Kansas City, Mo. ? Dick Vermeil and Gregg Williams both are in the final year of three-year contracts. Their teams have been up and down all season, playing well at times and looking quite ordinary at others.

So much for everything they have in common.

Vermeil’s Kansas City Chiefs, despite what some would call obvious shortcomings, are the AFC’s only unbeaten team. They’ve tied the team record for consecutive victories, and if they win tonight they’ll sail into their bye week a glittering 8-0, only the 11th team since 1970 to win its first eight.

Williams’ Buffalo Bills stand 4-3 because, unlike the more fortunate Chiefs, fate keeps insisting they pay for their mistakes.

While most Kansas City fans are ready to anoint Vermeil coach of the year, many Bills followers are just ready for a new coach.

A native of the Kansas City area, Williams figured to have no time for old friends before his team meets the Chiefs tonight in what’s sure to be a packed and raucous Arrowhead Stadium.

“My family learned a long time ago that there might be a little time after the ballgame to say ‘hi’ and ‘bye,'” Williams said. “My mood is not conducive to them being around, and they know that.”

The Bills, riding running back Travis Henry, outscored New England and Jacksonville by a combined 69-17, then lost three of four. Even owner Ralph Wilson leveled criticism at his team for a lack of effort following a 30-3 loss to the previously winless New York Jets.

Then last week, again playing like many expected, the Bills scored 14 unanswered points to put away the Washington Redskins, 24-7.

An encouraging note for the Chiefs is the vulnerability Buffalo has shown against the run. During one four-game stretch, the Bills gave up 528 yards on the ground, which means Priest Holmes figures to get a second straight heavy workout.

Last year’s top offensive player, Holmes had 123 yards rushing and 50 yards receiving Monday night in a 17-10 victory over Oakland, his best outing of the year.

“They tackle and move and fly around on defense as well as any team we play,” cautioned Vermeil. “They’re the No. 3 team in the National Football League on defense from a statistical standpoint.”

Vermeil has told his players to expect a close, hard-fought affair similar to the 17-16 victory they eked out against the Bills a year ago.

“Two of their three losses have come to playoff teams,” he said. “The other loss was to the Miami Dolphins, who were 9-7 last year. They have played a tough schedule and played it well.”

Meanwhile, the Bills, like everyone else on Kansas City’s schedule, were debating how to deal with Dante Hall, who has returned four kicks for touchdowns this season.

“It might be easier to give up a touchback,” Williams said. “He fields the ball on the seven, he fields it on the five, he fields it on the two, on the goal line. Why try to kick it inside the 10? Just go ahead and kick a touchback. It’s amazing what he’s done.”

Although he hasn’t found the end zone the past two weeks against Green Bay and Oakland, Hall is causing problems in just the way opponents have to account for him.

“He presents a presence,” Williams said. “You’ve got to do things about changing the rhythm, changing the direction. But I’m not going to discuss the game plan.”

Two of Hall’s returns provided the margin of victory in the Chiefs’ team-record winning streak and helped mask some other deficiencies. Critics point to the fact they’re giving up almost 360 yards a game while allowing more than 127 yards rushing.

The one key stat where the Chiefs have a clear advantage is turnover margin, where their plus-11 ranks second in the league. The Bills are minus-2.

“I don’t believe we have a weakness, but I do believe we have some areas that need to be improved,” Vermeil said. “Our weakness, as of now, is comparable to past division champions, conference champions and world champions. That’s what we’re evaluating now.”