel. He entered Sunday with 16 catches for 127 yards and had gone 11 months since discovering the top zone in a two-TD outing with Washington on Dec. 17.
Inventory down
Kicker Tyler Bass. Simply when it appeared the fifth-year participant discovered his rhythm, Bass was extensive proper in lacking his fourth extra-point try of the season.
Accidents
None reported through the recreation. Receiver Keon Coleman (proper wrist), tight finish Dalton Kincaid (kne) and proper deal with Spencer Brown (ankle) get an additional week to heal.
Key quantity
5 — Consecutive video games wherein the Payments have scored 30 or extra factors, matching the group’s longest run since Weeks 2-6 in 2021.
Subsequent steps
Take pleasure in per week off earlier than getting ready to host San Francisco in prime time on Dec. 1.
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