Buffalo takes on Kansas City on Sunday, Nov. 2 at 4:25 p.m. ET in another highly-anticipated midseason showdown. The Bills are coming off a win on the road in Carolina and are ready to take on the Chiefs at home at Highmark Stadium.
In the 2024 regular season, Buffalo beat Kansas City 30-21 at home, but eventually fell to the Chiefs in the AFC Championship Game, 32-29. That was the seventh time the teams met in the playoffs. The Bills lead the series 30-26-1 all-time.
"It's two good coaching staffs going against each other and two good teams," head coach Sean McDermott said on Wednesday.
Injury updates from first practice of Week 9
McDermott announced on Wednesday that linebackers Terrel Bernard and Matt Milano practiced in full. It was also wide receiver Gabe Davis' first practice since joining the practice squad.
Defensive end Joey Bosa, linebacker Shaq Thompson and defensive tackle Jordan Phillips were on veteran rest days and were on an individual only practice basis.
Defensive lineman DaQuan Jones, wide receiver Josh Palmer, and running back Ray Davis (illness) did not practice on Wednesday, according to McDermott.
'You feel like it's a division game almost'
This will be the 57th time the Bills and Chiefs meet in series history. From 2020 on, the two have played each other in the regular season with Buffalo taking a win in four of five of those games. McDermott, the coordinators and the players said it feels as if it's a divisional rivalry given how often the two meet.
"We've gone up against each other a number of times now and there's been great battles and I think that's one of the reasons you do this is the competition," McDermott said. "You look forward to the competition, and no different this week. We know what's in front of us. We know the challenge that's in front of us."
In the regular season, quarterback Josh Allen is 4-1 against quarterback Patrick Mahomes. Allen and Mahomes are top five in 2025 in total touchdowns so far with 17 and 21, respectively.
"[Mahomes is] an incredible player, he's had a huge impact on this league, and you see kids wearing [his] jerseys, you see kids wearing [Allen's] jersey," McDermott said. "When you grow up watching players like [Allen and Mahomes], they impact their communities, and they impact the world, really, because of who they are and how they do things. So, certainly a ton of respect for [Mahomes]."
While in past regular season battles, the scores fell in favor of the Bills, the playoffs are a different story.
The Chiefs beat Buffalo in all four contests when Allen started in either the AFC Divisional Playoff Game or AFC Championship Game. McDermott looks at these results through a different perspective. He said having those experiences and adversity helps him and his team grow.
"It's a performance-driven business, results-driven business," McDermott said. "The older you get, the more life experiences you go through. So, being able to impart some wisdom on them, I think, helps give them perspective … Things happen where you think at the time, 'Oh, my gosh, what's going on?' And yet it turns out to be actually good for you."
With this mindset, McDermott and the Bills anticipate Sunday's matchup and look forward to meeting their familiar foe again.
Buffalo gets back in the win column
Right when the Bills need it most, they dominated against Carolina in Week 8. After falling to New England and Atlanta, Buffalo resurged after its bye week just in time to swing momentum on its side before facing Kansas City.
Running back James Cook had a record-setting performance against the Panther en route to the AFC Offensive Player of the Week award. He had 216 rushing yards and two rushing touchdowns on 19 carries. Thanks to his performance, Buffalo's rushing offense ranks first in the NFL in average yards per game on the ground and second in average yards per rush. After the game, Cook said he felt like he barely got hit and was ready to go again.
"[Cook], he loves ball," McDermott said. "It's a tremendous honor to do that once but to do it multiple times. And to have a performance like he did last week, he was locked and loaded."
Despite the pass game not being utilized as much due to the success of the run game, offensive coordinator Joe Brady said on Monday that if the Panthers clogged up the run in the second half, he was confident that Allen was ready to go with his receivers. The quarterback had three touchdowns on Sunday, including one on a connection with wide receiver Khalil Shakir on the first drive of the second half for a 54-yard score.
"I'm very confident. I'm very confident in the players that we've got. I'm very confident in myself," Allen said on Wednesday. "We [have] an opportunity this week against a team that's been the best team in the league for a really long time. They're playing really good football right now. So, we've got to put our best foot forward, have a good week of practice, and go out there and execute on Sunday."
Bills defense piecing together
With guys returning from injury and younger players logging more reps, Buffalo's defense is slowly shaping back up. At exactly the right time, there's a lot more fire powering the defense.
