After the Buffalo Bills handed the Kansas City Chiefs their first loss of the season on Sunday, Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes expressed his belief that the game was likely a preview of the playoffs.

When Mahomes and Bills quarterback Josh Allen met at midfield after the game, Mahomes said, “We’ll do it again, baby.”

The loss dropped Kansas City to 9-1 on the season, while Buffalo improved to 9-2 and put itself firmly in the mix for the No. 1 seed in the AFC.

Mahomes’ third touchdown pass of the day — a one-yard throw to Noah Gray — brought the Chiefs within two points of the Bills with 7:53 left in Sunday’s game.

However, Allen and the Buffalo offense essentially put the game on ice on the ensuing drive, as Allen rushed for a 26-yard touchdown with 2:17 remaining to extend the Bills’ lead to 30–21.

The Chiefs needed to score, recover an onside kick and score again, but Mahomes was intercepted by Bills linebacker Terrel Bernard on a fourth down play to end it.

Since Allen’s Bills and Mahomes’ Chiefs first played each other in 2020, the teams have split the series 4-4, including playoff games.

The Bills have now defeated the Chiefs four straight times during the regular season, but the Chiefs have won each of their three playoff meetings over the last four seasons, including a 27-24 road win in last season’s AFC Divisional Round .

Many analysts expected the Bills to take a step back this season after winning four consecutive AFC titles due to the fact that they traded wide receiver Stefon Diggs to the Houston Texans and released several other key veterans, including cornerback Tre’Davious White, safety Jordan Poyer and center Mitch Morse.

Instead, the Bills hold a 4.5-game lead over the Miami Dolphins for first place in the AFC East and are well on their way to their fifth division title and sixth straight playoff appearance.

One thing that has eluded the Bills during their playoff run is a first-round bye over No. 1, and beating Kansas City kept those hopes alive.

The Chiefs proved last season that they are capable of beating the Bills on the road in the postseason, but Buffalo getting an extra week of rest could be a potential difference maker if that were to happen.

Regardless of the season, recent history says it’s more likely than not that the Bills and Chiefs will meet again in January.