'It's Always Tough!' Somber Bills Talk Playoff Loss to Chiefs On Tyler Bass Missed FG: Live Blog
It was an almost glorious gameday in Buffalo as the Bills played host to the Kansas City Chiefs inside Highmark Stadium in the AFC Divisional Round. ... "glorious'' right up until the time it wasn't, with a last-minute Tyler Bass field goal sailing "wide right'' to allow K.C. the 27-24 win ... and leaving the Buffalo locker room in a somber mood.
Center Mitch Morse was asked to compare this disappointment with previous failures - a very good Bills group has now won the AFC East four straight times without making championship postseason progress.
"It's always tough,'' Morse said quietly.
How did we arrive at this point? Follow along for our chronological look ...
In a rematch of the 2022 Divisional Round game, the Bills will look to be the team that moves on to the AFC Championship after the last postseason matchup between these two teams came down to the wire and ended in disappointment for the Bills.
Jan 24, 2021; Kansas City, Missouri, USA; Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen (17) scrambles as Kansas City Chiefs defensive end Alex Okafor (57) and strong safety Tyrann Mathieu (32) attempt the sack in the AFC Championship Game at Arrowhead Stadium.
Despite a successful two-minute drive from the Bills that saw them take a 36-33 lead over the Chiefs with just 13 seconds left as Josh Allen found Gabe Davis for a 19-yard touchdown, Patrick Mahomes did the improbable.
Mahomes helped lead the Chiefs 44 yards in just two plays, as he completed two passes for 44 yards, setting up the game-tying 49-yard field goal from Harrison Butker that sent it to overtime.
This was just the beginning of the end for the Bills, as the Chiefs won the toss to receive the ball in overtime and essentially won the game as Mahomes led them down the field again, this time for a touchdown.
That feeling of disappointment and letdown is what the Bills will look to avoid this time out against Kansas City.
WHAT: Kansas City Chiefs (11-6, 6-2 Road) at Buffalo Bills (11-6, 7-2 Home)
WHEN: Sunday, Jan. 21, 2024, 6:30 p.m. ET
WHERE: Highmark Stadium, Orchard Park, NY (71,608)
TELEVISION: CBS | FuboTV (Free trial here)
RADIO: WGR550-AM
TICKETS via SI TICKETS
Betting via SI SportsBook
SPREAD: Bills -2.5
TOTAL: 45.5
MONEYLINE: Chiefs +125, Bills -150
First Quarter
The Bills received the ball first and kicked off the game with an impressive opening drive. Josh Allen led Buffalo 60 yards on 14 plays before they settled for a 27-yard field goal from Tyler Bass. Allen completed five of his seven passes for 32 yards and on the drive and even picked up a crucial fourth and one quarterback sneak.
FIELD GOAL BILLS
Bills 3, Chiefs 0
Change of Possession
The Chiefs match the Bills field goal with one of their own as Mahomes led Kansas City 46 yards in seven plays.
FIELD GOAL CHIEFS
Bills 3, Chiefs 3
Change of Possession
Second Quarter
Picking up where they left off on their opening drive, the Bills offense retook the field and drove 75 yards in 11 plays. Allen capped off a strong drive with a five-yard rushing touchdown to retake the lead.
TOUCHDOWN BILLS
Bills 10, Chiefs 3
Change of Possession
The Chiefs were unable to match the Bills touchdown as Mahomes' third-down pass intended for Marquez Valdes-Scantling fell incomplete. This meant the Chief's drive stalled out in Buffalo territory, forcing them to settle for a 29-yard field goal.
FIELD GOAL CHIEFS
Bills 10, Chiefs 6
Change of Possession
After scoring on their first two drives, the Bills were forced to punt after just five plays as Allen's pass to Shakir picked up just four of the eight yards needed on third down.
Change of Possession
The Chiefs found the endzone as Patrick Mahomes found Travis Kelce for a 22-yard touchdown pass.
TOUCHDOWN CHIEFS
Chiefs 13, Bills 10
Change of Possession
Allen completed five of his seven passes for 49 yards before he finished the drive with a two-yard rushing touchdown as he drove through a pile of Chiefs to reach the endzone.
TOUCHDOWN BILLS
Bills 17, Chiefs 13
Change of Possession
The Chiefs took a knee to send the game to halftime.
Third Quarter
The Chiefs opened the second half with a touchdown as Mahomes found Kelce for a three-yard score. Mahomes and the Chiefs offense struck quickly, driving 75 yards in just six plays.
TOUCHDOWN CHIEFS
Chiefs 20, Bills 17
Change of Possession
Allen and co. matched it with a 13-yard pass to Shakir as the game had its fourth lead change. Allen completed five of his six passes on the drive as he found Shakir for the touchdown after a delay of game penalty backed the Bills up for third-and-goal.
TOUCHDOWN BILLS
Bills 24, Chiefs 20
Change of Possession
Fourth Quarter
The Chiefs responded quickly with a score of their own as they drove 75 yards in just eight plays. Kansas City relied heavily on Pacheco during the drive, giving him four carries for 28 yards, which included his four-yard touchdown run.
TOUCHDOWN CHIEFS
Chiefs 27, Bills 24
Change of Possession
After a three-and-out from the Bills, a fake punt direct snap to Damar Hamlin was stopped short of the chains.
Change of Possession
After Pacheco picked 29 yards on a first-down run, they went to Mecole Hardman on a jet sweep, who fumbled out of the back of the endzone for a touchback.
Change of Possession
Despite a controversial defensive pass interference call costing the Bills a Chiefs punt earlier in the drive, but they were able to do it on the next set of downs as Mahomes scrambled for just a yard on third-and-10.
Change of Possession
The Bills put together an impressive 16-play drive that took over six minutes off the clock. However, after an incomplete pass from Allen on third down, the Bills trotted out Tyler Bass for a 44-yard field goal. Bass's field goal was wide right.
Change of Possession
Pacheco picked up the first-down the Chiefs needed to run out the clock.
FINAL: Kansas City Chiefs 27, Buffalo Bills 24