Seven Bills were credited with a sack against Carolina. Alongside defensive end Joey Bosa who Pro Football Focus graded the fourth best pass rusher heading into Week 9, defensive end Michael Hoecht gave an immediate spark to the defense in his first game back.
Hoecht had three tackles, 1.5 tackles, and one tackle for loss on Sunday, but his "Tasmanian devil" energy, as defensive tackle Jordan Phillips described him on Wednesday, uplifted the defense entirely. Hoecht said that regardless of who gets the sack or tackle, everyone gets celebrated on every impactful play.
"No job is too small, no job is too big. It's easy to say, 'Hey, you know, look at the things he can do,' but look at the things that he also embraces in terms of doing things for the team," McDermott said. "That's a lost art, it seems like. I don't want to say totally lost, but it's getting harder and harder to find guys that are willing to do the little things, and he embraces those tasks."
Cornerback Maxwell Hairston and safety Jordan Hancock got in-game experience as well against the Panthers, something McDermott said is always helpful. While important to have that experience before a big matchup, Bernard said he emphasizes to the younger players not to make one game or opponent bigger or smaller than it is.
Scroll to see the best photos as the Buffalo Bills prepare for Week 9 of the NFL season at the Buffalo Bills Training Center. This gallery is presented by ECMC.
Josh Allen (17). Buffalo Bills Week 9 Practice, October 29, 2025 at the Buffalo Bills Training Center.
Gabe Davis (13). Buffalo Bills Week 9 Practice, October 29, 2025 at the Buffalo Bills Training Center.
James Cook (4). Buffalo Bills Week 9 Practice, October 29, 2025 at the Buffalo Bills Training Center.
Alec Anderson (70). Buffalo Bills Week 9 Practice, October 29, 2025 at the Buffalo Bills Training Center.
Mitchell Trubisky (11). Buffalo Bills Week 9 Practice, October 29, 2025 at the Buffalo Bills Training Center.
Josh Allen (17). Buffalo Bills Week 9 Practice, October 29, 2025 at the Buffalo Bills Training Center.
Gabe Davis (13). Buffalo Bills Week 9 Practice, October 29, 2025 at the Buffalo Bills Training Center.
Keon Coleman (0). Buffalo Bills Week 9 Practice, October 29, 2025 at the Buffalo Bills Training Center.
Josh Allen (17). Buffalo Bills Week 9 Practice, October 29, 2025 at the Buffalo Bills Training Center.
Josh Allen (17). Buffalo Bills Week 9 Practice, October 29, 2025 at the Buffalo Bills Training Center.
Joey Bosa (97). Buffalo Bills Week 9 Practice, October 29, 2025 at the Buffalo Bills Training Center.
Spencer Brown (79). Buffalo Bills Week 9 Practice, October 29, 2025 at the Buffalo Bills Training Center.
Joey Bosa (97). Buffalo Bills Week 9 Practice, October 29, 2025 at the Buffalo Bills Training Center.
Spencer Brown (79). Buffalo Bills Week 9 Practice, October 29, 2025 at the Buffalo Bills Training Center.
Gabe Davis (13). Buffalo Bills Week 9 Practice, October 29, 2025 at the Buffalo Bills Training Center.
David Edwards (76), Mitchell Trubisky (11), Gabe Davis (13). Buffalo Bills Week 9 Practice, October 29, 2025 at the Buffalo Bills Training Center.
Alec Anderson (70). Buffalo Bills Week 9 Practice, October 29, 2025 at the Buffalo Bills Training Center.
Elijah Moore (18). Buffalo Bills Week 9 Practice, October 29, 2025 at the Buffalo Bills Training Center.
Gabe Davis (13). Buffalo Bills Week 9 Practice, October 29, 2025 at the Buffalo Bills Training Center.
Gabe Davis (13). Buffalo Bills Week 9 Practice, October 29, 2025 at the Buffalo Bills Training Center.
Gabe Davis (13), Adam Henry. Buffalo Bills Week 9 Practice, October 29, 2025 at the Buffalo Bills Training Center.
Tommy Akingbesote (71). Buffalo Bills Week 9 Practice, October 29, 2025 at the Buffalo Bills Training Center.
Larry Ogunjobi (99). Buffalo Bills Week 9 Practice, October 29, 2025 at the Buffalo Bills Training Center.
Larry Ogunjobi (99). Buffalo Bills Week 9 Practice, October 29, 2025 at the Buffalo Bills Training Center.
