Week 12: Bills vs. Chiefs
at
Sunday, Nov. 23rd
1:00pm ET
This week's game isn't one that all NFL eyes will be on. The Bills travel to Kansas City, a place that they never fair well in. Both teams are reeling as the Bills have lost four straight while the Chiefs have lost six straight. Kansas City at least has done a good job of taking the ball away while the Bills have been more generous than Santa Claus with the ball. This week's game is shaping up to be a yawner with two teams just playing out the string. The Bills still have a shot at the playoffs but that window has almost closed after Monday night's devastating loss against Cleveland.

FACTS AND FIGURES

Matchup: Buffalo (5-5) vs. Kansas City (1-9)
Place: Arrowhead Stadium
Television: CBS
Announcers: Ian Eagle and Solomon Wilcots
Spread: Bills by 3½
Series: Bills lead 21-17-1 (Bills 2-1 in playoffs)
Streak: Bills Won 1
Last Meeting: Bills 14-3 in Buffalo (2005)
Chiefs Offense: Rush (16th); Pass (26th); overall (26th)
Chiefs Defense: Rush (31st); Pass (27th); overall (32nd)
Bills Offense: Rush (24th); Pass (15th); overall (24th)
Bills Defense: Rush (18th); Pass (13th); overall (13th)


INJURY UPDATE

The Bills injury list is fairly significant especially in the defensive secondary where they will be without Donte Whitner and Jabari Greer this week. Aaron Schobel will miss his fifth straight game with a toe injury while Whitner re-aggravated his separated shoulder by playing against the Browns. Greer suffered a knee injury in the latest loss. Josh Reed may return this week, he's been out a month with a high ankle sprain.

The Chiefs have their share of injuries as well the biggest being TE Tony Gonzalez. He suffered a knee injury last week in their loss to the Saints. He is questionable at best. They will be without OT Adrian Jones (Knee) and may be without Donnie Edwards who has a hamstring injury and WR Mark Bradley. Not practicing fully this week is Patrick Surtain, S Jarad Page, DE Tamnba Hali, and LB Pat Thomas.

Check out Bills Daily's Injury Page for the latest injury news leading up to the game.

KEY MATCHUPS

CB Leodis McKelvin vs. WR Dwayne Bowe:
McKelvin will get the start on the outside thanks to decimating injuries in the Bills secondary. It is his time to step up and show why he was drafted with the 11th overall pick in the draft this year. Bowe is a tough matchup because he is a big and strong receiver that leads the team in receptions and yards.

DT Marcus Stroud vs. RBs Larry Johnson and Jamaal Charles:
The Chiefs best chance to win is a good running game and they have a formidable duo in the veteran Johnson and the youngster Charles. Stroud has been playing well and he clogs up the middle they will need that to keep the running game down.

S Ko Simpson or Bryan Scott vs. TE Tony Gonzalez:
Assuming Gonzalez is healthy enough to go the Bills have a huge hole against him with both Whitner and probably Scott also out. That would mean Simpson would draw him and will need to be up to the task. If Scott can go he'll draw the assignment since he did well against Kellen Winslow last week.

QB Trent Edwards vs. FS Jarrad Page:
Edwards is desperate to end his slump and will have to watch for the playmaker Page. He leads the team with three interceptions.

RB Marshawn Lynch vs. SS Beranard Pollard:
Lynch will be looking to build on last week's breakout performance. Pollard is a versatile safety who leads the team with 56 tackles and plays close to the line of scrimmage to help against the run.

WR Lee Evans vs. CB Brandon Flowers:
Evans is in a slump of his own and will look to rebound against the veteran Flowers. Evans will look to find seams in the zone coverage but Flowers will have him when there is one on one coverage.

GAME PLAN

When The Bills Have The Ball: Look for them to try and attack one of the worst defenses in the league on the ground with a healthy dose of Lynch and Fred Jackson. Hopefully that will help them stop Kansas City from playing eight men in the secondary like teams have been doing to the Bills during the losing streak.

When The Chiefs Have The Ball: They will try to pound it on the ground with Johnson who is still a viable weapon. He can kill the Bills single handedly and may have to. They will also take their shots at the banged up Bills secondary when the opportunities present themselves.

BILLS DAILY PREDICTION

How do you pick a Bills team that has showed no emotion, and frankly, no heart the past month in losing four straight games without barely a whimper. How do you pick a Chiefs team that has lost six straight games, won only one game this year, and has the league's worst defense? Since the NFL had their first tie since 2002 it isn't likely to end deadlocked. This game can go either way since both teams may be "due" for a win. The game is in Kansas City and the Chiefs have played better lately with Tyler Thigpen at quarterback. Until they prove me otherwise I'm picking against the Bills:
Chiefs 16, Bills 13

Season Prediction Record: (7-3)
Season Record Against The Spread: (8-2)

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