Buffalo Bills linebacker Terrel Bernard explained how the team shut down Kansas City Chiefs superstar Travis Kelce.
The Buffalo Bills made a massive statement at home on Sunday, defeating the Kansas City Chiefs, 30-21.
The Bills handed the Chiefs their first loss of the 2024 season, and did it largely due to their defensive dominance, holding Kansas City to just 259 total yards and 181 passing yards.
Superstar tight end Travis Kelce finished the game with just eight yards on two catches, which is a career-low against the Bills.
Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce (87).
Mark Konezny-Imagn Images
Linebacker and defensive captain Terrel Bernard explained how Buffalo's defense approached Kelce in the win.
“I think the main thing is just having awareness of him,” Bernard said. “He’s obviously one of the best tight ends the league’s ever seen, so having awareness of where he’s at, pre, post-snap, trying to get guys around him as much as possible, playing within our scheme and our system still but understanding he’s going to be one of the first options every pass play."
“I think having that awareness, Bobby [Babich] did a great job in the game plan, all the coaches did, putting him in our minds all week and knowing where he was at and where he was going to be, what he likes to do in certain spots," Bernard continued. "I think that was a huge factor, and everybody playing to the details of the defense.”
Bernard was a massive factor in the win, finishing with eight combined tackles, a sack and the game-sealing interception. With the win, Buffalo is just 0.5 games behind the Chiefs for the top seed in the AFC.
