Bills vs. Chiefs 2021: game time, TV schedule and how to watch live online

Everything you need to know to watch the Chiefs take on the Bills in Week 5.

The Game

In the NFL’s fifth week, the Kansas City Chiefs face the Buffalo Bills on Sunday Night Football from Arrowhead Stadium. Kickoff is set for 7:20 pm (Arrowhead Time). The game will be broadcast on NBC — locally on KSHB/41.

Since the 2021 NFL schedule was released, this has been considered one of the biggest matchups of the regular season: a rematch of the 2020 AFC Championship between these two clubs. The Chiefs won that game 38-24 to advance to Super Bowl LV, which they lost to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers 31-9.

The 2021 season, however, has turned into a different story for Kansas City. The Chiefs enter the game at the bottom of the AFC West with a 2-2 record, having already lost games to two other AFC contenders: the Baltimore Ravens and Los Angeles Chargers. Meanwhile, Buffalo stands atop the AFC East with a 3-1 record.

But whether these records represent the true nature of these teams is a fair question. Buffalo’s three victories have come against the Miami Dolphins, the Washington Football Team and the Houston Texans, while their loss was against the Pittsburgh Steelers. The Chiefs, however, opened their season with a victory over another AFC contender: the Cleveland Browns.

As usual, Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes has opened his fourth season as the team’s starter at a blistering pace, leading the league in passing touchdowns. His passer rating of 119.6 is second only to Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson. Bills quarterback Josh Allen — who was in the conversation to become the 2020’s NFL MVP — hasn’t fared as well through the first four games. His passer rating of 96.4 ranks 19th in the league.

Still, the two teams can both lay claim to possessing one of the league’s top offenses. Each is averaging 33.5 points per game, which ties them in third place behind the Los Angeles Rams and Arizona Cardinals.

The two teams’ defensive rankings, however, are another story. Buffalo has allowed just 11 points per game through the opening weeks of the season — ranking first in the league — while Kansas City allowed has 31.3, which ranks 30th.

So in front of a national television audience on Sunday night, there are two big questions on the table: have the performances of these two teams been driven by the opponents each has faced during this still-young season? And after five weeks, which of them will truly be contending for this year’s AFC title? Both of them — or just one?

Nuts and bolts

• Location: GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City, Missouri
• Playing surface: Natural grass
• Game time: 7:20 p.m. Arrowhead Time, Sunday, October 10, 2021
• Weather forecast: Rain (78% chance) and 73. Winds NW 7mph.
• Matchup history: Bills 24-21-1 (regular season)
• Odds: Chiefs -2.5 (via DraftKings Sportsbook)
• Officials: Referee Carl Cheffers (51), umpire Tra Blake (33), down judge Jerry Bergman (91), line judge Jeff Seeman (45), field judge Nate Jones (42), side judge Eugene Hall (103), back judge Matt Edwards (96), replay official Andrew Lambert and replay assistant Kirt Shay.
• Pageantry: Colors: Fort Leonard Wood joint services color guard. National Anthem: U.S. Navy veteran Generald Wilson. Drum Deck Honoree: Royals catcher Salvador Perez. Spirit Leader: breast cancer survivor Katie Whipple.
• Television broadcast: with Al Michaels, Cris Collinsworth and Michele Tafoya on KSHB (NBC/41-Kansas City), Chiefs Mobile App, WGRZ (NBC/2-Buffalo) and NBC affiliates nationwide.
• Online Stream: Fubo.TV, Peacock
• Chiefs radio broadcast: with Mitch Holthus, Danan Hughes and Josh Klingler on WDAF (106.5 FM-Kansas City) and Chiefs Radio Network affiliates
• SiriusXM broadcast: Channel 225
• Chiefs Spanish radio broadcast: with Enrique Morales, Oscar Monterroso and Hannah Bassham on KPRS (103.3 FM-Kansas City)
• Bills radio broadcast: with John Murphy, Eric Wood and Sal Capaccio on WGR (550 AM- Buffalo) and Bills Radio Network affiliates.
• Enemy SB Nation site: Buffalo Rumblings
• Twitter: Arrowhead Pride
• Facebook: Please like us!

What you need to know in the stadium

• Parking lots open: 3:00 p.m.
• Stadium gates open: 5:30 p.m.
• COVID-19: Per Kansas City, Missouri city ordinance, masks are required in public indoor spaces — regardless of vaccination status. Unless actively eating or drinking, stadium guests will be asked to wear masks on the CommunityAmerica Club Level, in the Ford Founder’s Club, Foolish Lounge, Broadcast Lounge, Signature Suite Lounge, Locker Room Club, Tickets for Less Penthouse, Draft Room and Chiefs Pro Shop.
• Masks are not required outdoors — but they are encouraged for guests who have not been fully vaccinated. Unvaccinated stadium staff — and all those working inside enclosed public areas — are directed to wear masks. A complete list of the stadium’s health and safety protocols is available at www.Chiefs.com.
• Parking passes: All parking passes must be purchased in advance at www.Chiefs.com; payments will not be accepted at the parking toll gates.
• Cashless Arrowhead: All concession stands and retail points of sale are completely cashless. Fixed points of sale offer traditional scan and chip reader options for credit/debit cards and mobile tap or scan payment options — including Apple Pay, Google Pay and Samsung Pay. In-stadium hawkers and vendors accept credit cards only.
• Clear bags, permitted items: The NFL’s clear bag policy is in place for all Arrowhead Stadium events. Fans may visit www.Chiefs.com for important information on the clear bag policy and a complete list of permitted and prohibited items.

Odds/lines subject to change. T&Cs apply. See draftkings.com/sportsbook for details.