KANSAS CITY, Mo. — With three losses in their last five games, the Chiefs have been reminded that when every team places a bull’s eye on the defending champions, matching the energy and effort of the opponent week in and week out is virtually an impossible grind.
“That’s when it becomes real fun,” tight end Travis Kelce said.
The team certainly received the message last week in a 27-19 loss to Green Bay, and the wake-up call was delivered this week in practice, according to Kelce.
“We’re fired up for this one,” Kelce said.
Sunday’s contest against the Bills shares eerie parallels with last week’s game against the Packers. The Bills are coming off a bye, and with a 6-6 record find themselves on the outside looking into the AFC playoff picture. Running back Jerick McKinnon says that despite injuries, the Buffalo defense still has playmakers at every level.
“We know what this game means to them and their playoff picture and stuff like that, so every time we play them it’s been nothing short of a great game,” McKinnoon said.
Indeed, the familiarity between the two teams certainly helps sharpen the focus for the Chiefs. Buffalo has won their last two regular-season contest at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium. But finally putting together a complete offensive performance remains foremost on the mind of Kelce.
“The focus keeps getting more locked in,” Kelce said. “Everyone kind of feels how good we can be. We see it on film, we’re reviewing it, things are there. We just got to fight through some things, guys learning their role and stuff like that. It’s all part of the season, man, every year. You got to keep growing.”
McKinnon agrees.
“We’ve looked good at time, we’ve flashed at times, but we just haven’t been able to pull together,” McKinnon said. “Normally around this time is when we start to click and start to make this drive and make this push. So you know we’re expecting to go out there and get back to our old selves, put some points up on the board and give our defense some breathing room. They’ve been playing lights out. It’s about time for us to step up and do our part.”
During the last five-game stretch in which the Chiefs have dropped three games, the energy and momentum arguably was on the side of both Denver and Green Bay in those defeats. Two weeks ago the Raiders jumped out in front of the Chiefs with a strong first half before Kansas City rallied for the victory. Kelce understands that there are going to be games in which the defending champions won’t have the energy of their apartment.
But when the calendar turns to December, that’s typically when the Chiefs crank it up a notch. Last week’s loss dropped the Chiefs to 23-5 in the regular season in December and January under Patrick Mahomes. The Chiefs have faced their adversity, Kelce says, and it’s time to strain to the finish.
“You got to be able to weather that though, you know what I mean, and bring it at the right moments,” Kelce said, “Even if you can’t bring it all day, every day. It is what it is. You find ways up. That’s why there’s 50 of us in here.”
