ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. — In what has developed right into a historic rivalry between the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs and Buffalo Payments, a Patrick Mahomes-led Chiefs staff will play at Highmark Stadium within the postseason for the primary time.
The Chiefs did come to Orchard Park within the 2020 common season, however that sport was performed with out followers within the stands due to COVID-19. Since Mahomes and quarterback Josh Allen have began video games, the Chiefs and Payments have met six instances, with 5 of these occurring in Kansas Metropolis.
The chance to lastly host Mahomes within the postseason and have this divisional spherical sport performed at house is one thing that is not misplaced on the Payments.
“[Mahomes has] solely been right here as soon as. So, he is by no means been right here. Easy as that,” left deal with Dion Dawkins stated. “Pat has by no means been to the Payments’ stadium in full. … The atmosphere might be totally different and to not say it is in our favor, however stadium is our favor. Stadium is us. That helps us. I do not care what no one says. That is essentially the most dopest feeling I’ve ever had. We’re having two back-to-back playoff video games dwelling. Come on now, like we get to depart and go eat wings. It is cool. So good luck.”
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The Payments beat the Chiefs 20-17 at Arrowhead final month in a sport that began their present six-game profitable streak. Kansas Metropolis has received each of the postseason conferences since 2020 — 2020 AFC Championship Recreation and 2021 divisional spherical — whereas Buffalo has received three of 4 regular-season matchups throughout that point.
Whereas the Payments’ 2022 season did finish with a house playoff loss to Cincinnati Bengals, traditionally they’ve seen important success in dwelling playoff video games with a 14-2 report since 1970, greatest within the league amongst groups with a minimal of 5 dwelling video games throughout that point.
The Payments are getting ready for this sport within the midst of a second lake impact snowstorm hitting the Buffalo-area in per week, however have maintained a standard follow schedule on a brief week after the wild-card spherical sport vs. the Steelers was pushed again. The staff is already asking followers to assist shovel snow out the stadium Friday for a second straight week.
“It is good to have the followers behind you. I believe little nuances, like not having to make use of silent cadences is at all times a plus,” middle Mitch Morse, a former Chiefs participant, stated. “I believe particularly with a brief week like we had, it is very nice to have this dwelling discipline benefit. However we additionally know that within the playoffs, these groups which have made it this far are used to adversity and opposed conditions.”
This sport will make Mahomes and Allen the fourth pair of quarterbacks to fulfill a minimum of 3 times within the playoffs inside their first seven seasons. As of Thursday, the Chiefs are three-point underdogs, per ESPN BET, the second time in Mahomes’ postseason profession that he is an underdog, becoming a member of final 12 months’s Tremendous Bowl.
With a win, it could mark Allen’s second AFC Championship Recreation look and Mahomes’ sixth.
“They have been on the prime of the mountain. They know what it takes to get there. We have but to do this,” Allen stated. “Once more, as a competitor, as a participant to be in a scenario like that is one thing you dream about. I do know guys on this staff have been ready for this second for a very long time. To consider how far we have come even from seven, eight weeks in the past to the place we are actually to have a possibility to host a sport in opposition to — they’ve received two championships within the final couple years — you’ll be able to’t assist however be enthusiastic about that.”
