Who will the Bills play in the AFC championship game? Buffalo advances with win
The Buffalo Bills entered the 2024 NFL season without their top receiver from last year (Stefon Diggs, who was traded to Houston) or top linebacker Matt Milano. Still, the Bills were one of the best teams in the NFL in the regular season led by one of the league's best offenses.
Quarterback Josh Allen was an MVP contender this season by producing well and reducing mistakes. He had career-lows in interceptions (six) and sacks (14) as the offense rounded into form on the ground. Running back James Cook tied for the league lead with 16 rushing touchdowns and a mid-season trade for wide receiver Amari Cooper boosted the pass-catching corps.
On defense, Milano returned late in the season but the unit finished 11th in points allowed and forced the third-most turnovers in the league. The defense stepped up to stifle the Denver Broncos' improved offense in a 31-7 win in the wild card round for Buffalo to reach the divisional round for the fifth consecutive year.
With their 27-25 win in the divisional round, here's what's next for the Bills.
Who will Bills play in the AFC championship game?
With their Sunday night win to close the divisional round, the Bills will head on the road for the conference championship game to take on the No. 1 seed Kansas City Chiefs. The Chiefs earned a first-round bye thanks to a 15-2 regular season and a 23-14 win over the visiting Houston Texans in the opening game of the divisional round.
This is the fourth time in the last five years that the Bills and Chiefs are matching up in the playoffs but just the second time that it's the conference championship game. Kansas City won the previous three playoff matchups in this stretch but Buffalo has won all of the regular season matchups since that first playoff contest. Most recently a 30-21 win in Buffalo in Week 11.
NFL playoff bracket
NFC playoff bracket
Divisional round
- No. 6 Washington Commanders 45, No. 1 Detroit Lions 31
- No. 2 Philadelphia Eagles 28, No. 4 Los Angeles Rams 22
Conference championship
- No. 2 Philadelphia Eagles vs. No. 6 Washington Commanders
AFC playoff bracket
Divisional round
- No. 1 Kansas City Chiefs 23, No. 4 Houston Texans 14
- No. 2 Buffalo Bills 27, No. 3 Baltimore Ravens 25
Conference championship
- No. 1 Kansas City Chiefs vs. No. 2 Buffalo Bills
NFL playoff schedule
- Divisional round: Jan. 18-19
- Conference championship: Jan. 26
- Super Bowl: Feb. 9