Chiefs linebacker Nick Bolton (32) hits Bills quarterback Josh Allen in the fourth quarter of Sunday’s AFC championship game. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
Josh Allen and the Buffalo Bills had a situation that they would have been happy with to start Sunday night’s AFC championship game.
They trailed the Kansas City Chiefs by three points, but with the ball and 3:33 to work with. It’s the type of situation that turns quarterbacks into legends and teams into champions.
There’s a reason, however, the Chiefs are a dynasty. At so many points over this era they’ve been in a situation with the game on the line, and almost every time they come up with enough plays to win.
The Chiefs’ quest for a historic Super Bowl 3-peat is still alive. The defense got the one stop it needed inside of the two-minute warning and Kansas City held on for a memorable 32-29 win.
A Kansas City blitz on fourth down forced Allen into hurrying a fourth-down throw, it fell incomplete to tight end Dalton Kincaid and the Chiefs took over on downs.
The Chiefs will face the Philadelphia Eagles in Super Bowl LIX on Feb. 9 in New Orleans.
It was another classic playoff matchup between the Chiefs and Bills. There haven’t been many great games in this postseason, but the AFC championship game provided one. To the chagrin of everyone hoping for someone to end the Chiefs’ seemingly never-ending run of success, Kansas City did what it usually does and made just enough plays to get them over the finish line and back to the Super Bowl.
KC’s offense comes through in 1st half
The Chiefs’ offense has Mahomes but hasn’t been elite for a couple of seasons. Kansas City didn’t score more than 30 points in a game all season.
It wasn’t too hard for the Chiefs in the first half though. They had 21 points before halftime. They had a great drive to start the game, with Kareem Hunt scoring to give Kansas City an early 7-0 lead. The Bills rallied to take back the lead, but the Chiefs scored 14 points in a row after that. A huge play by Xavier Worthy, taking a ball away from a defender in the air, got the Chiefs to the 3-yard line and Mahomes ran it in on third-and-goal for a 21-10 Chiefs lead.
The Bills needed points before halftime and got them. Allen and Mack Hollins hooked up on a pretty 34-yard touchdown, with Hollins hauling in the pass as he was being interfered with on the play. The Bills went for the 2-point conversion after a penalty on the extra point got them closer to the goal line, but Allen’s quarterback sneak was stopped.
Still, a 21-16 deficit at halftime seemed manageable. As with most Bills-Chiefs games the past few seasons, it was setting up a tense, great second-half finish between two fantastic teams.
A thrilling 4th quarter
The third quarter turned into a defensive battle, and the Bills took the lead on a great play. On a fourth-and-goal from the 1-yard line James Cook was hit short of the goal line, but he kept himself off the ground and stretched the ball over the goal line for a touchdown. The Bills led 22-21. That drive included another fourth-down conversion, on a fourth-down keeper by Allen. Sean McDermott hasn’t always been aggressive on fourth downs in big games, but his boldness paid off with a Bills lead going into the fourth quarter.
A fourth-down attempt in the fourth quarter wasn’t as successful. The Bills had trouble converting quarterback sneaks and Allen was stood up when he tried for one on a fourth-and-inches. Allen was ruled short, the spot was reviewed and even though it was very close the call stood. Buffalo turned it over on downs.
The Chiefs often take advantage of opportunities like that and did after Allen was called short. They drove downfield and Mahomes had a 10-yard touchdown run. A 2-point conversion gave Kansas City a 29-22 lead.
Then it was the Bills’ turn. Buffalo went for it on fourth-and-goal and Allen found Curtis Samuel in the back of the end zone for a touchdown. The game was tied again with 6:15 left to go.
It’s not like Mahomes and the Chiefs are nervous in that or any other situation. They drove quickly into Bills territory, helped by an obvious facemask penalty on linebacker Matt Milano. Worthy made another big play to get the Chiefs to the 10-yard line. A huge sack on first down set the Chiefs back, however. They had second-and-goal at the 17-yard line. Two incompletions later and the Chiefs had to settle for a field goal. They led 32-29, but with 3:33 left the door was open for Allen and the Bills to steal a win and go to their third straight Super Bowl.
