Buffalo Bills Win Only Game They Can Against Kansas City Right Now

The Buffalo Bills were going to either be forced to stew about losing to their most significant obstacle or win and knew it meant nothing until replicating the result against the same foe in the elimination tournament. So, the result is as satisfying as it can be right now. Cheering should come with an asterisk, but that doesn’t mean it must be muted.

The best possible outcome in November contains the usual qualifications about how they previously haven’t done so again during the ensuing opportunity. Despite that, they can’t be faulted for setting the best example possible under the conditions.

Bills fans didn’t just have to cherish that first drive. Getting stopped on the ensuing drive on a failed fourth down could have served as a momentum shift. Those who think life comes down to analytics are unable to sense what’s happening. Buffalo has learned to respond to the feeling.

Establishing James Cook has been a good idea all year long. The offense has been doing so for a little less than that. But the next-best outcome to doing what’s best all the time is starting to do so after learning from what doesn’t work.

Tight ends are their own special kind of catching group. The differ from receivers who are, um, wide receivers. If the obvious option is notably underperforming, the team may as well resort to using the mildly surprising alternative.

Tight ends are the best at hauling in passes like the quarterback is the top rusher. Josh Allen keeps bringing it in himself in defiance of the position’s alleged primary responsibility. He’s fifth all-time of the 308 men who have a rushing attempt for the franchise with a chance to move up a spot this month if you’re looking to historically measure an ostensible passer’s performance.

Dalton Kincaid can catch against the Chiefs. I suspected it was possible, which means it’s acceptable to continue dogging him for that agonizing drop in the last elimination tournament. But at least he’s doing what he can now. His score to set the tone took nothing more than exploiting a defender checking himself out of the play. Fall down in coverage: the offense will never expect that.

Stellar tight end play was a necessity given how underwhelming the receiver group has been. Khalil Shakir has been good on his own terms and shouldn’t have to be the default sole option. The group’s paltry resources remain a glaring management failure. If anyone’s looking for a source of concern about why Sunday’s result may not necessarily be replicated in a figurative elimination matchup following the regular schedule, the continuing uninspiring output from the position is a specific place to start.

Sidney Poitier and Ben Affleck are both Oscar winners, which reminds us to not judge a group by individual performances. Jordan Poyer is playing like Terry Rozier. I hope he’s throwing games, as he’s trying his hardest otherwise. By contrast, one of his eventual replacements is already taking his place. I take back some of the mean things I said about Cole Bishop. Sunday was a good time for, no offense, him to become a safety. I demand to see footage of Travis Kelce’s fiancée after Bishop crunched him during the course of a rather satisfying incompletion.

Even wins over the Chiefs spur feelings of doom. Almost allowing a score at half’s end with a few seconds left was preparation. And every Bills fan was bracing for fourth and 17 to become the new 13 seconds. There doesn’t need to be a soft reboot.

It looked like the the semipermanent nemesis was being set up by fate to get the ball with only a fraction of a minute left. Halloween’s over, but projecting fears on Michael Myers remains. Kansas City makes leads stressful. The Bills feel like Chris Evert trying to top Martina Navratilova. But they at least won a set.

An impressive triumph against a formidable opponent who’s bound to present challenges is as best as the Bills can do right now. Everyone on both sides knows the real test would come in January. Outside observers do, too. But achieving what’s possible within the limitations of how time works is the best they can do at this moment.

Sherlock managed one triumph over Moriarty without defeating the antagonist. Even honest Chiefs fans can’t deny who the villain is. But good doesn’t necessarily triumph over evil as in fiction. Now, we just have to stress out with dread for months to see if the Bills can beat the same team in the playoffs. It’ll be fun!

But the Bills did all they could. Everyone involved has emphasized repeatedly that we remain in the regular season’s midst. Of course, that means a two-game swing in the conference race along with settling a potential tiebreaker. Discounting its importance because there may be a more meaningful clash looming misses the value of what we have now.

The longterm victory would be retaining what specific strategies toppled the conference bully. And they might have to discard everything that worked if the Chiefs adjust, as is their tendency. A November win is best if it’s treated as part of an ongoing campaign. It’s easy to emphasize the frustration of previous postseasons to the point of forgetting that this win serves as a big deal under the circumstance. Beating the Chiefs now beats figuring out what can be done better after falling short.