Josh Allen and Patrick Mahomes have defined the AFC over the last half-decade. The story has roughly been the same as Mahomes and Allen have dueled multiple times in the playoffs following impressive regular seasons. Mahomes has swept Allen when it mattered most.
Had Mahomes not been around for one reason or another, Allen might have been the one to sweep through the AFC and hold the conference hostage. At least, that is what NFL analyst Mike Florio claimed on Wednesday’s edition of “Pro Football Talk.”
“The bottom line. though. for the Bills and I feel bad for them,” Florio said. “There’s going to be a stream of also-rans of people who, at any other time in football history would have been hoisting Lombardis, would have been a dynasty, maybe, but sorry, the Chiefs are slamming the door in your face.” [00:00:37][37.8] PFT
According to Stathead, Patrick Mahomes has come up short against Josh Allen in every regular-season matchup, except one. Allen, meanwhile, has come up short against Patrick Mahomes three times when it mattered most. Mahomes has always had the final laugh in a loser-goes-home scenario.
Josh Allen and Patrick Mahomes enter competing wide receiver rebuilds
Josh Allen and Patrick Mahomes both essentially entered the league in 2018. Mahomes had sat for most of his 2017 rookie season and Allen was selected in the 2018 NFL Draft. Now, more than five years later, both teams are working on a rebuild at wide receiver.
Tyreek Hill was traded following the 2021 season, and the organization has yet to find a viable successor. Travis Kelce has made huge contributions, but 2023’s production demonstrated that the mid-30s tight end cannot bear the strain on his back indefinitely.The team has tried out a run on free-agent wide receivers and rookies like Rashee Rice. However, they felt the need to return to the wide receiver well with first-round pick Xavier Worthy in April.
Meanwhile, the Bills also moved on from their star wide receiver, Stefon Diggs. Currently, the team has a mix of journeymen and one key rookie first-round prospect. Keon Coleman, who was picked 33rd overall, will compete for an opportunity to take over for Stefon Diggs.Both the Kansas City Chiefs and Buffalo Bills have seen a massive turnover at wide receiver in recent years. With both quarterbacks entering the final part of their 20s, the question remains whether the Bills or Chiefs can reload faster.
