Image Credit: © Jay Biggerstaff-USA TODAY Sports
It was one for the history books. Buffalo and Kansas City traded punches over the final two minutes of regulation and overtime. When it was all said and done, it was the Chiefs that came out a 42-36 winner in Sunday's divisional playoff game.
Over the final two minutes of regulation play, the lead changed hands three times. A total of 25 points was scored as it was one of those games where the last team with the ball was likely to win. Kansas City held a 26-21 lead when Buffalo QB Josh Allen took over and led the Bills on a 17-play drive that would give the Bills the lead. It wasn't easy.
To keep the drive alive, Buffalo head coach Sean McDermott would go for it on 4th-and-4 from the Kansas City 30-yard line. Then, the Bills faced a 4th-and-13 at the Chiefs 27-yard line. Allen found a wide-open Gabriel Davis in the end zone to give Buffalo a 29-23 lead with 1:54 left in the game.
© Jay Biggerstaff-USA TODAY Sports
That, of course, was plenty of time for Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes to lead Kansas City on a scoring drive of its own. It didn't take long. On a 2nd-and-10 play from their own 36-yard line, Mahomes hit WR Tyreek Hill over the middle. The fleet-footed receiver did the rest, and 64 yards later, the Chiefs were back in the lead. The extra point made it 33-29 with 1:02 remaining in the game.
Needing a touchdown, the Bills and Allen quickly marched the ball down the field. Allen hit Davis twice, once for 28 yards and a second time for 12. A 16-yard completion to Emmanuel Sanders set the Bills up at the Kansas City 19-yard line with 23 seconds to play. On the very next play, Allen found Davis for his playoff record fourth touchdown reception and a 36-33.
The only problem was that there were still 13 seconds on the clock. A 19-yard completion to Hill and another 25-yard pass to TE Travis Kelce allowed Chiefs K Harrison Butker a chance to tie the game. Butker had missed a field goal and an extra point earlier in the game. Harrison's 49-yard field goal was good as time ran out, and the game was tied at 36-36.
© Jay Biggerstaff-USA TODAY Sports
Quite possibly, the only thing Allen got wrong all night was the overtime coin toss. The Chiefs took the kickoff and marched down the field in eight plays against the NFL's best defense. From the Bills 8-yard line, Mahomes found Kelce in the right corner of the end zone for the game-winner.
It was the first time in NFL history that opposing quarterbacks each threw for at least 300 yards, at least three touchdowns, completed at least 70 percent of their passes and didn't throw an interception. Plus, both quarterbacks led their respective teams in rushing with at least 65 yards. That had never been done in an NFL regular season or postseason game.
Allen finished with 27 completions in 37 attempts for 329 yards and four touchdowns. Mahomes was 33-of-44 for 378 yards and three touchdowns. Allen carried 11 times for 68 yards to lead the Bills, while Mahomes ran for 69 yards on seven attempts.
Davis had a historic day as he hauled in eight passes for 201 yards and the record four touchdowns. The Chiefs become the first NFL team to host four consecutive conference championship games with the win. They broke a record held by the Philadelphia Eagles, who, ironically, were coached by Andy Reid, the Chiefs head coach. It was the Bills' ninth straight road playoff loss.
Go Bills!!
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