In a significant blow to their chances of securing the top seed in the AFC, the Buffalo Bills announced that star tight end Dalton Kincaid will miss Sunday’s pivotal matchup against the Kansas City Chiefs due to a left knee injury sustained in last week’s victory over the Indianapolis Colts. Kincaid, who leads the team in targets and ranks second in receptions, has emerged as one of quarterback Josh Allen’s most reliable weapons in his second NFL season.
The loss of Kincaid comes at a critical juncture for the Bills, who are locked in a tight race with the Chiefs for home-field advantage throughout the playoffs. With both teams sporting identical 10-2 records, Sunday’s showdown at Arrowhead Stadium could very well determine which team will have the inside track to hosting the AFC Championship Game come January.
Kincaid’s Breakout Season
A second-round pick out of UCLA in the 2023 NFL Draft, Kincaid quickly established himself as a key cog in the Bills’ high-powered offense. Through the first 13 weeks of the season, the sure-handed tight end has hauled in 34 receptions on 59 targets, finding the end zone twice.
Kincaid’s emergence has helped fill the void left by the offseason departure of veteran wide receiver John Brown, providing Allen with a reliable middle-of-the-field target to complement the deep-threat abilities of Stefon Diggs and Mack Hollins on the outside. His absence will undoubtedly be felt on Sunday, as the Bills look to keep pace with a Chiefs offense that ranks among the league’s best.
Next Man Up
With Kincaid sidelined, the Bills will likely turn to former second-round pick Dawson Knox to shoulder the load at tight end. Knox, who has seen his role diminished with Kincaid’s ascension, will be tasked with providing Allen with a reliable safety valve over the middle while also serving as an additional blocker in the run game.
We’ll have to pivot a little bit in some areas, but I have full confidence in Dawson and the rest of the guys to step up and make plays.
– Bills head coach Sean McDermott on the impact of Kincaid’s absence
Backup tight end Quintin Morris, who has seen limited action this season, is also expected to see an increase in snaps as the Bills look to deploy more two-tight end sets to keep the Chiefs’ defense off balance. The onus will be on offensive coordinator Joe Brady to devise a game plan that maximizes the talents of his available personnel while also taking into account the unique challenges posed by Kansas City’s aggressive defensive scheme.
Injury Bug Bites Bills
Kincaid isn’t the only key offensive player whose status for Sunday’s game is in doubt. Rookie wide receiver Keon Coleman, who has emerged as a key contributor in recent weeks, has also been ruled out for the second consecutive game as he continues to nurse a hamstring injury. The explosive playmaker’s absence will place added pressure on the likes of Diggs, Hollins and the recently acquired James Robinson to generate big plays against a stingy Chiefs secondary.
Four-time Pro Bowl wide receiver Amari Cooper, who has missed the last two games with a wrist injury, returned to practice on Wednesday and remains questionable for Sunday. While Cooper expressed optimism about his chances of suiting up, head coach Sean McDermott was more measured in his assessment, noting that the team’s medical staff will have the final say on the veteran wideout’s availability.
Should Cooper be unable to go, the Bills will once again lean heavily on the trio of Diggs, Hollins and rookie Anthony Montgomery to carry the load in the passing game. Montgomery, in particular, has shown flashes of promise in recent weeks, using his blend of size and speed to create mismatches against smaller defensive backs.
Playoff Implications
With just five games remaining in the regular season, Sunday’s clash between the Bills and Chiefs will go a long way toward determining the balance of power in the AFC. A win for Buffalo would give them a one-game lead over Kansas City in the race for the top seed, while also securing the head-to-head tiebreaker should the two teams finish with identical records.
A Chiefs victory, on the other hand, would put them in the driver’s seat for home-field advantage throughout the playoffs and force the Bills to play catch-up in the final weeks of the season. With both teams boasting top-five offenses and defenses, Sunday’s game has all the makings of an instant classic that could very well be a preview of the AFC Championship Game in January.
For the Bills, the key to victory will be finding a way to generate consistent pressure on Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes, who has been nearly unstoppable when given time to survey the field. The return of All-Pro cornerback Tre’Davious White from a torn ACL should help in that regard, as he’ll likely be tasked with shadowing Kansas City’s top receiver, Jayson Warren, throughout the game.
On the other side of the ball, Allen and company will need to find a way to exploit a Chiefs defense that has been vulnerable against the pass at times this season. With Kincaid out and Cooper’s status uncertain, the onus will be on Diggs and Hollins to win their individual matchups and create big plays down the field.
Regardless of the outcome, Sunday’s game is sure to have major implications on the AFC playoff picture. With both teams harboring legitimate Super Bowl aspirations, the stakes couldn’t be higher as two of the league’s most dynamic young quarterbacks go head-to-head in a battle for conference supremacy. For the Bills, the challenge will be finding a way to overcome the loss of a key offensive weapon and keep their championship dreams alive in hostile territory.