Jordan Phillips (52). Buffalo Bills Week 9 Practice, October 29, 2025 at the Buffalo Bills Training Center.
Joey Bosa (97). Buffalo Bills Week 9 Practice, October 29, 2025 at the Buffalo Bills Training Center.
Joey Bosa (97). Buffalo Bills Week 9 Practice, October 29, 2025 at the Buffalo Bills Training Center.
Tommy Akingbesote (71). Buffalo Bills Week 9 Practice, October 29, 2025 at the Buffalo Bills Training Center.
Sean McDermott. Buffalo Bills Week 9 Practice, October 29, 2025 at the Buffalo Bills Training Center.
Phidarian Mathis (72), Deone Walker (96). Buffalo Bills Week 9 Practice, October 29, 2025 at the Buffalo Bills Training Center.
Phidarian Mathis (72). Buffalo Bills Week 9 Practice, October 29, 2025 at the Buffalo Bills Training Center.
Josh Allen (17). Buffalo Bills Week 9 Practice, October 29, 2025 at the Buffalo Bills Training Center.
Jordan Phillips (52), Tommy Akingbesote (71), Jason Rebrovich. Buffalo Bills Week 9 Practice, October 29, 2025 at the Buffalo Bills Training Center.
Josh Allen (17). Buffalo Bills Week 9 Practice, October 29, 2025 at the Buffalo Bills Training Center.
Dalton Kincaid (86). Buffalo Bills Week 9 Practice, October 29, 2025 at the Buffalo Bills Training Center.
Jackson Hawes (85). Buffalo Bills Week 9 Practice, October 29, 2025 at the Buffalo Bills Training Center.
Jackson Hawes (85). Buffalo Bills Week 9 Practice, October 29, 2025 at the Buffalo Bills Training Center.
Shane Buechele (6). Buffalo Bills Week 9 Practice, October 29, 2025 at the Buffalo Bills Training Center.
Jahmile Addae, Maxwell Hairston (31). Buffalo Bills Week 9 Practice, October 29, 2025 at the Buffalo Bills Training Center.
Baylon Spector (54), Joe Andreessen (44), Jimmy Ciarlo (35), Keonta Jenkins (49). Buffalo Bills Week 9 Practice, October 29, 2025 at the Buffalo Bills Training Center.
Al Holcomb. Buffalo Bills Week 9 Practice, October 29, 2025 at the Buffalo Bills Training Center.
James Cook (4). Buffalo Bills Week 9 Practice, October 29, 2025 at the Buffalo Bills Training Center.
Matt Milano (58). Buffalo Bills Week 9 Practice, October 29, 2025 at the Buffalo Bills Training Center.
Terrel Bernard (8). Buffalo Bills Week 9 Practice, October 29, 2025 at the Buffalo Bills Training Center.
Dorian Williams (42), Matt Milano (58)m Keonta Jenkins (49). Buffalo Bills Week 9 Practice, October 29, 2025 at the Buffalo Bills Training Center.
Josh Allen (17). Buffalo Bills Week 9 Practice, October 29, 2025 at the Buffalo Bills Training Center.
Ty Johnson (26). Buffalo Bills Week 9 Practice, October 29, 2025 at the Buffalo Bills Training Center.
Sean McDermott. Buffalo Bills Week 9 Practice, October 29, 2025 at the Buffalo Bills Training Center.
Chase Lundt (77). Buffalo Bills Week 9 Practice, October 29, 2025 at the Buffalo Bills Training Center.
Ty Johnson (26). Buffalo Bills Week 9 Practice, October 29, 2025 at the Buffalo Bills Training Center.
Keon Coleman (0). Buffalo Bills Week 9 Practice, October 29, 2025 at the Buffalo Bills Training Center.
Keon Coleman (0). Buffalo Bills Week 9 Practice, October 29, 2025 at the Buffalo Bills Training Center.
Gabe Davis (13). Buffalo Bills Week 9 Practice, October 29, 2025 at the Buffalo Bills Training Center.
Gabe Davis (13). Buffalo Bills Week 9 Practice, October 29, 2025 at the Buffalo Bills Training Center.
Mitchell Trubisky (11). Buffalo Bills Week 9 Practice, October 29, 2025 at the Buffalo Bills Training Center.
Jordan Poyer (21). Buffalo Bills Week 9 Practice, October 29, 2025 at the Buffalo Bills Training Center.
