In what will go down as, arguably, one of the greatest games to ever take place, the Buffalo Bills fall to the Kansas City Chiefs, 42-36 in overtime in the AFC Divisional Round at Arrowhead Stadium.
Sunday night's game had multiple lead changes in the last two minutes, a combined 974 yards of total offense, and a record-setting receiving performance from Bills wide receiver Gabriel Davis.
The Chiefs won the coin toss and elected to defer, and the Bills offense started their opening drive at their own 29-yard line.
The Bills offense was able to convert not one, but two fourth down conversions on a 13-play, 71-yard scoring drive. The drive was capped off with a one-yard touchdown run from running back Devin Singletary on a 4th-and-goal to give the Bills the early 7-0 lead.
The Chiefs responded with a scoring drive of their own, highlighted by Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes' rushing ability. Mahomes accumulated 49 rushing yards on the 11-play, 74-yard drive that ended with an eight-yard touchdown run by the quarterback.
The Bills' next drive stalled out after Allen was strip-sacked by Chiefs defensive end Melvin Ingram around the midfield line on a third down. The Bills were able to recover the fumble, and punter Matt Haack's first punt in two games was downed at the Chiefs' two-yard line.
The Bills defense was able to force the Chiefs' potent offense into a three-and-out in the shadow of Kansas City's goal posts.
After a three-and-out from the Bills offense, the Chiefs drove the ball 87 yards, scoring their second touchdown of the evening. Chiefs receiver Byron Pringle was on the receiving end of Mahomes' first touchdown pass of the game after he evaded pressure from the Buffalo pass rush.
With 1:52 to work with and down seven points, Allen and the Bills offense were able to drive 75 yards in 75 seconds to find pay dirt. Allen found Bills wide receiver Gabriel Davis in the end zone, throwing off of his back foot for the 18-yard score.
Mahomes and the Chiefs offense had 37 seconds left in the second quarter to work with, and they did just that. Kansas City drove 43 yards in 37 seconds, but to no avail, as Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker missed a 50-yard field goal attempt as time expired in the second quarter.
The Chiefs started on offense for the second half and was able to drive quite a distance down the field. However, the Bills defense bent, but never broke.
A tackle for loss, a sack, and a 10-yard holding penalty against the Chiefs forced Butker to kick a 39-yard field goal. His second kick of the game put the Chiefs up, 17-14 with 7:01 left in the third quarter.
The Bills offense was unable to take advantage, as they went three-and-out.
On the ensuing drive, Mahomes and co. drove 61 yards on five plays to take a nine-point lead. Hardman evaded a hoard of Bills defenders on a jet sweep to put the Chiefs up 23-14, before Butker missed the following extra point.
It only took the Bills offense one play to close the Chiefs' lead to two. Allen connected with Davis on a 75-yard touchdown pass to make the score 23-21 with 1:56 left in the third quarter.
The Bills defense forced the Chiefs offense into a fourth down on the Bills' 46-yard line to start the fourth quarter. Instead of going for it, Kansas City elected to punt and give the football back to Buffalo.
Allen and the offense took over on their own eight-yard line with a chance to drive down the field, but Buffalo was forced to punt after Chiefs defensive lineman Jarran Reed sacked Allen.
After a 48-yard punt return by Chiefs wide receiver Tyreek Hill deep into Bills territory, Buffalo's defense forced the Chiefs offense into a three-and-out before Butker drilled a 28-yard field goal.
Down 26-21 with 8:55 left in regulation, the Bills offense was given another chance to engineer a drive to take the lead.
The Bills elected to slow play the drive, running the ball on most plays to drain as much clock as possible and keep Mahomes and the Chiefs offense off the field.
With 2:49 left and faced with a 4th-and-4, Allen tossed on a Superman cape and kept the Bills' hopes of taking the lead alive on a scramble.
Then faced with a 4th-and-13 with two minutes remaining in the game, the Bills entrusted Allen to make a play, and he did just that. Once again, the Bills quarterback found Davis in the end zone for a 27-yard touchdown for his their third scoring connection of the night.
After going up 29-26, the Chiefs' lightning-quick offense reared its head once again. This time, it was Hill turning on the afterburners and cruising to the end zone with a 64-yard catch-and-run touchdown.
With the blood pressure of Bills fans going through the roof, Buffalo got the ball with 1:02 left. They were tasked with driving 75 yards to take the lead with a touchdown drive. Capping off a record-breaking performance, Davis caught his fourth touchdown of the game.
