5 biggest storylines to watch in Bills' Week 11 clash with Chiefs

Here are five storylines to watch when the Buffalo Bills host the Kansas City Chiefs in Week 11.
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The Buffalo Bills have won five straight games but face their toughest opponent of the 2024 campaign thus far when the undefeated Kansas City Chiefs come to town for Week 11. The focus will be on the two quarterbacks who are always in the NFL MVP discussion, but that's just the tip of the iceberg for this Sunday's showdown in Orchard Park. With that, here are five storylines to watch for when the back-to-back Super Bowl champions come to Western New York.

Top of the AFC

Josh Alle
Jamie Germano / Rochester Democrat and Chronicle / USA TODAY NETWORK / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn

Mathematically, nothing will be decided on Sunday regardless of who wins. However, sports math tells you a lot can be decided on Sunday. If the Bills win, they are one loss behind the Chiefs for the top seed in the AFC with the head-to-head advantage. A Bills loss, and they are three losses behind Kansas City, with the conference foe having the head-to-head over Buffalo and Baltimore. A Chiefs win this weekend would go a long way in securing them a first-round postseason bye.

Related: Chiefs will rely on undrafted rookie kicker in AFC showdown vs. Bills

Chapter VIII

Josh Allen Patrick Mahome
Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images

This storyline should be prefaced with the following: wins are not a quarterback stat. Now that we have that out of the way, all the talk leading up to the game will be about Josh Allen vs. Patrick Mahomes. Regardless of their stats, the game's winner will get bonus points in the MVP race. Tony Romo is going to annoyingly gush about both guys during the CBS broadcast. All that said, these are arguably the two best humans at playing quarterback right now, so enjoy!

Defensive Showdown

Sean McDermot
Marc Lebryk-Imagn Images

All the headlines, graphics, and advertisements promoting this game will highlight the quarterback duel, but the bout could be decided by Sean McDermott vs. Mahomes (Chiefs' offense) and Steve Spagnuolo vs. Josh Allen (Bills' offense). Both teams are top ten in scoring defense and top five in second-half scoring defense.

We Are Not Worthy

Xavier Worth
Jay Biggerstaff-Imagn Images

It's a bummer that Keon Coleman won't be available for the Bills on Sunday due to a wrist injury he suffered in the win over the Miami Dolphins a couple of weeks ago. Even without his presence in the game, the Bills trading the pick Kansas City used to select wide receiver Xavier Worthy in the first round of the 2024 NFL Draft and the Bills moving back to take Coleman will be discussed. If Worthy has a good game, you'll hear about it. If he doesn't, you'll hear about it.

Related: WATCH: Bills LB Matt Milano takes first practice reps after offseason injury

Tough Stretch

Josh Alle
Marc Lebryk-Imagn Images

If you've followed along to my storylines this season, you've seen me talk ad nauseam about the Bills' opportunities to take advantage of a weak middle part of their schedule. That's exactly what they did, going from 3-2 to 8-2 with their five-game winning streak. That's over now. The Bills start a rough five weeks where they host the Chiefs, benefit from a bye week, host the 49ers, visit the Rams, and visit the Lions. Then things lighten up again, finishing with the Patriots, Jets, and Patriots again.

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Greg Vorse
GREG VORSE

Greg Vorse joined SI to cover the Bills in July of 2024. Greg has spent two decades covering Buffalo football, first as a sports reporter for WJET (ABC) in Erie, Pennsylvania, from 2004 to 2007, then, starting in the summer of 2007, for Time Warner/Spectrum News. He was an award-winning broadcaster during his time on television for stories on the high school, college, and professional ranks. Greg has also covered the Cleveland Browns and Pittsburgh Steelers during his broadcasting and journalism careers. Aside from a love of athletic competition, Greg, his wife, and their two children enjoy vacationing and changing the stereotypes of pit bull terriers.