The Bills will have try and take down the Chiefs without one of their top weapons.
Head coach Sean McDermott ruled out receiver Gabe Davis with a knee injury on Friday, ahead of Buffalo’s divisional-round showdown with Kansas City on Sunday.
Davis famously torched the Chiefs for 201 yards and four touchdowns in their 2021 divisional round game, a 42-36 win for Kansas City.
He’s posted 45 catches for 746 yards on the season, tying his career best with seven touchdowns over 17 games, but was unable to practice all week after missing the wild-card round win over the Steelers.
Davis’ absence likely means bigger roles for Khalil Shakir and Trent Sherfield.
The Bills will also be missing cornerback Christian Benford (knee), linebacker Baylon Spector (back), and safety Taylor Rapp (calf) in addition to Davis.
McDermott indicated linebacker Terrel Bernard (ankle), cornerback Taron Johnson (concussion), cornerback Rasul Douglas (knee), and linebacker Tyrel Dodson (shoulder) will be game-time decisions.
Sunday’s game represents a chance for the Bills to finally get one over on Patrick Mahomes in the playoffs, as he’s taken their first two matchup, including the 2021 AFC title game.
It will also be the first time Mahomes will experience Highmark Stadium filled with a crowd, after his last trip to Orchard Park came during the Covid-impacted 2020 season without spectators allowed in the stands.
“The number of times we’ve been there, its think been six our of the last seven games, their crowd definitely makes a difference,” McDermott said on WGR’s “The Extra Point” on Friday morning. “I know our crowd, what they’ve done, what they’ve established in our house. And this is our chance to show the NFL community what Bills Mafia is all about.”
Consider Mahomes ready.
“I’m extremely excited, honestly,” the star quarterback said in his weekly appearance on “The Drive” on Wednesday. “I know it’s going to be a hostile environment, they have a great fanbase and it’ll be packed. I’ve watched on TV, but now I get to really experience that fanbase in person at the stadium in Buffalo.
“I’ve been a fan of the game, I think more than anything I like getting to go to different stadiums and experience that type of stuff and see what the things I watched growing up and those great games, see what it’s like and get to play in those environments.”