The most compelling quarterback rivalry we've seen since the days of Tom Brady vs. Peyton Manning is set to write a new chapter on Sunday afternoon, as Patrick Mahomes and the 5-3 Chiefs will head to Buffalo in Week 9 to take on Josh Allen and the 5-2 Bills.
Since their first meeting in 2020, the two perennial All-Pros have traded blows five times during the regular season and four times during the postseason—making Sunday's contest from Highmark Stadium the 10th time the two sub-30-year-old signal callers will face one another.
"To be that size and to be able to move like that, he's done so many great things as far as throwing the football," Mahomes said of his rival Allen on Wednesday. " … The way he's able to extend plays and be close to the sideline and make these big-time throws down the field, that stuff is special. He's gotten better and better each and every year. I think that's something that I've seen in him and something I try to do for myself as well. He's a great football player."
"Anytime you're playing against a good team and a good quarterback, you have to play at the top of your game in order to win a football game," Allen said when asked this week about having another opportunity to go against Mahomes. "Not that you don't go out there and try to play your best all the time, [but] there is a heightened sense of awareness to that of understanding who's on the other side of the football. But yeah, you wanna go out there and our goal is to try to score on every drive and that's what we try to do."
Prior to kickoff, took a look at how Mahomes and Allen stacked up against each other statistically, along with a game-by-game breakdown of their matchups thus far:
Josh Allen vs. Patrick Mahomes: Head-to-Head Stats
The Bills have undoubtedly had the upper hand over the Chiefs during their five aforementioned regular-season contests with Allen and Mahomes at the helm. After Kansas City took care of business in their first matchup back in October of 2020, Buffalo has gone an impressive 4-0 since.
Additionally, Allen has gotten the better of Mahomes statistically across these five regular-season meetings. He's 4-1 overall, has matched Mahomes in passing touchdowns while throwing four fewer interceptions, and owns a higher passer rating. Additionally, Allen has outpaced Mahomes on the ground, totaling more rushing yards and three rushing touchdowns to Mahomes' zero. Here's a side-by-side look:
Record
4-1
1-4
Passing Yards
1,261
1,302
Touchdowns
10
10
Interceptions
3
7
Completion Percentage
60.6%
64.8%
Passer Rating
94.5
85.9
Rushing Yards
220
126
Rushing Touchdowns
3
0
Playoffs
When the playoffs come around, however, Mahomes and the Chiefs turn into a different beast. Over their four postseason contests, Kansas City is an undeniable 4-0—two of which came in the AFC Championship Game—while outscoring Buffalo 139–113.
Statistically, it's also all Mahomes. While he and Allen have each thrown nine touchdown passes in their playoff matchups, Mahomes has yet to throw a postseason interception against the Bills, He also has more passing yards, a higher completion percentage, and a better passer rating. On the ground, Mahomes has found the end zone three times while Allen has yet to do so against the Chiefs’ defense.
Here's a side-by-side look:
Record
0-4
4-0
Passing Yards
1,039
1,163
Touchdowns
9
9
Interceptions
1
0
Completion Percentage
65.2%
74%
Passer Rating
100.2
123.7
Rushing Yards
267
136
Rushing Touchdowns
2
3
Josh Allen vs. Patrick Mahomes Timeline: Head-to-Head Game Log
With Sunday afternoon's contest marking the 10th such matchup between two of the league's best in Mahomes and Allen, here's a look back at their nine previous duels, dating back to 2020.
Oct. 19, 2020: The rivalry begins with a Chiefs victory in Buffalo
In the first of what would ultimately set up to be 10-plus meetings between the two—and hopefully the only one without fans in attendance—the 4-1 Chiefs traveled to Buffalo amid the COVID-19 pandemic to take on the also-4-1 Bills.
2020 marked both Mahomes and Allen's third season as their team's respective starters, with the former coming away victorious in Round 1. Behind a 21-for-26, 225-yard, two-touchdown performance from No. 15, the Chiefs beat the Bills 26-17 and improved to 5-1 on the season.
As for Allen's stat line? He went 14-for-26 passing for 112 yards, two touchdowns, and an interception.
