Bills Defense Has A Tough Choice: Whom Should We Stop?

With the 20th ranked rushing defense in the NFL, the Buffalo Bills have to figure out "whom to stop" in this weekend's AFC Championship Game against Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs.

Lamar Jackson's playoff woes bailed out that Buffalo defense last weekend, but how will the Bills respond to the most dynamic offense in the game? If Buffalo wants any chance, they'll need to take something away from Kansas City.

Mahomes looks to be running around like his usual self, and according to Fox reporter Harold Kuntz, dynamic rookie running back Clyde Edwards-Helaire looks to be ready to play as well.

The last thing the Bills need is Patrick Mahomes hitting Travis Kelce in stride while the running game keeps the sticks moving. The only way Buffalo can keep their defense off the field is to make the Chiefs one-dimensional.

Mahomes isn't likely to make mistakes. He threw just six interceptions in 2020, but those picks came predominantly in third-and-long scenarios. The Bills either force that to happen this Sunday, or they're dead in the water.

Patrick Mahomes' underrated skill

One ability in Mahomes' bag is that he runs a 4.6 40-yard-dash and still manages to routinely scramble to the sticks. Luckily for the Bills, Lamar Jackson served as a perfect appetizer to prepare the defense for a mission to contain the quarterback.

We also shouldn't forget that Bills star quarterback Josh Allen is equally important to stopping Andy Reid's jigsaw of an offense. If he fails to move the ball early, then the defense won't have much of a chance. If the offense stinks, it won't matter if the Bills field the '85 Bears or Seattle's Legion of Boom on defense. They will only hold out for so long.

We can't wait to see the type of adjustments Bills' DC Leslie Frazier makes to force Mahomes into some mistakes. He has to find a way to keep Mahomes in the pocket, while also keeping the lid on the passing game.

Good luck.