Kansas City, MO (WGR 550) - Coming out of the bye week and needing a victory to keep their seemingly fleeting playoff hopes alive, the Buffalo Bills go to Kansas City on Sunday afternoon and knock off the Chiefs in dramatic fashion, 20-17, at Arrowhead Stadium.
The Chiefs took the field for their first offensive drive of the game, and it resulted in a turnover for the Bills defense. Bills edge rusher A.J. Epenesa was able to get a hand on a pass attempt from Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes, and ended up reeling it in for an interception.
The Bills, however, were not able to make anything happen, as Buffalo ended up punting to open their first offensive drive of the afternoon.
After another forced punt from the Chiefs, the Bills offense went back to work and ended up finding the end zone for the first score of the game.
It only took the Bills six plays to drive 53 yards, and take a 7-0 lead thanks to a 25-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Josh Allen to running back James Cook.
Following another failed offensive drive from the Chiefs, the Bills took advantage to go up by two scores with a 12-play, 72-yard touchdown drive, capped off by an Allen six-yard touchdown run that saw him get some help from his the offensive line.
With a chance to add on to their lead with less than four minutes to go in the first half, the Bills opened the door for the Chiefs to get right back in the contest. While facing a 3rd-and-4 at their own 43-yard line, Allen rolled out to his right, threw the ball back across the grain and was picked off by defensive back Chamarri Conner.
After a nine-play drive, the Chiefs drove the full 52 yards needed to find the end zone, as running back Jerick McKinnon punched it in from seven yards out to cut the Kansas City deficit to 14-7.
Buffalo did have one more chance to tack on some points before halftime, but failed to get into field goal range, and a last-second Hail Mary by Allen was batted down in the end zone.
After receiving the second half kickoff, the Bills offense came out of the locker room and put together a 10-play, 62-yard drive that ended with kicker Tyler Bass converting a 31-yard field goal attempt to extend the Buffalo lead.
The Chiefs answered right back on their opening drive of the second half, rolling down the field in nine plays, spanning 75 yards with wide receiver Rashee Rice catching a four-yard touchdown pass from Mahomes in the back of the end zone.
All the momentum seemed to be on the Chiefs' side in the second half until the Bills defense forced a fumble late in the third quarter. Christian Benford was able to jar the ball loose from the grasp of Rice, and cornerback Taron Johnson was there for the recovery at the Chiefs' 48-yard line.
After another failed chance to sink the Chiefs, Kansas City was able to put together an eight play, 49-yard drive that saw kicker Harrison Butker tying the game with a 27-yard field goal with 11:31 to go.
Both the Bills and Chiefs exchanged punts as time ticked away in the fourth quarter, but it was Buffalo able to find a groove and get back into scoring position.
The Bills were able to chew 5:03 off the clock in the waning moments of the game, and able to get Bass into field goal range for a go-ahead 39-yard field goal with just 1:54 remaining on the clock.
With Buffalo leading 20-17, it was up to the defense to prevent the Chiefs from driving into scoring position to either tie the game again, or score the go-ahead touchdown and the win.
The Chiefs thought they had gotten the go-ahead touchdown with 1:12 to go when a pass from Mahomes to tight end Travis Kelce was legally lateraled to wide receiver Kadarius Toney, who had a wide-open route to the end zone. However, an offside penalty against Toney wiped out the score and backed up the Chiefs five yards.
That ended up being the last gasp for the Chiefs in this game, as the next three pass plays from Mahomes fell incomplete, and the Bills were able to hold on for the win.
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GAME RECAP:
First Quarter:
- 7-0 BUFFALO: Bills touchdown (3:43) - Josh Allen fires a 25-yard strike to James Cook for touchdown. (Tyler Bass' extra point attempt is good)
Drive Info: 6 plays, 53 yards, 3:24
Second Quarter:
- 14-0 BUFFALO: Bills touchdown (11:50) - Josh Allen rushes up the middle and gets pushed into the end zone for a six-yard touchdown run. (Tyler Bass' extra point attempt is good)
Drive Info: 12 plays, 73 yards, 5:29
- 14-7 BUFFALO: Chiefs touchdown (1:19) - Jerick McKinnon rushes seven into the end zone for a touchdown. (Harrison Butker's extra point attempt is good)
Drive Info: 9 plays, 52 yards, 2:17
Third Quarter:
- 17-7 BUFFALO: Bills field goal (8:38) - Tyler Bass' 31-yard field goal attempt is good.
Drive Info: 10 plays, 62 yards, 6:22
-17-14 BUFFALO: Chiefs touchdown (3:30) - Patrick Mahomes tosses a four-yard touchdown pass to Rashee Rice. (Harrison Butker's extra point attempt is good)
Drive Info: 9 plays, 75 yards, 5:08
Fourth Quarter:
- 17-17 TIE: Chiefs field goal (11:31) - Harrison Butker's 27-yard field goal attempt is good.
Drive Info: 8 plays, 49 yards, 3:15
- 20-17 BUFFALO: Bills field goal (1:54) - Tyler Bass' 39-yard field goal attempt is good.
Drive Info: 12 plays, 48 yards, 5:03
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SKYWORKS EQUIPMENT RENTAL STATS OF THE GAME:
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What's next:
The Bills return to Orchard Park next Sunday to play host to the Dallas Cowboys at Highmark Stadium. Kickoff is slated for 4:25 p.m. EST on the official voice of the Bills - WGR Sports Radio 550.