(My Sportsbook) - Two teams coming off losses, but which are still very much alive in the playoff hunt, will go head-to-head this week in Kansas City -- where the last-place Chiefs will host the Buffalo Bills.

Kansas City suffered a 17-13 loss to the San Francisco 49ers last week at home to fall into the AFC West cellar. However, only two games separate the Chiefs from the division-leading San Diego Chargers.

"We're zeroing in on [the Bills] and hopefully we can find a way to beat them. I think it will be a very, very tough football game," said head coach Dick Vermeil. "Boy, they have skill people at those receiver positions."

Buffalo has landed in a three-way tie atop the AFC East following its Week 10 bye. The Bills are still smarting from their stunning 38-7 loss to heated rival New England in Week 9, and they have some questions to answer after their three-game win streak was snapped in a big way.

"We are in position right now, just like almost every other team in the AFC to make a run here down the stretch, said QB Drew Bledsoe. "What happens over the next two to three weeks is going to start to shape things out a little bit as to which teams are in control and which teams are chasing."

SERIES HISTORY: The Bills have won three of the past four meetings to open a 18-14-1 lead in the all-time series. These teams last played one another on November 19, 2000, when Buffalo QB Rob Johnson passed for two TDs in the Bills' 21-17 victory at Arrowhead Stadium.

Vermeil is 2-0 against the Bills, while Buffalo coach and Missouri native Gregg Williams will be facing the Chiefs for the first time this weekend.

These teams played for a Super Bowl trip in the 1993 AFC Championship Game, won by the Bills 30-13.

BILLS OFFENSE

Bledsoe wasn't to blame for Buffalo's Week 9 loss, it was the lack of a running game and a general defensive lapse. Bledsoe recorded his second straight 300-yard passing game against his former team, throwing for 302 yards, one touchdown and an interception. He connected with seven different targets, including nine catches for 98 yards by WR Peerless Price.

Bledsoe will continue to lead the offense, but he will need help from RB Travis Henry over the remainder of the season. Henry has shown flashes of brilliance, but he gained only 53 yards versus New England. Part of that was due to Buffalo's need to pass since they had to come back from a big deficit, but Henry has rushed for less than 65 yards in each of the past two games.

Since Bledsoe only gets better with the threat of the run and the ability to use play action passes, Henry will be the focal point for the next few critical weeks.

Kansas City is the worst-ranked defense in the NFL in terms of yardage allowed per game (425.2). Just to illustrate how bad the Chiefs are on defense, the next worst team allows only 385.8 yards per game.

"If you look at the game statistically that is what you would expect, two high scoring offenses to put up a lot of points on both sides," said Bledsoe. "You never know going into these games...The Chiefs defense has been playing a bunch better in the last couple of weeks. They've limited some good offense to not many points. In spite of what their statistical standing might be in the league, we know that they have been playing better in recent weeks and it's showing up.

"They mix up their style pretty good. In the last couple of weeks when they've been successful they've been playing a little bit more of a conservative style trying to eliminate some of the big plays that had hurt them in some earlier games. They have been effective in doing that."

Henry will have his chances this week, and FB Larry Centers should also figure into Buffalo's game plan. The Chiefs allow 118.9 rushing yards per game.

What has made Bledsoe so successful is his many weapons. The receiving tandem of Price and Eric Moulds, along with TE Jay Riemersma and Centers gives Bledsoe a wealth of options on any given play. It will be up to Kansas City's suspect pass defense to cover all the targets, which is virtually impossible.

Moulds (62) and Price (60) are two of only six NFL receivers with 60 or more receptions. Not only do they both catch a lot of passes, but they also break long plays and catch deep passes. They are the only two players in the league with four receptions for 40 yards or more.

CHIEFS DEFENSE

Kansas City held the 49ers scoreless in the second half of last week's loss, which is an impressive feat. San Francisco picked up just 168 net yards passing, and the Chiefs allowed Garrison Hearst to gain just 69 yards on 15 carries. Even San Francisco's Terrell Owens, arguably the best wide receiver in the NFL, recorded just 51 yards on seven catches.

