The Chiefs got the best of the Bills in the last two meetings of the AFC contenders, first in the conference championship and then, last year, in the wildest shootout of the divisional round. But not on Sunday. Taron Johnson jumped in front of a pass from Patrick Mahomes for a 24-20 win.
Both sides got off to a slow start in the early matchup, trying so hard for big plays that ended with red zone turnovers. But Mahomes and Josh Allen hit field goals as the game wore on, with Stefon Diggs, Gabe Davis and Von Miller all getting highlights to push Buffalo to 5-1 on the season.
Mahomes ended the first half in remarkable fashion by making a pair of rushing touchdowns in the waning seconds to set up a Chiefs franchise-record 62-yard field goal by Harrison Butker that knotted the score at 10-10. It took him just 12 seconds total to do it, a year after he used the final 13 seconds of the Bills-Chiefs playoff game to set up a field goal to force overtime. Just like in that postseason game, the two teams were also tied after the first, second and third quarters.
Here are some takeaways from Sunday’s Bills-Chiefs shootout:
Why the Bills won
The main reason is twofold: Josh Allen was predictably a big-play machine most of the time; and while he won’t get as much credit, the defense made plays exactly when they needed them. Let’s start with Allen: He wasn’t very methodical out of the gate, consistently dropping 10-15 yards behind the line in hopes of making a mega play, even though Devin Singletary was going into open space with ease. But once Allen’s connection with Stefon Diggs was restored, the offense found its rhythm, and the guy put on a clinic for Diggs outside, finishing with 10 catches for 148 yards and a score.
Gabe Davis’ speed was also on display once again, and Allen showed his confidence at every outlet, including Dawson Knox, with time bombs and bullets. Defensively, Taron Johnson deserves credit for jumping Mahomes’ off-balance throw into double coverage to seal the game. But Von Miller was just as pivotal, recording two sacks and keeping Mahomes moving.
Why the Chiefs lost
It wasn’t for lack of trying; Kansas City still proved to be the king of miracle drives, especially late in the first half when Mahomes needed all of 12 seconds to set up a record-setting 62-yard field goal by Harrison Butker. Mahomes, for his part, held his own like a wizard, leaning on the ultra-reliable Travis Kelce and the surprisingly wide-open JuJu Smith-Schuster to always keep KC in the mix, if not ahead. But it’s clear the QB was also pressing for plays on occasion, like when he forced one into the end zone and was picked off by Kaiir Elam.
It didn’t help that there was no real game in his script. Or that rookie Joshua Williams was tasked with blocking the Bills’ speedy receivers on the outside. Chiefs fans shouldn’t be too concerned given how close this one is, as expected, but it’s fair to remain skeptical about the depth of Mahomes’ receiving options because of how much he relies on in numbers 15 and 87.
Crucial moment
Considering this one was back and forth from start to finish, it has to be Mahomes’ second pick, when Johnson jumped the route and took advantage of the Chiefs QB trying to make something out of nothing. That interception put the ball back in Buffalo’s hands, up 24-20 after 12 TD plays by the Bills, and sealed the close win for the visitors.
game of the game
All of Allen’s big plays are worth it, but give it to the QB for stringing his last TD to Dawson Knox. Everything about the launch, which set the record straight for good, was textbook.
What follows
The Bills (5-1) will rest during the bye week before returning home on Oct. 30 for a Sunday night matchup with the Packers (3-3), who were defeated by the Jets in Week 6 .The Chiefs (4-2). ), meanwhile, will hit the road for a Super Bowl LIV rematch with the 49ers (3-3), who were upset by the Falcons on Sunday.