Buffalo Bills cornerback Christian Benford successfully cleared the concussion protocol and was active for the AFC championship game against the Kansas City Chiefs. Benford's presence was crucial as he was expected to play a significant role in containing the Chiefs' potent passing game led by quarterback Patrick Mahomes.
However, the Bills had to rule out safety Taylor Rapp due to back and hip injuries, which could have a notable impact on the game as Rapp would have been tasked with covering Chiefs tight ends Travis Kelce and Noah Gray. Kelce, in particular, had a standout performance in the Chiefs' previous playoff game, recording seven catches for 117 yards and a touchdown.
Buffalo's list of inactives for the game included cornerback Brandon Codrington, defensive tackles Quinton Jefferson and DeWayne Carter, and offensive linemen Ryan Van Demark and Sedrick Van-Pran Granger. Linebacker Matt Milano, a key figure in the Bills' defense, overcame biceps and hamstring injuries to be cleared for the matchup against Kansas City.
On the other side, the Chiefs were relatively healthy heading into the game, with running back Isiah Pacheco, pass rusher Charles Omenihu, and cornerback Jaylen Watson all available. The Chiefs' strategic rest and preparation paid off, as they secured the No. 1 seed in the AFC, allowing them to rest key players in the regular-season finale and benefit from the lone bye in the playoffs.
For the championship game, the Chiefs listed cornerback Keith Taylor, wide receiver Justyn Ross, defensive ends Josh Uche and Malik Herring, and offensive linemen C.J. Hanson, Wanya Morris, and Ethan Driskell as inactive.
Both teams made adjustments and fielded their best available players for the high-stakes matchup, setting the stage for an intense battle to determine the AFC champion and secure a spot in the Super Bowl.
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