The Buffalo Bills visit Arrowhead Stadium for the second straight year in the postseason, as they take on Kansas City in the divisional round on Sunday night. Last year, the Bills fell to the Chiefs here in the AFC Championship, but this time around, the Bills would like nothing more than to avenge last season’s postseason disappointment. Buffalo already won at Arrowhead earlier this year. The Chiefs have turned things around since that frustrating opening third of the regular season and enter the playoffs on a high note. Both teams won their wild card playoff games easily, as the Bills drubbed New England, 47-17, and the Chiefs doubled up Pittsburgh, 42-21.
Before you lock in your NFL betting for this game, read on to get our predictions.
NFL Divisional Preview (Sunday, January 23)
Buffalo Bills at Kansas City Chiefs
When: Sunday, January 23, 2022, 6:30 pm ET
Where: Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City
TV: CBS
Radio: Westwood One
Live Stream: Hulu
NFL Odds: Kansas City -1.5 / O/U 54 // Buffalo +110 / Kansas City -130
Why should you bet on the Bills?
Buffalo became the first team in NFL history to go an entire game without attempting a field goal, punting or turning the ball over on offense. They scored seven touchdowns and then knelt on their eighth possession in a game that saw them reestablish themselves as the class of the AFC East. Next up is a chance to get back at the Chiefs for last year’s loss on the doorstep of the Super Bowl. Stefon Diggs stayed out on the field to watch the Chiefs celebrate their win, and in an interview, he said that he did that to “remember the pain to help as motivation going forward.” Diggs led the Bills in receiving yards this season and should be the focal point for Josh Allen in the passing game this time around.
Speaking of Allen, he was able to throw for 308 yards and five scores with the temperature dropping to three degrees. Arrowhead will be chilly as well – but not that frigid. Expect Allen to have another big game, both through the air and on the ground. Both teams averaged over 28 points on the season, and I expect this to turn into another track meet. Given that the Bills had the better defense on the season, and given the motivation the Bills have to avenge last year’s setback, the Bills are an interesting value bet.
Why should you put your money on the Chiefs?
The Chiefs’ passing game is clicking right now. Patrick Mahomes spread the ball all over the field in the team’s wild card win over the Steelers, with six different receivers recording at least four catches apiece. Tyreek Hill will look for a better outcome in his battle with Bills defensive back Taron Johnson, who limited Hill to 62 receiving yards when he was covering him during the Bills’ upset win in the regular season. Johnson did not play as well against New England last week, permitting 80 receiving yards and a passer rating of 109.2 against the receivers he covered.
Kansas City’s running game could cause the Bills some headaches as well. Clyde Edwards-Helaire is questionable, but backup Jerick McKinnon had a huge game against the Steelers, appearing in 78 percent of the team’s offensive snaps and picking up 142 all-purpose yards and scoring a touchdown. Edwards-Helaire has been a regular participant in practice this week, and the two running backs could do real damage against a Bills defense that, on occasion, has struggled to stop the run. Also, don’t expect Mahomes to throw two interceptions against Buffalo like he did in their regular-season matchup.
Final Score and Betting Prediction
There is a lot to like about this game, and even on a cold night, taking the “over” seems like a solid proposition here. The Bills look better on both sides of the ball, in terms of consistency, although the Chiefs have the more explosive ceiling – and the more potential for mishaps. I see the Bills emerging as 38-35 winners.
Buffalo Bills at Kansas City Chiefs: Bet the Game Today
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