Kansas City @ Buffalo preview

Last Meeting ( Nov 3, 2013 ) Kansas City 23, Buffalo 13

The Kansas City Chiefs got off to a slow start but are beginning to resemble the team that cruised into the playoffs last season. The Chiefs will be looking for their fourth straight win when they visit the Buffalo Bills on Sunday. The Bills are coming off a bye week and grabbed back-to-back wins behind Kyle Orton before the break, keeping the team within shouting distance of the New England Patriots atop the AFC East.

The Patriots did Kansas City a favor by defeating AFC West-leading Denver last week, and the Chiefs will try to take advantage by putting their strength up against that of Buffalo. Kansas City is one of the best rushing teams in the league behind Jamaal Charles, Knile Davis and fullback Anthony Sherman, while the Bills rank eighth in the NFL against the run - limiting opponents to 92.3 yards. “(The Bills’) defensive line is quick and athletic and they do have size,” Chiefs coach Andy Reid told reporters. “You see them dominate in games at times.”

TV: 1 p.m. ET, CBS. LINE: Chiefs -1.5. O/U: 41

ABOUT THE CHIEFS (5-3): Kansas City has taken five of six since dropping its first two and is one of several teams, including Buffalo, hovering above .500 in the AFC and trying to line up a stretch run that results in a postseason spot. The defense has allowed a total of 17 points in the last two weeks and the Chiefs are the stingiest in the league against opposing passers, limiting teams to an average of 199.4 passing yards. Part of that is due to a pass rush led by linebacker Justin Houston (a league-high 12 sacks) and defensive end Tamba Hali. “(Houston) and Tamba (Hali) are constantly doing work in between when the one offense is out doing their practice part of it and the one defense is on the sideline,” Reid told reporters. “The guys know, and Justin (Houston) will probably tell you, he learned a lot of that from Tamba, the way Tamba goes about his game.”

ABOUT THE BILLS (5-3): Buffalo made the switch from EJ Manuel to Orton at quarterback in Week 5 and is 3-1 since. Orton threw four TD passes without an interception in the 43-23 win over the Jets on Oct. 26 and he is getting rave reviews from his teammates for his poise and leadership. “The best thing about Kyle is he doesn;t care,” offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett told reporters. “He is just straight even-keel all the time. ... We go down 14-0 and he comes right back and says, ‘Hey, what’s the next play? What do you want to do?” Orton has formed a quick connection with rookie wide receiver Sammy Watkins, who has gone over 100 yards in each of the last two games.

EXTRA POINTS

1. Buffalo RB Fred Jackson (groin) returned to practice on a limited basis and is questionable for Sunday's tilt.

2. Kansas City QB Alex Smith has nine TDs and no INTS in his team’s five wins.

3. Watkins (groin) was a limited participant in practice on Wednesday and will reportedly undergo a precautionary MRI.

PREDICTION: Chiefs 27, Bills 24