Ja'Marcus Ingram (46), Tyrell Shavers (14). Buffalo Bills Week 9 Practice, October 29, 2025 at the Buffalo Bills Training Center.
Christian Benford (47), Keon Coleman (0). Buffalo Bills Week 9 Practice, October 29, 2025 at the Buffalo Bills Training Center.
Tre'Davious White (27), Keon Coleman (0). Buffalo Bills Week 9 Practice, October 29, 2025 at the Buffalo Bills Training Center.
Gabe Davis (13). Buffalo Bills Week 9 Practice, October 29, 2025 at the Buffalo Bills Training Center.
Alec Anderson (70). Buffalo Bills Week 9 Practice, October 29, 2025 at the Buffalo Bills Training Center.
Nick Broeker (63), Tommy Akingbesote (71). Buffalo Bills Week 9 Practice, October 29, 2025 at the Buffalo Bills Training Center.
Phidarian Mathis (72), Sedrick Van Pran-Granger (62). Buffalo Bills Week 9 Practice, October 29, 2025 at the Buffalo Bills Training Center.
Ryan Van Demark (74). Buffalo Bills Week 9 Practice, October 29, 2025 at the Buffalo Bills Training Center.
Chase Lundt (77). Buffalo Bills Week 9 Practice, October 29, 2025 at the Buffalo Bills Training Center.
Chase Lundt (77). Buffalo Bills Week 9 Practice, October 29, 2025 at the Buffalo Bills Training Center.
Chase Lundt (77). Buffalo Bills Week 9 Practice, October 29, 2025 at the Buffalo Bills Training Center.
Josh Allen (17). Buffalo Bills Week 9 Practice, October 29, 2025 at the Buffalo Bills Training Center.
Keon Coleman (0). Buffalo Bills Week 9 Practice, October 29, 2025 at the Buffalo Bills Training Center.
Josh Allen (17). Buffalo Bills Week 9 Practice, October 29, 2025 at the Buffalo Bills Training Center.
Dalton Kincaid (86), Keleki Latu (83). Buffalo Bills Week 9 Practice, October 29, 2025 at the Buffalo Bills Training Center.
Tyrell Shavers (14). Buffalo Bills Week 9 Practice, October 29, 2025 at the Buffalo Bills Training Center.
Khalil Shakir (10). Buffalo Bills Week 9 Practice, October 29, 2025 at the Buffalo Bills Training Center.
James Cook (4). Buffalo Bills Week 9 Practice, October 29, 2025 at the Buffalo Bills Training Center.
Jordan Poyer (21). Buffalo Bills Week 9 Practice, October 29, 2025 at the Buffalo Bills Training Center.
Michael Hoecht (55). Buffalo Bills Week 9 Practice, October 29, 2025 at the Buffalo Bills Training Center.
James Cook (4). Buffalo Bills Week 9 Practice, October 29, 2025 at the Buffalo Bills Training Center.
James Cook (4). Buffalo Bills Week 9 Practice, October 29, 2025 at the Buffalo Bills Training Center.
James Cook (4). Buffalo Bills Week 9 Practice, October 29, 2025 at the Buffalo Bills Training Center.
James Cook (4). Buffalo Bills Week 9 Practice, October 29, 2025 at the Buffalo Bills Training Center.
Ty Johnson (26). Buffalo Bills Week 9 Practice, October 29, 2025 at the Buffalo Bills Training Center.
Josh Allen (17). Buffalo Bills Week 9 Practice, October 29, 2025 at the Buffalo Bills Training Center.
Jordan Poyer (21). Buffalo Bills Week 9 Practice, October 29, 2025 at the Buffalo Bills Training Center.
Elijah Moore (18). Buffalo Bills Week 9 Practice, October 29, 2025 at the Buffalo Bills Training Center.
Ty Johnson (26). Buffalo Bills Week 9 Practice, October 29, 2025 at the Buffalo Bills Training Center.
Sean McDermott. Buffalo Bills Week 9 Practice, October 29, 2025 at the Buffalo Bills Training Center.
Mitchell Trubisky (11). Buffalo Bills Week 9 Practice, October 29, 2025 at the Buffalo Bills Training Center.
Tyrell Shavers (14). Buffalo Bills Week 9 Practice, October 29, 2025 at the Buffalo Bills Training Center.
Tyrell Shavers (14). Buffalo Bills Week 9 Practice, October 29, 2025 at the Buffalo Bills Training Center.
