Here are five key questions from Arrowhead Pride ahead of the Kansas City Chiefs’ Week 11 matchup with the Buffalo Bills:
1. Is This the Deepest Chiefs Roster with Mahomes at QB?
Despite ongoing injury concerns, the Chiefs have remained successful thanks in large part to their improved depth. After struggling to sustain success following their Super Bowl LIV victory, the Chiefs have built a deeper roster over the years, especially through smart drafting and finding experienced players like JuJu Smith-Schuster and Kareem Hunt. This season, the depth on both sides of the ball has allowed the Chiefs to stay competitive, even with injuries. Jared Sapp considers this to be the deepest roster Mahomes has had but cautions that the Chiefs can’t afford another major injury.
2. How Concerned Are You About Losing Harrison Butker?
The loss of kicker Harrison Butker is a big concern for Kansas City. Though his injury wasn’t officially reported, his inconsistent performance—particularly in the red zone—has been a factor in the Chiefs’ struggles. Butker’s importance to the team is clear, and there’s speculation that his knee issue, which hasn’t been fully disclosed, could be affecting his kicking form. The team has relied heavily on his clutch kicks, and his absence could hurt the Chiefs in tight games.
3. What’s Your Assessment of Rookie WR Xavier Worthy?
Xavier Worthy has shown flashes of promise but hasn’t consistently capitalized on those moments. After a strong performance in Week 4, including a key touchdown and clutch reception, Worthy has had some rookie mistakes, especially along the sideline. The missed time during the offseason due to hamstring issues likely hampered his development with Mahomes. Despite not putting up big stats, Worthy’s role in opening up space for the run game and for Travis Kelce has been important. The Chiefs seem to care more about his impact on the offense as a whole rather than his individual numbers.
4. What’s Been the Chiefs’ Kryptonite This Season?
The Chiefs have some weaknesses that need to be addressed, particularly at cornerback and left tackle. The injury to Jaylen Watson has exposed a vulnerability at the second cornerback spot, and opponents—especially quarterbacks like Josh Allen—are likely to target that area. Additionally, the Chiefs’ left tackle position has been a revolving door, with rookie Kingsley Suamataia struggling and Wanya Morris dealing with injury issues. Mahomes’ lack of trust in his blindside blocking has led to him leaving the pocket early or rushing throws, which could be problematic against stronger defenses.
5. Does KC’s Undefeated Record Surprise You, and Is This a Must-Win Game?
While the Chiefs’ perfect record through the first nine games has been impressive, it hasn’t come without its challenges. Jared Sapp admits that he thought the Chiefs would have at least one or two losses by now, given the tough schedule. However, the 9-0 start is a surprise considering the adversity the team has faced. As for the Week 11 matchup with Buffalo, while it’s important, it’s not necessarily a “must-win” for Kansas City. The Chiefs would still maintain a game lead for the No. 1 seed in the AFC even with a loss. Sapp notes that, like last season, it’s easy to overreact to a single game, especially when you’ve already proven you can bounce back from adversity.
These questions offer insight into the Chiefs’ current challenges and strengths heading into this key matchup with the Buffalo Bills.
