Buffalo Bills vs. Kansas City chiefs first half open thread

With a script plagiarized from so many seasons during “The Drought,” the 2017 Buffalo Bills have followed a familiar storyline. The season began with hope, followed by a slide of epic and inexplicable proportions, all of which led back to mediocrity and a date with the Kansas City Chiefs that serves as the tipping point of the season.

Rinse. Wash. Repeat.

The 5-5 Buffalo Bills face off against the 6-4 Chiefs today at Arrowhead Stadium. Neither team has performed well over the last month, with Buffalo entering November at 5-2 and still seeking its first win in November, and the Chiefs entering the month at 6-2 and also in search of their first win since October.

The Bills will be without wide receiver Kelvin Benjamin, who injured his knee during last week’s disastrous 54-24 blowout loss against the Los Angeles Chargers. Jordan Matthews, Charles Clay, and Deonte Thompson, all listed as questionable, will all play, which is good news for a team that desperately needs something positive.

The Chiefs still lead the AFC West, but their margin for error has evaporated considerably, as their slide has coincided with a hot streak for the Chargers. Today’s winner finds themselves still very much alive in the playoff race, while the loser will be much worse off than before.

Winter is coming, Bills’ fans, and the familiar feeling that it brings is right there with it. This is your open thread for the first half of the game. Check our Twitter feed for our up-to-the-second thoughts. Go Bills!