Orchard Park, N.Y. (WGR 550) - The Buffalo Bills' 2023 season came to a premature end on Sunday night, falling short in the AFC Divisional Round at the hands of the Kansas City Chiefs, 27-24, at Highmark Stadium in Orchard Park.
The Bills received the opening kickoff and, after a few flags and slip ups to start, found their groove and began marching down the field. Buffalo put together a 14-play, 60-yard drive and put the first points on the board with Tyler Bass booting the ball through the upright for a 27-yard field goal.
Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs offense took the field for their first drive, and the Bills defense came up with a big stop to hold Kansas City to a field goal. Harrison Butker was able to convert on a 47-yard attempt to tie the game with just over four minutes left in the first quarter.
The Bills offense took the field again and drove right down the field to put up the first touchdown of the game with Bills quarterback Josh Allen taking matters into his own hands with a five-yard touchdown run.
Kansas City's offense had another immediate response down the field, but fell short of the end zone once again thanks to another defensive stand by the Bills. A 29-yard field goal from Butker cut the Bills' lead to 10-6.
After a Bills punt on their next drive, the Chiefs capitalized and took their first lead of the game with Mahomes connecting with a wide-open tight end Travis Kelce from 22 yards out.
Just before halftime, the Bills offense jumped right back into action, putting together a 12-play, 75-yard touchdown drive. This time, it was Allen doing the damage again with his legs from two yards out to give the Bills a 17-13 lead heading into the locker room.
The Chiefs worked fast offensively to start the second half, turning to Kelce once again with a three-yard connection from Mahomes to put Kansas City ahead again.
Needing another immediate response, the Bills offense stuck to the run game and marched their way down the field again. On this drive, Buffalo turned to Allen's arm strength, as he threaded the needle to wide receiver Khalil Shakir by the goal line for a 13-yard touchdown strike.
Once again, though, the Chiefs had an answer the other way, as running back Isiah Pacheco put Kansas City ahead once more with a four-yard touchdown run to make it 27-24 in the early stages of the fourth quarter.
After going three-and-out at their own 30-yard line and facing a 4th-and-5, the Bills elected to take a gamble trailing by three and went for a fake punt. However, safety Damar Hamlin was unable to gain the necessary yardage on the direct snap and the Chiefs took the ball over with 12:49 to go.
With a chance to put the game out of reach, the Chiefs got as far as the Bills' one-yard line before turning the ball over and giving Buffalo new life. As Chiefs wideout Mecole Hardman was heading towards the pylon to score, he was stripped of the football by Bills safety Jordan Poyer before his right hip hit the turf.
The football being fumbled out of the end zone resulted in a touchback, giving the Bills possession at their own 20 yard line.
Following an exchange of punts, the Bills had 8:23 left on the game clock to put up a drive to either tie the game at 27-27, or take the lead and put the pressure back on the Chiefs.
The Bills were able to chew up 6:04 off the clock and take the possession past the two-minute warning before being stymied at the Chiefs' 26-yard line.
Facing a 4th-and-9 with 1:47 to go, the Bills called upon Bass to convert a 44-yard field goal and tie the game, giving Buffalo's defense a chance to put up a stand. However, Bass' attempt ended up sailing off the mark, wide-right.
The Chiefs were able to take over possession again, force the Bills to burn their final two timeouts remaining, and eventually kneel out the clock after converting a first down to sink Buffalo's season with 90 seconds remaining in the game.
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GAME SUMMARY
First Quarter:
- 3-0 BUFFALO: Bills field goal (8:08) - Tyler Bass' 27-yard field goal attempt is good.
Drive Summary: 14 plays, 60 yards, 6:52
- 3-3 TIE: Chiefs field goal (4:35) - Harrison Butker's 47-yard field goal attempt is good.
Drive Summary: 7 plays, 46 yards, 3:33
Second Quarter:
- 10-3 BUFFALO: Bills touchdown (13:32) - Josh Allen rushes for a 5-yard touchdown run. (Tyler Bass' extra point attempt is good)
Drive Summary: 11 plays, 75 yards, 6:03
- 10-6 BUFFALO: Chiefs field goal (9:12) - Harrison Butker's 29-yard field goal attempt is good.
Drive Summary: 10 plays, 64 yards, 4:20
- 13-10 Kansas City: Chiefs touchdown (3:33) - Patrick Mahomes tosses a 22-yard touchdown to Travis Kelce. (Harrison Butker's extra point attempt is good)
Drive Summary: 5 plays, 65 yards, 2:34
- 17-13 BUFFALO: Bills touchdown (0:26) - Josh Allen rushes up the middle for a 2-yard touchdown run. (Tyler Bass' extra point attempt is good)
Drive Summary: 12 plays, 75 yards, 3:07
Third Quarter:
- 20-17 KANSAS CITY: Chiefs touchdown (11:48) - Patrick Mahomes fires a 3-yard touchdown pass to Travis Kelce. (Harrison Butker's extra point attempt is good)
Drive Summary: 6 plays, 75 yards, 3:12
- 24-20 BUFFALO: Bills touchdown (3:23) - Josh Allen connects with Khalil Shakir for a 13-yard touchdown completion. (Tyler Bass' extra point attempt is good)
Drive Summary: 15 plays, 75 yards, 8:25
Fourth Quarter:
- 27-24 KANSAS CITY: Chiefs touchdown (14:20) - Isiah Pacheco rushes for a 4-yard touchdown. (Harrison Butker's extra point attempt is good)
Drive Summary: 8 plays, 75 yards, 4:03
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SKYWORKS EQUIPMENT RENTAL STATS OF THE GAME:
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What's next:
The Bills will clean out their locker room on Monday and head into the offseason following a loss for a third-straight year in the AFC Divisional Round.