Kansas City, Mo. (WGR Sports Radio 550) - It's another game coming just short of the Super Bowl for the Buffalo Bills, as they fall once again in the AFC Championship Game to the Kansas City Chiefs, 32-29, at Arrowhead Stadium.
Buffalo opened the game on offense and looked to set the tone early. However, the opening drive of the game resulted in a three-and-out following a pair of incomplete passes from Josh Allen that were nearly picked off.
Kansas City ended up setting the tone right away, as the Chiefs offense made their way in the Bills' red zone and put up the first points of the game with a 12-yard touchdown run from running back Kareem Hunt.
Tyler Bass lessened the deficit on the Bills' next drive after Allen and the offense managed to get into scoring position, despite showing some early struggles. Bass drilled a 53-yard field goal to get Buffalo on the board with less than four minutes remaining in the opening quarter.
Just as it looked like the Chiefs were about to score again, Ed Oliver and the Bills defense had other plans. On a muffed handoff from Patrick Mahomes to Isiah Pacheco, Oliver recovered the fumble and set the Bills up on the Chiefs' 28-yard line.
Momentum had swung in Buffalo's favor, at that point, as the Bills moved down the field again and back into scoring position. The nerves seemed to have been shaken off on this drive, as running back James Cook got the Bills into the end zone from six yards out to give the Bills a 10-7 lead.
With the top-two teams in the AFC duking it out, it was bound to be a chess match throughout the night.
Kansas City found its way back into the end zone on their next drive thanks to an 11-yard touchdown pass from Mahomes to rookie wide receiver Xavier Worthy.
After another three-and-out from the Buffalo offense, the Chiefs pounced at the opportunity to extend their lead, as Mahomes found the end zone again, this time with his own legs on a one-yard touchdown run.
Buffalo never showed any quit in its game, though, as the Bills were able to lessen the deficit just before heading into the locker room for halftime.
With 23 seconds remaining in the half, Allen went deep through the air to get the Bills back into the contest, connecting with wide receiver Mack Hollins for a 34-yard touchdown.
The Bills then attempted to go for a two-point conversion to close the gap to three points before the half, but a quarterback sneak from Allen failed, and it was a 21-16 Chiefs advantage as both teams entered the locker room.
Coming out of the locker room to start the second half, the Bills defense made the proper adjustments, forcing a Chiefs punt from Buffalo territory. The Kansas City drive died on a third down sack by linebacker Matt Milano that backed the Chiefs out of field goal range.
The opening drive of the half for the Bills was a successful one, as Allen and the offense capitalized to re-take the lead. It was Cook once again managing to find the end zone for a Buffalo touchdown, as he made a great effort to get in for the score on a fourth down.
Buffalo attempted another two-point conversion to try and make it a three-point lead, but, once again, failed to convert after Allen was sacked.
The Bills defense came up with another stop on Kansas City's next drive, forcing a three-and-out and a punt with time running low in the third quarter.
However, the offense could not capitalize and extend the lead entering the fourth quarter.
Facing a 4th-and-1 at the Chiefs' 41-yard line, the Bills, once again, attempted to convert by turning to the "tush push", which has seen some considerable success this season. However, it was ruled that Allen came up short of the sticks for a first down, resulting in a turnover on downs with 13:01 to go.
Kansas City moved back in front just five plays later, as Mahomes found the end zone again on the ground from 10 yards out.
On the ensuing two-point conversion attempt, Mahomes was able to find wide receiver Justin Watson in the back of the end zone, extending the Chiefs lead to seven, 29-22.
It took the Bills just under four minutes to even the contest at 29-29, thanks to the arm of Josh Allen on a 4th-and-goal at the Chiefs' 4-yard line. Allen was able to get good protection and connect with Curtis Samuel in the back of the end zone. Bass' extra point tied the game with 6:15 to go in regulation.
With time winding down in the fourth quarter, the Chiefs looked to add another touchdown to really put the pressure on the Bills late. However, the Buffalo defense had other plans, as the unit held Kansas City to just a 35-yard field goal from kicker Harrison Butker.
The Bills had plenty of time left on the clock to either tie the game at 32-32, or find the end zone and flip the script on Kansas City with 3:33 to go.
The Bills got as far as their own 47-yard line before facing a 4th-and-5 at the two-minute warning. However, the Chiefs blitzed Allen on fourth down, forcing him to throw up a ball for tight end Dalton Kincaid that fell incomplete, resulting in a turnover on downs.
From there, all the Chiefs needed to accomplish was forcing the Bills to burn their three timeouts, thus allowing them to run down the clock to close out the contest, and the Bills season.
The Chiefs were able to convert twice for first downs in the dying moment of the game, securing their third-straight trip to the Super Bowl.
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SCORING RECAP
First Quarter:
- 7-0 KANSAS CITY: Chiefs touchdown (8:56) - Kareem Hunt rushes 12 yards for a touchdown. (Harrison Butker's extra point attempt is good)
Drive info: 9 plays, 90 yards, 5:05
- 7-3 KANSAS CITY: Bills field goal (3:45) - Tyler Bass' 53-yard field goal attempt is good.
Drive info: 10 plays, 35 yards, 5:11
Second Quarter:
- 10-7 BUFFALO: Bills touchdown (10:25) - James Cook takes off to the outside for a 6-yard touchdown run. (Tyler Bass' extra point attempt is good)
Drive info: 10 plays, 72 yards, 5:32
- 14-10 KANSAS CITY: Chiefs touchdown (4:13) - Patrick Mahomes finds Xavier Worthy for an 11-yard touchdown pass. (Harrison Butker's extra point attempt is good)
Drive info: 11 plays, 70 yards, 6:12
- 21-10 KANSAS CITY: Chiefs touchdown (1:55) - Patrick Mahomes keeps it himself and finds the end zone for a 1-yard touchdown run. (Harrison Butker's extra point attempt is good)
Drive info: 6 plays, 34 yards, 1:44
- 21-16 KANSAS CITY: Bills touchdown (0:23) - Josh Allen tosses a deep strike to Mack Hollins for a 34-yard touchdown. (Buffalo's two-point conversion attempt was unsuccessful)
Drive info: 7 plays, 73 yards, 1:32
Third Quarter:
- 22-21 BUFFALO: Bills touchdown (2:56) - James Cook finds a way into the end zone for a 1-yard touchdown run. (Buffalo's two-point conversion attempt was unsuccessful)
Drive info: 12 plays, 80 yards, 7:05
Fourth Quarter:
- 29-22 KANSAS CITY: Chiefs touchdown (10:14) - Patrick Mahomes tucks it and runs for a 10-yard touchdown. (Kansas City's two-point conversion attempt is successful)
Drive info: 5 plays, 59 yards, 2:41
- 29-29 TIE: Bills touchdown: (6:15) - Josh Allen fires a strike to Curtis Samuel in the back of the end zone for a 4-yard touchdown. (Tyler Bass' extra point attempt is good)
Drive info: 9 plays, 70 yards, 3:59
- 32-29 KANSAS CITY: Chiefs field goal (3:33) - Harrison Butker's 35-yard field goal attempt is good.
Drive info: 8 plays, 51 yards, 2:42
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SKYWORKS EQUIPMENT RENTAL STATS OF THE GAME:
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What's next:
The Bills will clean out their lockers this week and enter the offseason. Complete coverage of locker room cleanout can be heard on WGR Sports Radio 550.