It was a brutal season-ending loss for the Buffalo Bills, who were knocked out of the playoffs by the Kansas Chiefs for the third time in the last four seasons. Kansas City sent Buffalo into the offseason with a 27-24 win.
The Bills went 16 plays to set up a game-tying 44-yard field goal attempt and Tyler Bass missed it wide right with 1:43 remaining. Isiah Pacheco ran for 8 yards and 3 yards for a first down and Patrick Mahomes kneeled three times to run out the clock. Mahomes is going to his sixth straight AFC Championship Game.
Buffalo had the ball for more than 37 minutes and ran 78 plays to Kansas City’s 47. Josh Allen completed 26 of 39 passes for 186 yards and a touchdown and rushed for 72 yards and two touchdowns on 12 carries. Patrick Mahomes went 17 of 23 for 215 yards and two touchdowns and Isiah Pacheco had 97 yards rushing and a touchdown on 15 carries.
Buffalo’s season has ended at home in the Divisional Round for the second straight year.
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“Wide right. The two most dreaded words in Buffalo.” Those were the words from CBA play-by-play announcer Jim Nantz.
Buffalo came out and Josh Allen launched a deep ball to Stefon Diggs, who couldn’t make the catch near the right sideline. Allen completed to Dalton Kincaid for 7 yards and Dawson Knox picked up the first down on a 4-yard reception. Allen threw to Kincaid for 8 yards and Allen ran for 4 yards and another first down. Allen threw two incompletions and Allen scrambled for 6 yards on third down but fumbled. It looked like the Chiefs would grab it for a scoop and score but Dalton Kincaid dove and batted the ball, allowing offensive tackle Spencer Brown to pounce on it. Buffalo went for it on fourth-and-3 from midfield and Khalil Shakir took a short pass 10 yards for a first down. Three plays later, Allen completed to Trent Sherfield for 7 yards on third-and-4 for a first down. James Cook ran for 1 yards and Allen threw two incompletions to set up Tyler Bass’ 44-yard field goal attempt. He missed wide right.
It looked like the Bills forced a three-and-out and then there was a late flag. On third-and-5, Patrick Mahomes threw incomplete for Rashee Rice but linebacker Dorian Williams was called for pass interference. It didn’t cost Buffalo. Mahomes threw two straight incompletions and then was forced out of the pocket and scrambled foer a yard on third down. Tommy Townsend punted 49 yards into the end zone.
Mecole Hardman has touched the ball twice in the game. He fumbled both times. Isiah Pacheco opened the drive with a 29-yard run to the Bills’ 3. Kansas City tried a gadget play and Hardman made a short reception and had the ball ripped away by Jordan Poyer as he went down. The ball went into the end zone. The play was initially ruled down by contact at the Bills’ 1. Buffalo challenged the play and it was reversed to a fumble into the end zone for a touchback.
Buffalo attempted a fake punt and couldn’t convert. Facing fourth-and-5, the Chiefs only had 10 guys on the field. The Bills sent a direct snap to Damar Hamlin, who was stopped after 2 yards. The Chiefs take over at the Bills’ 30.
Kansas City is back in the lead. There have been three straight 75-yard touchdown drives to start the second half. Isiah Pacheco ran hard for 12 yards to get near midfield. Two plays later, Buffalo blitzed and Patrick Mahomes completed deep over the middle to Marquez Valdes-Scantling for 32 yards to the Bills’ 16. Kansas city has first and goal after an 8-yard pass from Mahomes to Rashee Rice. Pacheco followed it with a 4-yard touchdown run.
Third-and-goal from the 13-yard line. No problem. Josh Allen evaded pressure and fired a touchdown pass to Khalil SHakir, who dragged both feed in the front corner of the end zone for the touchdown.
The Bills offensive line is wearing down the Chiefs. Buffalo leaned on the run and chewed up clock and Ty Johnson broke free for a 16-yard run to set up first-and-goal from the Chiefs’ 5. Johnson lost two yards and the Bills were called for delay of game to set up the touchdown play. Buffalo went 75 yards in 15 plays and took 8 minutes, 25 seconds off the clock.
That’s three lead changes in 6 minutes, 45 seconds. Kansas City went six plays and 75 yards for a touchdown to start the second half. Patrick Mahomes completed to Marquez Valdes-Scantling for 30 yards and two plays later Mahomes scrambled for 24 yards. Isiah Pacheco took a catch-and-run 14 yards to set up first-and-goal from the 3. Mahomes capped the drive with a touchdown pass to Kelce, who dove for the pylon for the score.
The Bills dominated total yards, first downs and time of possession and have the lead at halftime. Josh Allen has completed 14 of 19 passes for 111 yards and has 51 yards rushing and two touchdowns on eight carrie…<...truncated for brevity...> https://profile.democratandchronicle.com/newsletters/bills-blast