After up-and-down starts this season, both the Kansas City Chiefs and Buffalo Bills come into their Week 10 matchup riding a wave of momentum they hope translates into an eventual playoff berth. This game could go a long way in determining which one does make it to the postseason, as it could serve as a head-to-head tiebreaker if both teams finish with equal records this year.
Chiefs vs. Bills 2014 picks and predictions: AFC clash of 2 playoff contenders
The Buffalo Bills play host to the Kansas City Chiefs in an AFC clash that could decide which of these two makes it to the playoffs.
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Starting the season at 0-2, Kansas City has now won five of its past six contests to climb to 5-3 and just one game behind the 6-2 Denver Broncos for the AFC West lead. At the very least, a win this week would keep Kansas City tied for a wild card playoff spot.
As for the Bills, they too enter this game at 5-3 after a 2-2 start. Buffalo has turned its season around after making a switch at quarterback, benching EJ Manuel for Kyle Orton. Manual went 2-2 in his starts, while Orton has gone 3-1 with the one loss being to the red-hot New England Patriots.
Speaking of which, the 7-2 Patriots hold just a 1½-game lead over the Bills in the AFC East. Needless to say, both the Bills and Chiefs have a lot to play for in this AFC battle, which will be a showdown of top-10 defenses. The real matchup to watch will be the Chiefs’ No. 6 rushing offense going against a stout Bills front seven that ranks No. 8 in run defense.
This game will also feature two of the NFL's best defenses when it comes to sacking the quarterback. Kansas City ranks third in total sacks (27), while Buffalo ranks second (28). The Chiefs' D is led by outside linebacker Justin Houston, who leads the NFL with 12 sacks this year. Buffalo is led by defensive tackle Marcell Dareus, who leads the team with seven sacks and nine tackles for loss on the year.
So what are the experts saying about this matchup?
The CBS Sports crew is split at 4-4 on their picks. CBS Sports' Pete Prisco is going with the home team, 23-21, giving the following explanation:
This is a game featuring two 5-3 teams led by the defense, especially the pass rush. The Bills are coming off a bye, so they are rested. And they are at home. That’s the biggest difference here. Kyle Orton makes a play late to win it.
On the other hand, the SB Nation staff favored the Chiefs by a 5-3 margin.
| Week 10 | Ryan Van Bibber | Stephen White | Joel Thorman | David Fucillo | Danny Kelly | PFT Commenter | Matt Ufford | OddsShark Computer |
| KC vs BUF | BUF | BUF | KC | BUF | KC | KC | KC | KC |
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