Patrick Mahomes has played on better Kansas City teams before.
But this year’s Chiefs are the only undefeated team left in the NFL, and Mahomes’ crew could run the table if they find a way to win in Buffalo on Sunday.
Harrison Butker is one of the big reasons that Kansas City is still undefeated[/caption]
Improving to 10-0 inside Highmark Stadium only became tougher, though, after Kansas City found itself on the wrong end of breaking news on Thursday.
The Chiefs lost their “secret weapon” for at least the next several weeks, just when Josh Allen and the Bills (8-2) are on the schedule in a game that could define the AFC’s top seed in the playoffs.
Veteran kicker Harrison Butker is expected to miss 3-4 weeks due to a knee injury and will go on injured reserve, according to NFL Network.
Butker is set to have surgery on the meniscus in his left knee.
Former NFL punter Drew Butler tweeted that he had noticed a significant change in the Butker’s kicking approach.
“Harrison Butker has collapsed on his left knee following through EVERY kick this season,” Butler posted.
“It is a change in his technique that really caught my attention and, unfortunately, it’s not surprising his left knee needs a meniscus procedure.
“Hope he gets healthy.”
Along with Travis Kelce and Mahomes, Butker is a three-time Super Bowl champion.
While his controversial comments about women polarized NFL fans and Chiefs supporters, there is no doubt that Butker is one of the league’s premier kickers when healthy.
Josh Allen and Patrick Mahomes have already waged heavy battles[/caption]
Butker knows what it’s like to win a Super Bowl with a championship trophy on the line[/caption]
The seventh-round draft pick out of Georgia Tech has converted 89.2 percent of his career field goal attempts, while also handling kickoff duties for the Chiefs.
Throw in the fact that NFL-best Kansas City has won all nine of its games by an average scoring margin of less than a touchdown, and field goals are sometimes the Chiefs’ best offensive weapon.
“This is a team who could be under .500 at this point,” host Will Gavin exclusively said on talkSPORT’s NFL Run Down show.
“The Raiders probably could — and should have — beaten them.
“This is a team who are hanging on by the skin of their teeth, week in week out, and yet I can’t help, but admire it.”
Detroit, Philadelphia, Baltimore and Buffalo have often been more dominant than the Chiefs this year.
Kansas City beat Cincinnati 26-25, edged Atlanta 22-17, and needed Andy Reid’s coaching to hold off Denver last week via a blocked field goal.
Kansas City’s offense ranks 10th in average yards (346.7) and 11th in scoring (24.3).
Butker has given the Chiefs an advantage in close games that have often been won by a top-five Kansas City defense.
Now, he can’t be called upon in Buffalo, with the Bills Mafia begging for the Chiefs to fall to 9-1.
If Kansas City finally loses on Sunday in Orchard Park, New York, a missing kicker could be the biggest reason why.
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