James Cook (4). Buffalo Bills Week 9 Practice, October 29, 2025 at the Buffalo Bills Training Center.
Reggie Gilliam (41), Maxwell Hairston (31). Buffalo Bills Week 9 Practice, October 29, 2025 at the Buffalo Bills Training Center.
Jackson Hawes (85). Buffalo Bills Week 9 Practice, October 29, 2025 at the Buffalo Bills Training Center.
Khalil Shakir (10). Buffalo Bills Week 9 Practice, October 29, 2025 at the Buffalo Bills Training Center.
Dawson Knox (88). Buffalo Bills Week 9 Practice, October 29, 2025 at the Buffalo Bills Training Center.
Sean McDermott. Buffalo Bills Week 9 Practice, October 29, 2025 at the Buffalo Bills Training Center.
Dalton Kincaid (86). Buffalo Bills Week 9 Practice, October 29, 2025 at the Buffalo Bills Training Center.
Dalton Kincaid (86). Buffalo Bills Week 9 Practice, October 29, 2025 at the Buffalo Bills Training Center.
Khalil Shakir (10). Buffalo Bills Week 9 Practice, October 29, 2025 at the Buffalo Bills Training Center.
Sean McDermott. Buffalo Bills Week 9 Practice, October 29, 2025 at the Buffalo Bills Training Center.
Josh Allen (17). Buffalo Bills Week 9 Practice, October 29, 2025 at the Buffalo Bills Training Center.
Elijah Moore (18), Keon Coleman (0). Buffalo Bills Week 9 Practice, October 29, 2025 at the Buffalo Bills Training Center.
Joe Brady. Buffalo Bills Week 9 Practice, October 29, 2025 at the Buffalo Bills Training Center.
Elijah Moore (18), Keon Coleman (0). Buffalo Bills Week 9 Practice, October 29, 2025 at the Buffalo Bills Training Center.
Joe Brady, Milli Wilson, Dion Dawkins (73). Buffalo Bills Week 9 Practice, October 29, 2025 at the Buffalo Bills Training Center.
Joe Brady, Milli Wilson, Dion Dawkins (73). Buffalo Bills Week 9 Practice, October 29, 2025 at the Buffalo Bills Training Center.
Jeff Mazurek, Spencer Haws. Buffalo Bills Week 9 Practice, October 29, 2025 at the Buffalo Bills Training Center.
Sean McDermott. Buffalo Bills Week 9 Practice, October 29, 2025 at the Buffalo Bills Training Center.
Mitchell Trubisky (11). Buffalo Bills Week 9 Practice, October 29, 2025 at the Buffalo Bills Training Center.
Cole Bishop (24). Buffalo Bills Week 9 Practice, October 29, 2025 at the Buffalo Bills Training Center.
Maxwell Hairston (31). Buffalo Bills Week 9 Practice, October 29, 2025 at the Buffalo Bills Training Center.
Shane Buechele (6). Buffalo Bills Week 9 Practice, October 29, 2025 at the Buffalo Bills Training Center.
Connor McGovern (66), David Edwards (76). Buffalo Bills Week 9 Practice, October 29, 2025 at the Buffalo Bills Training Center.
Josh Allen (17). Buffalo Bills Week 9 Practice, October 29, 2025 at the Buffalo Bills Training Center.
Frank Gore Jr (20). Buffalo Bills Week 9 Practice, October 29, 2025 at the Buffalo Bills Training Center.
Maxwell Hairston (31), Gabe Davis (13). Buffalo Bills Week 9 Practice, October 29, 2025 at the Buffalo Bills Training Center.
Sean McDermott. Buffalo Bills Week 9 Practice, October 29, 2025 at the Buffalo Bills Training Center.
Nick Broeker (63). Buffalo Bills Week 9 Practice, October 29, 2025 at the Buffalo Bills Training Center.
Curtis Samuel (1), Khalil Shakir (10). Buffalo Bills Week 9 Practice, October 29, 2025 at the Buffalo Bills Training Center.
Matt Prater (15). Buffalo Bills Week 9 Practice, October 29, 2025 at the Buffalo Bills Training Center.
Travis Clayton (67). Buffalo Bills Week 9 Practice, October 29, 2025 at the Buffalo Bills Training Center.
Larry Ogunjobi (99). Buffalo Bills Week 9 Practice, October 29, 2025 at the Buffalo Bills Training Center.
Buffalo Bills Week 9 Practice, October 29, 2025 at the Buffalo Bills Training Center.
