Shortly after the Kansas City Chiefs defeated the Commanders 28-7 on Monday night, Linebacker Nick Bolton stated he would shift focus to their next game in about 20 minutes.

This week, the Chiefs (5-3) will face the Buffalo Bills (5-2) at Highmark Stadium in a pivotal matchup. Despite both teams having somewhat tumultuous seasons, this game poses substantial implications for the playoff picture.

The Chiefs, having won three consecutive conference titles, are favored to win the AFC at +240, while the Bills trail as second at +390, according to DraftKings.

The outcome of this matchup will dramatically affect the AFC playoff race. Per the SportsLine Projection Model, Buffalo currently holds a 22.1% chance of securing the top seed, while Kansas City stands at 12.4%.

Key Chances Entering Week 9

Seed	Bills	Chiefs
1	22.1%	12.4%
2	23.5%	12.0%
3	15.0%	9.9%
4	1.7%	0.7%
5	13.3%	16.5%
6	11.6%	18.4%
7	7.5%	15.0%

If Buffalo emerges victorious, its chances for the top seed will soar to 30.7%. Conversely, if Kansas City wins, their prospects will leap to 24.1%.

Projected Chances if Bills Win

Seed	Bills	Chiefs
1	30.7%	3.2%
2	27.6%	9.4%
3	10.7%	12.1%
4	1.1%	1.0%
5	15.3%	12.7%
6	8.6%	20.7%
7	3.7%	19.2%

The loser will face an uphill battle to secure a high playoff seed.

Kansas City has shown improved performance, with 415.8 yards of total offense per game since Week 4, leading in passing yards (278.2). Patrick Mahomes is averaging 286.0 passing yards per game with a 14-to-3 touchdown-to-interception ratio, indicating the Chiefs’ form.

Chiefs Betting Perspective: Kansas City is favored by 1.5 points against Buffalo.

Meanwhile, Buffalo seeks redemption after dominating the Panthers 40-9, aiming to defeat a team with a winning record for the first time this season.

“We have a ton of respect for [the Chiefs],” said coach Sean McDermott, acknowledging their consistent success and high level of play.