The Chiefs should be pleased with the way their defense held up last week, but the Bills are one of the top offenses in the league. KC ranks dead last in the NFL against the pass, giving up a staggering 306.3 yards per game. On paper, Bledsoe should be due to take advantage of KC's weak secondary.

The lack of any sort of pass rush has caused a chain reaction for the Chiefs. Their poor defensive line has provided no threat of sacking opposing quarterbacks, and Bledsoe should have plenty of time to find his open targets. Kansas City has produced a total of just 15 sacks all season, the second-worst total in the conference. Unless the DE tandem of Eric Hicks and Duane Clemons can step up their effort, the secondary will be exposed again.

"I don't think any coach feels his pass rush is what he would like it to be. But it's getting better," said Vermeil.

Corners William Bartee and Eric Warfield will have their hands full with Moulds and Price. If the Chiefs decide to use single coverage on Buffalo's receivers, Bledsoe will go deep often.

"Their receivers are so good. Anyone can catch the ball short, but they can catch them all and Drew is a master at throwing the football - as good as anyone in the league," said Vermeil.

CHIEFS OFFENSE

The 49ers accomplished exactly what most teams try to do against Kansas City's high-powered offense, they controlled the time of possession and kept the Chiefs off the field. San Francisco held the ball for over 38 minutes, which led to only 11 carries for Holmes, who ran for a season-low 51 yards.

QB Trent Green went 15-for-27 for 193 yards and failed to throw a TD. His 55.6 completion percentage was his worst since Week 2. WR Eddie Kennison was one of the few standout performers for the Chiefs, as he caught eight passes for 134 yards.

Like most coaches, Vermeil wants to eliminate turnovers and prevent Buffalo from getting easy scoring chances.

"Number one, don't turn the ball over. You just can't turn the ball over. We're sure handed and our receivers overall have done a great job. If you turn it over and give them more opportunities to score... That would be my concern right now," the coach admitted.

Since Buffalo's Henry has been shaky in recent weeks, the Bills may not be able to win the time of possession battle as easily as San Francisco did by establishing the run. Instead, it may be Holmes who takes on that role this week since he is due for a bounce back game.

Holmes had only five receiving yards last week, something that can't continue if the Chiefs have any plans of making a postseason surge. Holmes must re- establish himself as a receiving threat, and it could happen this week. Buffalo's linebackers aren't the best in the league, but London Fletcher does have the speed to cover Holmes out of the backfield.

Earlier this season, when TE Tony Gonzalez had a bad game in Week 3, Vermeil made a conscious effort to get him the ball the following week. The result was a 140-yard game in Week 4 after a one-catch effort the week before. Well, Gonzalez had only one catch last week, so that could mean he will be a much bigger part of the offense this Sunday. He may not have another 140-yard game, but he will assert himself somehow.

BILLS DEFENSE

After steadily improving each week, the Bills were dismantled against New England in Week 9. The alarming results make this week's matchup against Kansas City tough to gauge. It's hard to figure which Buffalo team will show up. Will it be the team that held the Miami Dolphins to 287 total yards in Week 7 at Pro Player Stadium, or the one that got embarrassed last week?

One reason for optimism is the likely return of cornerback Antoine Winfield after missing three games with a left knee injury. Winfield, who was hurt during practice, had arthroscopic surgery to repair torn cartilage on October 18. He has experienced only minor swelling since resuming practice last week.

Prior to being hurt, Winfield was third on the team with 36 tackles and had started 22 consecutive games.

The addition to the secondary comes at just the right time. In three games against the AFC East this season, KC's Green has completed 63-of-92 passes (68.5 percent) for 773 yards with 10 TDs and three INTs for a 116.3 QB rating.

What has to concern the Bills this week is the many skills of Holmes. Buffalo's Fletcher will have a lot of pressure to keep Holmes contained, and the Chiefs should win that matchup.