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The Buffalo Bills demonstrated their strength in the AFC with a 28-21 victory over the reigning three-time AFC champion Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday.
However, the win sparked discussions about whether Buffalo can genuinely be considered the conference's top team. Stephen A. Smith, speaking on ESPN's First Take on Monday, challenged the notion that the Bills are definitively the best in the AFC.
Addressing a lively audience, Smith pointed out that while the Bills' defense excelled in limiting Patrick Mahomes to a career-low 44 percent completion rate and recorded three sacks, this single victory does not cement them as the premier team in the AFC.
"If they face them in the playoffs again, do we think that Patrick Mahomes is gonna complete less than 50 percent of his passes? Do we think that he's gonna go three straight incompletions to end the game?" Smith argued. "We know better than that."
Strong competition in AFC
Smith emphasized that other AFC teams, such as the Chiefs, the Denver Broncos, and the Indianapolis Colts, all present formidable competition.
Both Denver and Indianapolis currently hold 7-2 records, putting them on equal footing with Buffalo in the eyes of some analysts.
Smith argued that regular-season performance alone is insufficient to label any team the outright favorite, particularly in a conference as deep and competitive as the AFC.
He also highlighted the potential challenges the Bills could face in the postseason. The New England Patriots currently lead the AFC East at 7-2, one game ahead of Buffalo, suggesting the possibility of a rematch late in the season or during the playoffs.
Smith questioned whether Buffalo could replicate their regular-season defensive success against Mahomes in a high-pressure playoff scenario, noting that elite quarterbacks often perform differently under postseason conditions.
History offers a cautionary perspective for Buffalo. Since 2020, the Bills have faced the Chiefs four times in the playoffs, losing each matchup, including two AFC Championship games.
Smith agreed, adding: "I'm not gonna over-blow this. Best team in the AFC? Hell, nah."
Despite regular-season victories, Buffalo has struggled to overcome Kansas City in postseason contests, demonstrating that consistent playoff success requires more than a single regular-season win.
While the Bills have performed strongly overall, their inability to translate regular-season success into postseason victories highlights a critical challenge.
This contrast between their regular-season potential and postseason record underscores the difficulty of establishing dominance in the AFC.
Even with a high-powered offense and a disciplined defense, the Bills must navigate the unique pressures of playoff football to validate their position among the conference elite.
Smith's perspective serves as a reminder that evaluating a team's strength involves considering more than isolated results.
A tough path to Super Bowl LX
For Buffalo, the path to the Super Bowl remains filled with obstacles, both in terms of facing historically difficult opponents and overcoming the unpredictability of playoff matchups.
Nonetheless, the victory over Kansas City could act as motivation for the Bills as they continue their pursuit of a first Super Bowl title.
Critics like Smith underscore the challenges ahead, but they also provide a benchmark for Buffalo to surpass. If the team can maintain consistency, perform under pressure, and address its postseason shortcomings, it has the potential to solidify its status as a genuine contender in the AFC.
At this stage, Buffalo's trajectory remains promising but not definitive, emphasizing that the conversation around the best team in the conference is far from settled.