Quarter-by-quarter recap of Bills loss to Chiefs in AFC Championship
KANSAS CITY, MO – The Buffalo Bills have lost to the Kansas City Chiefs, 32-29. Buffalo’s season has ended at the hands of Patrick Mahomes for the fourth time in the last five seasons. Here’s a quarter-by-quarter recap.
FOURTH QUARTER
-The Bills began the fourth quarter with a 4th & inches scenario at midfield, which the Bills converted as Josh Allen jumped over the line to move the sticks. The Bills faced yet another fourth down where they pushed Josh Allen forward, but Kansas City held them back and Buffalo turned the ball over on downs.
-The Chiefs capitalize off of Buffalo’s turnover on downs as Patrick Mahomes rushes for 10 yards to end a five-play, 59-yard drive. KC converts the two-point try as the Bills trail 29-22 with 10:14 to go.
-Buffalo responded after losing the lead as Josh Allen found Mack Hollins for 32 yards on third down to get inside the five-yard line. Then on 4th & Goal, Allen found Curtis Samuel in the back of the endzone as the Bills tied it up at 29 apiece after Tyler Bass’ extra point, 6:15 remains in the fourth quarter.
-The Chiefs got down the field in a hurry, picking up 23 yards with a pass to Xavier Worthy down to the 10-yard line, but Jordan Phillips sacked Patrick Mahomes on 1st & Goal and after two-straight incompletions, Harrison Butker kicked a field goal to take the lead 32-29 with 3:33 left in the fourth quarter.
-The Bills moved the sticks on the drive’s second play before picking up just five yards on the next three plays, setting up a 4th & 5. Josh Allen backpedaled and the threw it up, Dalton Kincaid got his hands on it, but the ball fell incomplete. Chiefs take over with 1:54 left up three.
THIRD QUARTER
-The third quarter starts as the Bills kick to Kansas City. The Chiefs got the drive started, getting into Bills territory before Matt Milano sacked Patrick Mahomes on third down as Matt Araiza punts for the first time all game. Bills take over at their own 20-yard line with 10:01 to go in the third quarter.
-The Bills committed to the run game to start the third, running James Cook on three-consecutive plays, piling up 43 yards before Ty Johnson got his number called. Allen used his legs to convert a 4th & 1 and picked up another 13 yards two plays later, getting inside the 10-yard line. On 4th & Goal from the one, Josh Allen pitched the ball back to James Cook on a speed option as the Buffalo running back crossed the goal line. Bills retake the lead 22-21 after another unsuccessful two-point try.
-The Chiefs’ offense continued to struggle in the second half, forced to punt after three plays. Bills take over with 2:07 left in the third quarter.
HALFTIME STATS
Josh Allen: 13/20, 150 passing yards, TD
Patrick Mahomes: 10/13, 132 passing yards, two total TDs
SECOND QUARTER
-The Bills begin the second quarter with the ball at their own 40-yard line. Buffalo picked up two third downs on the drive with one pass to Amari Cooper and another to Khalil Shakir before James Cook punched it in from six yards out. The Bills take the lead 10-7 with 10:25 left in the first half.
-The Chiefs respond with their own touchdown drive, as Patrick Mahomes finds Xavier Worthy and the rookie wide receiver outraces Damar Hamlin. Kansas City takes a 14-10 lead with 4:13 left to go in the second quarter.
-The Bills were unable to make anything happen on their ensuing drive and punted after three plays. Chiefs take over inside Buffalo territory after a 45-yard punt return, 3:39 remains in the second quarter.
-The Chiefs capitalized off of the Bills’ three-and-out, finding themselves inside the five-yard line after a deep ball caught by Xavier Worthy (that Sean McDermott unsuccessfully challenged). Patrick Mahomes ran for the touchdown as Kansas City took a 21-10 lead with 1:55 left in the half.
-Trailing by two scores, the Bills desperately needed points and inched closer, eventually getting inside Kansas City’s 35-yard line. That’s when Josh Allen went deep and found Mack Hollins in the endzone for six. The Bills went for two but failed to get it across the line. Bills trail 21-16 with 0:23 left in the half.
FIRST QUARTER
-The Bills received the opening kickoff, but the Chiefs forced a three-and-out as Sam Martin punts.
-The Chiefs cap off a nine-play, 90-yard drive as Kareem Hunt goes 12 yards and Kansas City takes a 7-0 lead with 8:56 to go in the first quarter.
-The Bills started their next drive with two third-down conversions before getting thwarted on their third attempt. Tyler Bass kicked through a 53-yard field goal as Kansas City still leads 7-3 with 3:45 left in the first.
-On the third play of Kansas City’s next drive, Bills cornerback Christian Benford collided with another defender and was taken on the field. Benford was in concussion protocol in the week leading up to the game.
-After driving into Bills territory, Patrick Mahomes fumbled the ball in the backfield with Buffalo defensive tackle Ed Oliver recovering. Bills take over with 0:57 left in the first quarter.
-The Chiefs picked up two first downs and the Chiefs win, 32-29.
Predictions
News10NBC predicts the Bills vs. Chiefs AFC Championship game. For the whole newsroom’s predictions, go here.
Ian Mills – Chiefs: 34, Bills: 28
Mat Mlodzinski – Bills: 31, Chiefs: 30
Jennifer Lewke – Bills: 27, Chiefs: 21
Stacy Pensgen – Bills: 31, Chiefs: 28