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The Kansas City Chiefs' 28-21 loss to the Buffalo Bills, in truth, didn't feel as close as the score suggests -- Andy Reid's team was easily second-best on the night.
And one of the big reasons for that was how the Bills' defensive line consistently penetrated through the Chiefs' offensive line and forced Patrick Mahomes off his spot, closed the pocket, and got after him.
Plus, Buffalo's secondary did a good job in coverage, so Mahomes' weapons weren't often running free downfield.
For ESPN's Nate Taylor, the offensive line was a big problem in Buffalo.
“For the first time this season, Mahomes wasn't given his usual pass protection from his offensive line, and many of the Chiefs' receivers struggled to get open,” Taylor wrote. “But too often, the Chiefs' lack of pass blocking was too much, leading to Mahomes' final pass being a desperation heave that was intercepted by Hairston.”
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Yes, it was a makeshift offensive line, but this was one of the biggest issues entering the season.
Jaylon Moore was signed as a free agent, and Josh Simmons, who continues to be a curious case having not played for a while, was drafted in the first round, so there are a lot of moving parts in front of Mahomes.
Granted, having won four of their past five games before the Bills' loss, the offensive line was doing a decent enough job then, but Buffalo's defensive line of Joey Bosa, Gregory Rousseau, and Michael Hoecht all had their moments in getting to Mahomes and making life hell.
Was the blueprint discovered? Or was it simply a bad day at the office, and Buffalo's game plan was executed to perfection? Either way, at 5-4, the Chiefs can't afford too many more performances like that from their offensive line if it is to make a playoff run.
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