LIVE COVERAGE IS OVER57 updates
The Eagles and the Chiefs will meet again in the Super Bowl
Just two years ago, Kansas City and Philadelphia met in Super Bowl 57, with the Chiefs coming out on top 38-35. Patrick Mahomes was the MVP of the game, throwing for 182 yards and 3 touchdowns. Jalen Hurts was brilliant, throwing for 304 yards and a score to go along with 70 yards on the ground and 3 rushing touchdowns. Outside of Hurts, the Eagles rushed for 45 yards on 17 carries (2.7 yards per carry) with their running backs, Kenneth Gainwell, Miles Sanders and Boston Scott. The Philadelphia running game will look just a bit different heading into this one.
Also, per BetMGM, the Chiefs have opened as the favorite at -1.5 for Super Bowl LIX, set for 6:30 p.m. ET on Sunday, February 9.
The Kansas City Chiefs are off to New Orleans with a chance to win a third-straight Super Bowl title
Kansas City is the first team in the Super Bowl-era to get back to the Super Bowl after winning it the two previous seasons.
Samaje Perine on the catch, and the Chiefs will have the chance to run it out.
That 17-yard catch is the only time Samaje Perine touched the ball tonight.
Mahomes to Pacheco for the first down, and Kansas City is right on the cusp
Pacheco was marked out of bounds on this play, which is a big help for the Bills, but with 1:45 on the clock and two timeouts, Buffalo is in a spot where they may need a mistake from a K.C. team that has won 16-straight one-score games.
Allen’s heave goes begging on 4th down, Chiefs take over
The Bills still have three timeouts … but one first down and the game is all but over.
Two-minute warning and Buffalo is facing the biggest play of the season
It’s 4th and 5 for the Bills at their own 47-yard-line and they do have three timeouts. The Bills are 4-of-5 on 4th down attempts tonight, and on a couple of 4th and goal plays they’ve scored touchdowns. This is the play of the year for the Bills offense and Chiefs defense.
Josh Allen springs free for a first down
Sticky coverage led to this one by Allen. Pickup of 13.
Mahomes has to throw it away on 3rd down, and now it’s 4th and goal from the 17
Big spot for Harrison Butker, who nails the 35-yard attempt with 3:33 to go and the Chiefs take a 32-29 lead. The ball goes back to the Bills now. Buffalo has three timeouts and the two-minute warning, and a touchdown would give the Bills the lead.
Jordan Phillips with a MASSIVE sack on 1st down
Xavier Worthy for 23 yards
Mesh concept against man-to-man coverage and Worthy got free in the wash. K.C. now down to the 10 yard line for a 1st and goal.
Travis Kelce sighting in the 4th quarter
He picks up 12 and the Chiefs are near field goal range. Kelce has been quiet, with 2 catches for 19 yards.
Huge penalty on the first play with Matt Milano flagged for a facemask
Kareem Hunt caught a pass to get near a first down, but tack on 15 more and K.C. is in Buffalo territory.
ALLEN to CURTIS SAMUEL for the tie!
We’re entering CLASSIC territory once again in this EPIC Chiefs-Bills rivalry. It was Allen’s third or fourth read. He did a great job of staying patient in the pocket and the Bills offensive line was tremendous on this play. The Bills have now scored twice on 4th and goal plays.
It’s 29-29 in K.C. with about six minutes to go.
Bills to go for it on 4th and goal from the 4
Biggest play of the game for both sides with 6:20 left.
ALLEN TO HOLLINS on 3rd and 8
32 yards on the 3rd and 8 pickup and the Bills have a 1st and goal at the 4-yard-line.
Patrick Mahomes with ANOTHER rushing touchdown
This is his first career postseason game with two TD runs, and this one was a designed QB keeper. He’s up to 45 rushing yards for the game, and then he hit Justin Watson to convert the 2-point try. Chiefs go up 29-22 with 10:14 left in regulation. THIS is the kinda game we all expected.
JuJu breaks free for 29 on the catch and run
Mahomes is one of the best ever against the blitz, and this is a dart to JuJu to move the chains.
Allen comes up SHORT and Chiefs take over at their own 40
One of the biggest plays of the game, with just under 13 minutes to play and the Chiefs’ defense came up huge in a potential spot to save the season.
Allen sneak on another 4th down comes up VERY close
Allen was stuffed on yet another 4th down attempt on a QB sneak, but the officials can review it without a challenge because it involves a change of possession, if he were to have come up short.
Josh Allen dives over the top on 4th down and CONVERTS
Allen fumbled the ball, but was able to make the recovery. Huge play to keep the Bills drive alive.
Aaron Judge and Juan Soto are no longer on the same team, but they're still immensely valuable for fantasy baseball. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)Another
🇩🇪 Bundesliga Referees to Announce VAR DecisionsThis article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in
