NFL Preview - Buffalo (5-5) at Kansas City (1-9)
By Tony Moss, Sports Network
The Sports Network
A hint of desperation will be in the air at Arrowhead Stadium, as the Kansas City Chiefs and Buffalo Bills - two teams in dire need of a victory - will slug it out in a quest for a long-overdue trip to the left column of the standings.
The homestanding Chiefs (1-9) enter Week 12 with the second-worst record in the NFL behind only the winless Detroit Lions, are in the midst of a six-game losing streak, and have gone 1-19 in their past 20 contests dating back to last season - the worst stretch in team history.
Herm Edwards' club has been close to lifting their embargo on winning football over the past month, losing their past four games by a modest total of 18 points. Last Sunday saw the Chiefs get an opportunity to win the game in the fourth quarter, as they trailed the Saints just 27-20 for much of the final frame, but were held off the scoreboard over the final 13:54 and fell, 30-20.
Kansas City's only win of the season came back on Oct. 5, a 33-19 triumph over the first-place Broncos, and the Chiefs have yet to win in five starts with promising second-year quarterback Tyler Thigpen at the helm of the offense.
Thigpen has eight touchdown passes versus just one interception during the club's four-week run of close games, but has yet to engineer his initial victory as an NFL starter.
His counterpart this Sunday, Buffalo's Trent Edwards, has been on a similar losing streak over the past month, but hasn't looked nearly as good as Thigpen while compiling it.
After serving as one of the league's most efficient signal-callers during the Bills' surprising 5-1 start, Edwards has seemingly lost the plot during the team's current four-game skid.
The second-year-pro out of Stanford has thrown three touchdown passes versus eight interceptions in the three losses, including a trio of first-quarter interceptions that put Dick Jauron's team behind the eight-ball in this past Monday's eventual 29-27 loss to the Cleveland Browns.
Edwards did not throw a pick over the final three quarters, but was also rarely permitted to throw the ball downfield following the disastrous first frame. Just four of Edwards' 16 completions on the night went to wide receivers, including zero to No. 1 wideout Lee Evans.
The defeat gave the Bills their first four-game losing streak since 2005, and also dropped the team into last place in the AFC East behind the Jets (7-3), Dolphins (6-4), and Patriots (6-4).
SERIES HISTORY
Buffalo holds a 19-16-1 edge in its all-time regular season series with Kansas City, including a 14-3 home victory when the teams last met, in 2005. The Chiefs won the previous two meetings, both in Kansas City, in 2002 and 2003. Buffalo last won at Arrowhead Stadium in 2000.
In addition to their regular season edge, the Bills hold a 2-1 advantage in postseason games against the Chiefs. Buffalo was a 30-13 home winner in the 1993 AFC Championship; won by a 37-14 margin at home in a 1991 AFC Divisional Playoff; and was a 31-7 home loser in the 1966 AFL Championship.
Edwards was 6-4 against the Bills while serving as head coach of the Jets from 2001 through 2005, including 4-1 in home games. The Bills' Jauron was 1-1 against the Chiefs while serving as head coach with the Bears (1999-2003), and is 1-0 head-to-head against Edwards in his career.
WHEN THE BILLS HAVE THE BALL
Though Edwards' regression has been troubling, the Bills were able to take an offensive bright spot away from Monday night's loss. Running back Marshawn Lynch (631 rushing yards, 37 receptions, 7 TD) had his strongest outing of the year in the setback, carrying 23 times for 119 yards in his first triple-digit outing of 2008, while also hauling in a game-high 10 receptions and 58 yards, including a nice-looking 18-yard catch-and-run for a touchdown in the second quarter. Third-down back Fred Jackson (297 rushing yards, 1 TD, 23 receptions) also offered a spark with 12 rushes totaling 60 yards, but also lost a fumble in the game. Still, although Buffalo will try to establish the run, all eyes will be on Edwards (1993 passing yards, 8 TD, 10 INT) as he attempts to recapture his previous mojo. Evans (37 receptions, 3 TD) and Roscoe Parrish (18 receptions, 1 TD) will have to pose as downfield threats after combining for just one catch against Cleveland, and rookie Steve Johnson (6 receptions) will try to build on a performance that saw him catch three passes for 41 yards on Monday. Tight end Robert Royal (26 receptions, 1 TD) has also been a credible middle-of-the-field target for Edwards this year, and has been part of a group that has allowed 25 sacks on the year, but did not give one up on Monday night.
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