What we learned from Chiefs' dramatic playoff win over Bills in AFC Championship Game
Published in Football
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The Kansas City Chiefs have their date at a Three-Peat.
KC’s close-game magic — and domination over the Buffalo Bills in the postseason — lived on another game.
Quarterback Patrick Mahomes engineered a fourth-quarter, go-ahead drive, and the Chiefs defense came up with two massive stops in KC’s 32-29 home victory over the Bills in the AFC Championship on Sunday.
KC will play the Philadelphia Eagles in Super Bowl LIX at 6:30 p.m. ET on Sunday, Feb. 9 in New Orleans.
The Chiefs and Bills went blow for blow in the second half before KC’s defense came through late.
Mahomes engineered a drive in the final six minutes that stalled in the red zone. Still, kicker Harrison Butker’s 35-yard field goal with 3:37 left gave KC a 32-29 lead.
It was up to the defense then — and after a rough day, it came through in the clutch.
Bills quarterback Josh Allen faced a fourth-and-5 at his own 47 when Chiefs defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo sent an all-out blitz.
Allen heaved a deep pass for tight end Dalton Kincaid, who tried to adjust to the ball but dropped it after it fluttered his way.
The Chiefs offense ran things out from there, gaining two first downs. The last was a third-and-9 pass to running back Samaje Perine, with the play sending Mahomes circling the field with arms outstretched in celebration.
It was the first time in 28 games that the Chiefs had scored more than 30 points in a game.
Buffalo took its first lead late in the third quarter, as running back James Cook took a pitch from Allen and acrobatically stretched the ball across the goal line while getting hit hard by Chiefs linebacker Nick Bolton. Cook’s individual effort gave the Bills a 22-21 lead.
After a Chiefs punt, the Bills threatened to take a commanding lead before a massive KC stop. On fourth-and-1 from the Chiefs 41, Allen was stuffed on a QB sneak attempt by Bolton. The short call stood after replay review.
Mahomes took advantage, leading the Chiefs on a 59-yard touchdown drive while running in the 10-yard score himself. According to NFL Next Gen Stats, it was only the second designed run of Mahomes’ career — with both coming in the playoffs.
Receiver Justin Watson pulled down a two-point conversion catch to make it 29-22, but Allen wasn’t done and answered to tie it.
He led the Bills down the field and finished a touchdown drive with a clutch play late, finding receiver Curtis Samuel for a 4-yard touchdown on a fourth-and-goal with 6:20 left.
The Chiefs led 21-16 at halftime after putting together one of their best offensive halves of the year.
KC scored touchdowns on three of four possessions, while only halted by a self-inflicted mistake when Mahomes lost a fumble when trying to pull the ball away from running back Isiah Pacheco on a run fake. Outside of that, Mahomes was almost perfect.
He completed 10 of 13 passes for 132 yards with a passing and rushing touchdown.
He had plenty of help, too. Rookie Xavier Worthy — the Chiefs drafted him after trading first-round picks with the Bills in April — had five catches for 62 yards with a touchdown. He also had a key grab late in the second quarter, pulling down a jump-ball for 26 yards that put KC inside the 5.
Kareem Hunt — in his first AFC Championship with the Chiefs after reuniting with them in September — also was effective. He had eight carries for 41 yards before halftime, while also adding the game’s first score.
The Chiefs, if they defeat the Eagles, would become the first NFL team in the modern era to win three consecutive championships.
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