The second-year wide receiver ended with eight catches for 201 yards and four touchdowns.
Mahomes and the Chiefs offense were given 13 seconds to work with after Bills kicker Tyler Bass booted the ball into the end zone for a touchback.
In normal circumstances, one would think the Bills' latest score to go up 36-33 would seal the deal. Unfortunately this wasn't a regular game, and the Bills defense weren't facing a regular offense.
In jaw-dropping fashion, the Chiefs offense drove 44 yards over those 13 seconds to set up a 49-yard field goal attempt for Butker, which he converted.
The Chiefs won the coin toss at the onset of overtime and elected to receive, knowing that a touchdown would end the game, and therefore, end the Bills' season.
Mahomes and the Chiefs offense effortlessly marched 75 yards on eight plays in 4:15 on the way to scoring a touchdown. Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce made a toe-tap catch in the end zone to win the game for Kansas City.
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SCORING SUMMARY:
First Quarter:
- 7-0 BUFFALO: Bills touchdown (8:03) - Devin Singletary finds the end zone with a one-yard run. (Tyler Bass' extra point attempt is good)
Drive info: 13 plays, 71 yards, 6:57
- 7-7 TIE: Chiefs touchdown (2:26) - Patrick Mahomes scrambles eight yards to a touchdown run. (Harrison Butker's extra point attempt is good)
Drive info: 11 plays, 74 yards, 5:37
Second Quarter:
- 14-7 KANSAS CITY: Chiefs touchdown (1:52) - Patrick Mahomes fires a two-yard touchdown pass to Byron Pringle. (Harrison Butker's extra point attempt is good)
Drive info: 12 plays, 86 yards, 6:51
- 14-14 TIE: Bills touchdown (0:37) - Josh Allen connects with Gabriel Davis for an 18-yard touchdown pass. (Tyler Bass' extra point attempt is good)
Drive info: 7 plays, 75 yards, 1:15
Third Quarter:
- 17-14 KANSAS CITY: Chiefs field goal (7:01) - Harrison Butker's 39-yard field goal attempt is good.
Drive info: 13 plays, 54 yards, 7:59
- 23-14 KANSAS CITY: Chiefs touchdown (2:06) - Mecole Hardman breaks free for a 25-yard touchdown run. (Harrison Butker's extra point attempt is no good)
Drive info: 5 plays, 61 yards, 2:43
- 23-21 KANSAS CITY: Bills touchdown (1:56) - Josh Allen tosses a 75-yard bomb to Gabriel Davis for a touchdown. (Tyler Bass' extra point attempt is good)
Drive info: 1 play, 75 yards, 0:10
Fourth Quarter:
- 26-21 KANSAS CITY: Chiefs field goal (8:55) - Harrison Butker's 28-yard field goal is good.
Drive info: 4 plays, 6 yards, 2:33
- 29-26 BUFFALO: Bills touchdown (1:54) - Josh Allen connects with Gabriel Davis for a 27-yard touchdown pass. (Buffalo's two-point conversion attempt is successful)
Drive info: 17 plays, 75 yards, 7:01
- 33-29 KANSAS CITY: Chiefs touchdown (1:02) - Patrick Mahomes tosses a 64-yard catch-and-run touchdown pass with Tyreek Hill. (Harrison Butker's extra point attempt is good)
Drive info: 5 plays, 75 yards, 0:52
- 36-33 BUFFALO: Bills touchdown (0:13) - Josh Allen fires a 19-yard touchdown pass to Gabriel Davis. (Tyler Bass' extra point attempt is good)
Drive info: 6 plays, 75 yards, 0:49
- 36-36 TIE: Chiefs field goal (0:00) - Harrison Butker's 49-yard field goal attempt is good.
Drive info: 3 plays, 44 yards, 0:13
Overtime:
- 42-36 KANSAS CITY: Chiefs touchdown (10:45) - Patrick Mahomes connects with Travis Kelce for an eight-yard touchdown. (End of game)
Drive info: 8 plays, 75 yards, 4:15
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SKYWORKS EQUIPMENT RENTAL STATS OF THE GAME
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With the loss, the Bills are eliminated from the playoffs and will look towards the offseason. With the win, the Chiefs will host the AFC Championship Game, in which they'll face the Cincinnati Bengals with a trip to Super Bowl LVI on the line.
