Buffalo Sports News

Buffalo Sports News

Bills Face Major Concerns Ahead of Marquee Chiefs Showdown

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The Buffalo Bills are 8-2 and cruising toward their fifth straight AFC East division title. An injury report that continues to grow ahead of next weekend’s clash with the undefeated Kansas City Chiefs is a problem that’s threatening to derail the team’s Super Bowl dreams, though.

Tight end Dalton Kincaid became the latest Bills offensive playmaker to leave a game because of injury. He landed hard on his left knee during Sunday’s 30-20 win over the Indianapolis Colts. Buffalo can’t afford to lose another pass-catcher with wide receivers Amari Cooper and Keon Coleman already sidelined.

It’s not just the Chiefs on the horizon, either. After Kansas City, the Bills have a bye followed by meetings with the San Francisco 49ers, Los Angeles Rams, and Detroit Lions. That’s one of the toughest four-game stretches in the NFL this season. So the impact of lingering injuries will be felt.

Bills Injuries Leave Little Margin for Error vs. Chiefs

Buffalo Injury Report Breakdown

Last week, the Bills’ injury report featured 20 players. That’s 37.7 percent of the 53-man roster. It’s a worrisome number that doesn’t even include players on injured reserve. The team’s IR list features several key defenders:

  • LB Matt Milano
  • DE Dawuane Smoot
  • DT DeWayne Carter
  • LB Baylon Spector

Milano suffered a bicep injury during training camp. The original timetable put him on track for a December return, but it’s already mid-November and the team hasn’t opened his 21-day practice window. In turn, the All-Pro’s status for the rest of the campaign remains a question mark.

Fellow linebacker Terrel Bernard has missed three games with ankle and pectoral injuries. Playing games without either of them in the middle of the defense is a challenge. It’s the main reason Buffalo has struggled mightily to slow down opponents’ rushing attacks this season.

That said, the bigger concerns right now come on offense.

Cooper, Coleman, and Kincaid are all uncertain for Sunday’s game with the Chiefs. Top target Khalil Shakir missed a game earlier in the season with an ankle injury, while Curtis Samuel has also been battling a pectoral injury.

Quarterback Josh Allen suffered an injury to his non-throwing hand in a Week 1 win over the Arizona Cardinals. He’s been listed on the injury report ever since, though he hasn’t appeared in danger of missing any games.

Put it all together and it’s fair to suggest injuries, rather than any on-field issues, are the biggest threat that could prevent a deep playoff run for Buffalo.

Which Bills Reserves Are Thriving, Struggling?

Mack Hollins deserves a lot of credit for his play in recent weeks. The wideout’s lack of production early in the season is one of the reasons Bills general manager Brandon Beane felt compelled to make a trade for Cooper. Now, with Cooper sidelined, Hollins has stepped up.

The 31-year-old Maryland native caught all nine of his targets for 116 yards and a touchdown in wins over the Colts and Miami Dolphins. He’s also an effective blocker in the run game.

Tight end Dawson Knox played a season-high 70 percent of the offensive snaps against Indianapolis with Kincaid ailing. He responded with two catches for 40 yards. If Kincaid is out awhile, the Bills will need their former starter to play like he did in 2021, when he reeled in nine touchdowns.

On the other side of the ball, defensive tackle Quinton Jefferson made an immediate impact in his return to the organization with a sack on Sunday. Jefferson, who previously played for Buffalo in 2020, will need to continue making an impact until Carter returns.

Not everyone the Bills are asking to play an increased role is performing well, though.

Spector received a 40.0 overall grade from Pro Football Focus before landing on IR with a calf injury suffered in practice. Fellow reserve linebacker Dorian Williams has also struggled, posting a 60.9 PFF grade while starting all 10 games so far. Williams’ poor routes to ball-carriers has really hurt Buffalo’s run defense.

It’s a little surprising Beane didn’t trade for a linebacker before last week’s deadline given that duo’s struggles.

Can Bills Compete with NFL’s Elite Despite Injuries?

The next four games will reveal a lot about the Bills’ true upside. Are they a team that can seriously contend for a championship, even with a handful of key injuries, or are they simply taking full advantage of a weaker-than-expected division?

Remember, Buffalo opened the season with three straight wins but then faltered in its two toughest tests to date: road games against the Baltimore Ravens and Houston Texans.

None of the teams the Bills have beaten during their current five-game winning streak would be considered top-tier contenders. That’s obviously about to change with matchups against last year’s Super Bowl counterparts, the Chiefs and Niners, and then the Lions in Week 15.

That sets the stage for the next month. By the time Buffalo welcomes the New England Patriots to Orchard Park in Week 16, the outlook for the rest of the campaign will be far clearer, especially since there should be a more concrete update on Milano by then.

In the big picture, the Bills have navigated a transition year well. They made some savvy moves to upgrade to the roster without sacrificing their 2025 salary-cap flexibility. Their roster has enough talent to make a title run if it can avoid more high-impact injuries.

That said, nobody remembers excuses, injuries, or otherwise. It’s Super Bowl or bust for the rest of the Josh Allen Era. Buffalo has been waiting decades for a championship. Anything less than that makes the season a disappointment.

Main Photo: Grace Hollars/IndyStar-USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

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