For the first time in his six-year career as a starter, Patrick Mahomes would go on the road for a non-super bowl playoff game this past Sunday, January 21. Not unfamiliar to Mahomes would be his competition: Josh Allen and the Buffalo Bills. The Bills and Chiefs had already met twice in the playoffs prior to Sunday’s game, once in the 2020 AFC championship game where the Chiefs won 38-24 and again the next year in the 2021 divisional round where Mahomes would lead his team to the famous 13-second comeback, winning 42-36 in overtime. Two thrilling results, both in favor of Mahomes and the Chiefs. Would playing at his home field, Highmark Stadium, with his riled up “Bills mafia” in support finally give Josh Allen the edge he needed to get over the hump that is the Kansas City Chiefs?
Well, as Sunday illustrated, no. The Chiefs would top the Bills 27-24, sending them to their 6th straight AFC championship game and bringing them to 3-0 versus the Bills in the playoffs in the Allen-Mahomes duel era. Led by the Mahomes-Kelce connection, the Chiefs offense found their rhythm, preying on the middle of the field and the injury ridden Buffalo linebacker core. Mahomes and Kelce would connect for 2 touchdowns, which earned them the record for most postseason touchdowns between a quarterback and receiver duo. New Jersey native Isiah Pacheco rushed for 97 yards and a touchdown on 15 carries. Mahomes had to play near perfect to secure the Chiefs victory, going 17/23 for 215 yards and two touchdowns on a 91.2 QBR.
As for the Bills, Josh Allen stole the show. Throwing for 26/39 completions, 186 yards and 2 touchdowns on a 65.4 QBR. Where Allen really dominated, however, was not through the air but on the ground, as he rushed for 72 yards and 2 touchdowns on 12 attempts. Second year receiver Khalil Shakir caught the Bills sole passing touchdown. James Cook led the Bills ground game other than Josh Allen with 61 yards on 18 carries. Former all-pro Stefon Diggs was only able to secure 3 receptions for 21 yards.
Through the first 3 quarters, each team had found their groove and was playing near perfect football, with only one punt up until the 4th quarter. The Bills found control on offense through the run game, scoring with long sustained drives and taking advantage of Allen’s legs. The Chiefs found their flow mainly in the pass game. The smooth offense came to a screeching halt in the beginning of the 4th quarter when Buffalo turned it over on downs after attempting a fake punt on their own 30. With great field position and an opportunity to take a two score lead, it looked as if the Chiefs were going to take the game over. Only 36 seconds later though, Kansas City’s Mecole Hardman would fumble the ball out of the endzone for a touchback, giving possession back to Buffalo. Buffalo’s ensuing drive would go a whopping negative two yards and last 1:24. Kansas City would also then fail to convert on offense, punting after 2:22 and eight yards gained. The Bills would then finally be able to put a decent drive together again. On the 8th play of the drive though, Allen would fumble and a Chiefs defender went for the scoop and score rather than falling on the ball, which allowed Buffalo to retain possession and keep their drive alive. The Bills would ultimately miss a 44 yard field goal that could have tied the game, which allowed the Chiefs to run the clock out.
There is always a lot to unpack following a Chiefs-Bills matchup, and this game was no exception. For the Chiefs, questions lie mainly in their next game versus the Baltimore Ravens. Will they be able to find the same success in the air against the more talented and healthy Baltimore Ravens defense? How will they adjust to stop the even more lethal quarterback rusher in Lamar Jackson?
In the Bills case, there are many uncertainties in the future of the team. Josh Allen and head coach Sean McDermott have now passed the five-year rule, where no quarterback-head coach duo has won a superbowl if they didn’t in their first five years together. Will McDermott keep his job, especially as offensive minded head coaches grow more prominent in the NFL? Additionally, the Bills WR2, Gabe Davis is a free agent this off season and Khalil Shakir is looking more and more like a solid number two option. Most notably, Stefon Diggs has been thrown around in trade rumors heading towards this offense, and there has been murmurs of frustration surrounding his production on the team.
While I think the iteration of the Allen-Diggs-McDermott Bills super bowl contender is nearing its end, as long as Buffalo can hold onto Allen they will remain a threat. The Chiefs made it clear last year that they are not going anywhere as long as they have Mahomes with their Super Bowl victory, and this win confirms it. A formidable opponent stands in the way of Chiefs aspirations to extend their dynasty this Sunday, January 28 and if Mahomes’ battles with Allen can tell us anything, the battle to keep it alive will be a thriller.
