It’s becoming a tale as old as time, albeit one that still stings all the same for the reigning AFC champions. For the fifth consecutive regular season, the Kansas City Chiefs have fallen to the Buffalo Bills. Buffalo superstar quarterback Josh Allen now boasts a 5-1 regular-season career record against Kansas City’s standout Patrick Mahomes, and it may not be the last time these rivals meet before February.
Simply reaching January would be a good start for the Chiefs, though. Unfortunately for Andy Reid’s team, they enter the bye week outside of the AFC playoff picture.
### Andy Reid Takes Blame for Chiefs’ 28-21 Loss to Bills in Week 9
When it comes to accountability, Reid is looking inward. Speaking to the media Sunday evening, the winningest head coach in franchise history admitted he needs to do better for his team.
“We’ve got to do a little better than that, obviously, when you’re playing a good football team,” Reid said. “It starts with me doing my job better and giving our guys an opportunity and putting them in good positions where they can make some plays.”
A few questions later, he doubled down on not providing his players enough chances to make an impact.
“Listen, I could’ve helped the guys out, and I didn’t do a very good job of that,” Reid added. “And then we’ve got to obviously do a little better when given that opportunity.”
### The Game’s Story Beyond the Score
The final 28-21 scoreline may not fully capture how the game unfolded. The Bills outgained the Chiefs by 99 total yards and controlled the ball for nearly 10 minutes longer. They also earned seven more first downs — a clear testament to their effectiveness.
According to rbsdm, Josh Allen averaged 0.43 EPA per play (90th percentile), compared to Mahomes’ -0.02 EPA per play (37th percentile).
To be fair to Reid, the loss wasn’t solely on him. Mahomes himself played below his usual standards, and the offensive line struggled to protect him in passing situations. Defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo’s unit also got carved up throughout the game, reminiscent of a Halloween pumpkin or an upcoming Thanksgiving turkey.
As is often the case, however, Reid takes responsibility as the team leader — whether the faults lie with him or others.
### Kansas City to Emphasize Rest During Upcoming Bye Week
The Chiefs escaped Sunday’s defeat with relatively few injuries. Reid noted the only significant issue was right tackle Jawaan Taylor sustaining an ankle injury in the second half. Left guard Kingsley Suamataia appeared banged up late in the game, but Reid did not elaborate further.
Heading into the weekend, Kansas City was already missing key players. Left tackle Josh Simmons remains absent, an ongoing concern for the organization. Running back Isiah Pacheco missed all practices last week and did not play on Sunday due to an MCL injury, which is not expected to be long-term.
At this point in the season, no player is 100%, physically or mentally. Reid is well aware of that, making the Week 10 bye a timely break.
“I’ve got a good locker room there,” Reid said. “Rest up, and they’ll come back strong. That’s what we do. Guys are nicked up here, or throughout the year here. They’ve got to make sure they get in and get worked on.”
Historically, Reid may be the best coach in football when it comes to maximizing the bye week. Teams he coaches come off the bye with an impressive 22-4 record in their next game.
Considering the Chiefs are currently trailing the 7-2 Denver Broncos in the standings, this advantage is significant. Denver faces the struggling 2-6 Las Vegas Raiders while Kansas City rests in Week 10, making the Chiefs’ time off even more crucial.
How the Chiefs respond to this break could determine whether Reid’s acceptance of responsibility sparks a positive ripple effect for the remainder of the season.
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