The Kansas City Chiefs and Buffalo Bills will square off in the regular season at Highmark Stadium in Orchard Park, New York, on Sunday afternoon, for a contest that could have significant implications on the AFC playoff race.

The Chiefs are entering what appears to be the most challenging stretch of their schedule. It starts with the trip to Buffalo in Week 9. After their Week 10 bye, they’ll head to Mile High Stadium to face a surging Denver Broncos team. Finally, they’ll wrap things up by hosting the Indianapolis Colts at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium. Those three AFC teams have a combined 18-5 record between them.

Kansas City, of course, has little room for error after starting the season 0-2 and dropping a very winnable game to the Jacksonville Jaguars in Week 5. The easiest way for Buffalo to overcome their NFL playoff boogeyman is to ensure that they don’t make it there at all.

The Chiefs are currently forecast to be the No. 7 seed in the NFL, with an 81% playoff probability. That drops to 72% with a loss in Week 9 against Buffalo. A win over the Bills would see K.C.’s playoff probability surge to 89%. Conversely, Buffalo could see their playoff chances rise from 87% to 95% with a win over Kansas City. A loss would hardly affect them at all, with an 81% chance of reaching the playoffs.

Chiefs vs. Bills final score predictions for Week 9

Bills 36, Chiefs 34

The Chiefs are looking red-hot with their full arsenal on offense back in the swing. Isaiah Pacheco’s status remains unclear for the contest, but Buffalo is definitely the more banged-up unit heading into the matchup. All odds are stacked against Buffalo for perhaps the most highly anticipated matchup of the season. Anytime Patrick Mahomes and Josh Allen face off against one another, even though they’re not on the field at the same time, but you get what I’m saying, it makes for must-see TV. With their backs against the wall and the odds stacked against them, I’m still taking the Buffalo Bills in the matchup. Quarterback Josh Allen has performed some of his best games against the Chiefs, and maybe it’s just wishful thinking, but he’s going to do the same against the Chiefs. Much like all the other contests, or most of them for that matter, it’ll come down to the wire. Mahomes said that Bills Mafia doesn’t like the Chiefs, and the 12th man will make an impact in the contest. Buffalo’s defense holds strong for one last stop, allowing Allen and the offense to march down the field for a game-winner. – Adam Zientek, A to Z Sports Buffalo

Chiefs 35, Bills 20

Beyond the “need it” factor for Kansas City, Buffalo is a little banged up heading into this game. They’ve got injuries on all three levels of their defense, with DT DaQuon Jones, LB Shaq Thompson, and S Taylor Rapp all ruled out for the game. Rashee Rice will get his first crack at the Bills since he went 7-of-10 for 72 yards and a touchdown against them in 2023. This also feels like a game where the running game will come into play for both clubs. Josh Allen has burnt the Chiefs with his legs before, but it might be Patrick Mahomes who needs to put Kansas City on his back if Buffalo plays man coverage. Kareem Hunt could also play a significant factor with the Bills’ rush defense, allowing 5.5 yards per carry on the season. In the end, I think that the Chiefs get a regular-season win in Buffalo and set the stage for a postseason rematch for the ages. – Charles Goldman, A to Z Sports Kansas City

Chiefs 34, Bills 17

I’m not sold on the Buffalo Bills as an elite team in this league at all. They haven’t really played anyone, and the bad teams they have faced have given them trouble or even beaten them. The Chiefs are on a different level right now, with an offense that looks unstoppable and a defense that should be better with Mike Pennel coming back. I’m not sure this game will be close at all. This will be a statement win for the Chiefs, really proving to everyone that the dynasty is far from over. – Justin Churchill, A to Z Sports Las Vegas

Chiefs 30, Bills 24

I actually believe the Chiefs could win this game comfortably, given how beat up the Bills are. Buffalo is decimated along its defensive line and will also be without Shaq Thompson, its best coverage linebacker. However, the Bills aren’t going to bow down and allow their biggest rival to dominate them at home. Their well-rounded offense will keep the game close, but I think Kansas City has too much firepower for them to keep up. Like they have over the past month, the Chiefs’ offense should be able to move the ball at will against Buffalo and put the game away late. – Nick Roesch, A to Z Sports Kansas City

Final Verdict: Chiefs score 30+ to defeat the Bills

The one constant in all of our predictions is that the Chiefs will score 30 or more points against the Bills. This shouldn’t be terribly surprising, given the injuries they’re dealing with on defense and K.C. fielding their most explosive offense since 2018. If there’s any saving grace for Buffalo, it’s that defeating Kansas City in the regular season has historically meant that a crushing loss awaits in the postseason. Perhaps a loss in the regular season will lead to the opposite in the playoffs.

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Nick Roesch