Once again, the Chiefs are among the NFL's final four.
Kansas City dispatched the Buffalo Bills, 27-24, in the divisional round of the NFL playoffs on Sunday night, punching their ticket to the AFC title game for the sixth consecutive year in the process.
With the win, the Chiefs will face the Baltimore Ravens for the conference championship on Jan. 28.
The victory didn't come easy for the Chiefs, but it rarely has against these Bills in recent years.
Powered by star quarterback Josh Allen, the Bills took a 17-13 lead into halftime.
But the Chiefs controlled much of the second half, particularly on the defensive side of the ball. Kansas City's stout defense limited Buffalo to just 7 second-half points.
On offense, the Chiefs were led by two-time MVP Patrick Mahomes, who connected with tight end Travis Kelce for two touchdown passes, one in each half. Mahomes finished 17-of-23 for 215 yards, the two TDs, and no turnovers.
Running back Isiah Pacheco, meanwhile, paced a strong Chiefs running attack, rumbling for 97 yards and a touchdown on just 15 carries. As a team, the Chiefs averaged a robust 6.1 yards per carry on 24 attempts.
Despite the close final score, a series of miscues prevented the Chiefs from potentially sealing the game sooner. Most notably, a goal-line fumble by wide receiver Mecole Hardman bounced out of bounds in the end zone early in the fourth quarter, resulting in a touchback and possession for the Bills. The turnover thwarted the Chiefs from taking what would have been a commanding two-score lead.
But the Bills did little with their second chances. With under two minutes to play, a potential game-tying 44-yard field goal by Tyler Bass sailed wide right, all but ending the game.
The two teams have faced off seven times over the past four seasons, including three in the postseason. The Bills claimed victory earlier this season at Arrowhead Stadium.
But the Chiefs won when it mattered most, and now they are one win away from defending their Super Bowl title from a season ago.