The Kansas City Chiefs are playing their first away playoff game in a long time, and things are already getting heated during pregame warmups.
All week, the storyline surrounded Patrick Mahomes playing on the road for the first time in the postseason during his career.
According to USA Today, Andy Reid and Mahomes downplayed playing against the Buffalo Bills in the home stadium. It could also be the last game for defensive star Chris Jones.
Although head coach Andy Reid said Patrick Mahomes doesn’t “listen to much of that stuff,” Mahomes said he’s heard the noise heading into Sunday, according to USA Today.
“It is what it is,” Mahomes said matter-of-factly on Wednesday. “Obviously I’ve been really lucky to play a lot of games at home at Arrowhead Stadium. It’s just everything has fell that way.”
The Kansas City Chiefs are underdogs on the road Sunday, but don’t count them out. Mahomes said he’s “excited” to play in Buffalo, which he described as “one of the best environments in football.” The two-time Super Bowl champion and two-time NFL MVP said it will be business as usual, no matter the location.
“I go out every game with the same mindset and that’s to go out there and win,” Mahomes said. “It’s going to be a hostile environment and we’re playing a great football team that’s won (six) games in a row. We know it’s going to be a great challenge for us but our mindset is we’re going to prepare ourselves this week to go out there to win the football game, and that never changes.”
Kansas City Chiefs Star Chris Jones Has Pre-Game Confrontation With Buffalo Bills Fans
Buffalo Bills fans are considered some of the most raucous and intense in the NFL and will do their best to create a hostile environment for the visiting Chiefs.
During pre-game warmups, Kansas City defensive star Chris Jones got into an intense confrontation with Buffalo Bills fans, setting the tone for an intense showdown.
DAMN… #Chiefs star Chris Jones and #BillsMafia ARE GOING AFTER EACH OTHER
“Y’ALL SUCK”
😳😳😳
(Via NFL Network)
pic.twitter.com/AjQX5nmljB— MLFootball (@_MLFootball) January 21, 2024
It looks like Jones says “Y’all Suck” as Bills Mafia attempts to rattle the Chiefs during pre-game warmups.
Jones is heading into a crucial game, as it could be his last with Kansas City.
Jones is a main part of the pass rush, entering Sunday’s matchup with 30 tackles and 10.5 sacks. The elite defensive tackle has spent his entire career in Kansas CIty, since getting drafted out of Mississippi State in 2016 in the second round.
Chris Jones has been the face of the Chiefs defense for a long time and has produced nearly every season he’s been with the organization. This marks the third year in his career he surpasses the 10-sack mark, and he had an eye-popping 15.5 sacks last season and in 2018. The Kansas City Chiefs big man hasn’t recorded less than 6.5 sacks in any season other than his rookie campaign in 2016, where he finished the year with 2.5.
Jones is widely considered to be one of the top defensive tackles in the league —and with his current contract expiring after the 2023 season — his future remains uncertain.
“We’re trying to make a deep run in these playoffs,” Jones said. “If it is my last game, we’ve got to make it worthwhile.”
