The Buffalo Bills head into Sunday’s monumental AFC Championship clash against the Kansas City Chiefs with major question marks surrounding the health of two defensive starters. Cornerback Christian Benford is currently in concussion protocol after sustaining a head injury on the final play of their Divisional Round victory over the Baltimore Ravens. Meanwhile, safety Taylor Rapp’s status remains uncertain as he nurses a hip ailment that forced an early exit in that same contest.
For a Bills secondary already stretched thin by injuries this season, the potential absences of Benford and Rapp could not come at a more inopportune time. Kansas City’s high-powered offense, led by the rocket arm of Patrick Mahomes and the blazing speed of receivers Tyreek Hill and Mecole Hardman, poses a stiff challenge even at full strength. Limiting their explosive plays downfield will be instrumental to Buffalo’s hopes of avenging last year’s postseason defeat and punching a ticket to the Super Bowl.
Next Men Up in Buffalo’s Secondary
With Benford’s availability in jeopardy, the Bills will likely turn to rookie first-round pick Kaiir Elam to start opposite Pro Bowler Tre’Davious White on the boundaries. The talented but inexperienced Elam has flashed shutdown potential when called upon this season, but facing the Chiefs’ vaunted aerial attack in a win-or-go-home scenario is a tall order. Veteran backup Ja’Marcus Ingram could also see an expanded role if Benford cannot go.
At safety, if Rapp is sidelined or limited, the Bills will again look to first-year man Cole Bishop to step up in his stead. The hard-hitting Bishop acquitted himself well in emergency duty against Baltimore, but as defensive coordinator Bobby Baich noted, being thrown into the fire of an AFC title game is a far cry from watching on the sidelines. Communication and cohesion on the back end will be absolutely critical to preventing Mahomes and company from racking up chunk plays.
A Historic Heavyweight Rematch
Injury concerns aside, this rubber match between Buffalo and Kansas City has all the makings of an instant classic. It will mark the fourth postseason meeting between these teams in the past five years, an astounding frequency that speaks to the heavyweight stature of this burgeoning rivalry. While the Chiefs emerged victorious in each of those prior clashes, the Bills exacted a measure of revenge with a convincing Week 11 triumph at Arrowhead Stadium earlier this season.
None of the previous teams have won four of those games.
– ESPN
As the first team to knock off Mahomes and the Chiefs at home in November or later since 2019, Sean McDermott’s squad knows they have the firepower to get the job done. However, the postseason is a different beast, and the Bills are acutely aware that their path to a long-awaited Super Bowl return goes through the very team that has repeatedly dashed those dreams in crushing fashion. If Buffalo is to finally slay the dragon that is Kansas City, they will need a Herculean effort from Josh Allen and a defense that rises to the occasion despite its injury-induced limitations.
The Road Ahead for Buffalo
Beyond the implications of Sunday’s outcome, the Bills also face longer-term questions about the state of their secondary. Rapp and fellow safety star Micah Hyde are both impending free agents, while Benford and Elam represent a promising but unproven youth movement at cornerback. Regardless of how this season ends, fortifying the defensive backfield figures to be a top priority for general manager Brandon Beane in the offseason.
In the here and now, however, the Bills must adopt a next-man-up mentality and trust in the depth and resilience that have become defining traits of McDermott’s tenure. If they can overcome the injury bug and dethrone the Chiefs on the road, a date with destiny in Super Bowl LVII will be their reward. Should they fall short, the sting of another missed opportunity will only intensify the pressure to get over the hump in 2024.
For Buffalo, the mission is clear: seize the moment, vanquish their nemesis, and etch their place in franchise lore. Whether they have the horses in the secondary to finish the job remains to be seen, but if there is one thing we have learned about these Bills, it is to never count them out. With a trip to the Super Bowl hanging in the balance, expect McDermott and his men to leave it all on the field come Sunday night at Arrowhead.
