January 23, 2021

By Fred Liggett
FredL@lstribune.net

The time has come for the final edition of the Kansas City Chiefs “Run it back” tour as the Chiefs host the Buffalo Bills in the last NFL game played before the Super Bowl. The Chiefs goal of reaching back to back Super Bowls is just one home game victory away from being accomplished.

With the NFC Championship game being played before the Chiefs and Bills take the field both teams will know who the winner will play in Super Bowl 55 set to be played in Tampa, Florida. All eyes will be on a match up that, depending on your age, you may have seen before. This is the third time the Chiefs and Bills have played each other to earn a trip to play in the Super Bowl.

The first such meeting took place at War Memorial Stadium the home of the Bills and the game was called the AFL Championship Game. The Chiefs won this game 31-7 on January 1, 1967 to advance to play Green Bay in what would turn out to be Super Bowl 1. The second meeting was on Jan. 23, 1994 at Bills Stadium and the favored Bills won this game 30-13 to turn away the hopes of a Joe Montana led Chiefs team.

The third meeting no matter the outcome will be remembered as a game played between two young NFL quarterbacks expected to have long productive careers. KC Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes already has one MVP to his name and many NFL followers believe this year is Bills QB Josh Allen’s turn to take the trophy home. The two teams and the two QB’s have already met once this season when the Chiefs beat the Bills 26-17 on a Monday night back in mid-October.

That Monday night game was played in Buffalo and now the teams meet in Kansas City as the Chiefs continue to defend their Super Bowl championship. The game time temps may not be very warm for this championship game but the Bills, at 15-3, come to KC winners of eight straight. Allen’s play leading the offense and no key injuries have helped spur the Bills on a run they hope ends in a Super Bowl appearance. The only injury for Bills fans to worry about is WR Stefon Diggs who is expected to play against the Chiefs.

The Chiefs, 15-2, come into the match up feeling good about playing at home and having beaten the Bills at their place earlier in the season. Injuries and not a game plan has been the major topic this week as the team prepares to repeat as AFC champions. LB Willie Gay was out, but seeing limited practice time this week was CB Bashaud Breeland, RB Clyde Edwards-Helaire, WR Sammy Watkins and QB Patrick Mahomes. All except Gay as of press time are expected to see action on game day. How much remains uncertain but the Chiefs will like to have as many weapons available as they can.

The top-seeded Kansas City Chiefs have proven that “Hennething can happen” on game day. The Chiefs will prove once again why they are the number one seed in the AFC playoffs with a close win over the number two seeded Buffalo Bills. The “Run it back” tour heads to Tampa, Florida for Super Bowl LV When this one is over. That’s What I REID Into It for this week.