Mahomes and Allen have all-time great shootout in a historic record breaking game, Kansas City to host fourth straight AFC title game
In the rematch of all rematches, the Kansas City Chiefs prevailed over the Buffalo Bills 42-36 in overtime. The game was evenly matched throughout and was close from start to finish, every team took each other’s best punch and the Chiefs came out on top. The Chiefs will host their fourth consecutive AFC Championship Game at Arrowhead Stadium, in case you were counting, that’s every single season Patrick Mahomes has started at quarterback for Kansas City.
The first quarter saw both teams compete evenly as the Bills received the opening kickoff. Outside the tackle rushes, especially ones led by former Chief center Mitch Morse helped the Bills score. The Bills capitalized on using nearly half the quarter, but the Chiefs were able to respond. Several rushes by Mahomes, a rushing touchdown, and a 34-yard rush helped the Chiefs move the ball initially.
This tweet by us explains Mahomes’ attitude on that first drive with his improvising.
One problem became evident for the Chiefs’ defense, the Bills’ running game was going to be a difficult problem to start. Bills quarterback Josh Allen had a solid day on the ground as well, making big runs early and often, getting the team in positions to score, but the Bills had to punt three times in the first half.
The Chiefs scored a crucial touchdown just after the two-minute warning in the second quarter to go up, 14-7. Since the Chiefs received But the Bills were able to capitalize with a touchdown when two Chiefs defensive backs got tangled up.
This left the Chiefs just seconds to get a score before halftime. But the Chiefs made quick work with their two timeouts to get in field goal range. But Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker’s kick hit off the upright post from 50-yards to close out the quarter, signaling his issues with kicking early in the game.
The teams went to halftime with a 14-14 score and that score was accurate for how the game felt. Even and that these are the two best teams in the AFC battling to host an AFC title game.
The Chiefs continued to roll and trust with running back Jerick McKinnon. McKinnon saw 10 carries and four catches, combining for 62 yards. Clyde Edwards-Helaire also returned and saw some solid action, totaling 54 rushing yards on just five carries.
Butker got redemption after the first drive was stalled in field goal range. The defense then got stopped and the offense scored after a 25-yard rush by Mecole Hardman, to make the score 23-14. But Butker would miss the point after attempt.
Then Bills quarterback Josh Allen made quick and easy work of the Chiefs’ secondary. Allen threw a perfect 75-yard touchdown pass to receiver Gabriel Davis.
Mahomes also had an impressive third quarter, completing all nine of his passes for 70 yards. The Chiefs would settle for another field goal before the game was settled down by Allen and the Bills.
The Bills had a 17 play, seven-minute drive that was capped off by another blown coverage to Davis. They converted the two-point conversation to go up three with a little less than two minutes to play.
But Mahomes showed his postseason magic quickly, throwing to wide receiver Tyreek Hill. Who would explode half the field up the sideline to put the Chiefs up 33-29 with just 1:13 on the clock.
Then the same thing happened over again. Davis splits the Chiefs secondary for a touchdown, the Bills went up 36-33. The Bills left the Chiefs thirteen seconds to get points on the board. But Mahomes threw it to of his two favorite targets Travis Kelce and Hill to give Butker a 49-yard field goal and he capitalized to send the game into overtime.
The Chiefs won the coin toss and received. This was one of those games where the last team to have the ball wins and Mahomes drove the Chiefs down and threw a back-shoulder fade to Kelce to win the game, 42-36, and now the Chiefs host the AFC Championship Game in Arrowhead for a fourth straight time.
Mahomes and Allen had an all-time classic duel, both threw for over 320 passing yards and four touchdowns each. The two went punch-for-punch in one of the wildest playoff games I’ve seen ever.
Both Hill and Kelce caught a touchdown, The duo combined for nearly 250 yards with Hill totaling 150 receiving yards and Kelce with 96 on the game.
This game will be talked about historically, and not just for its crazy finish. As Davis became the first wide receiver in NFL postseason history to catch four touchdown passes in a single game.
