Buffalo Bills Hang On To Beat Kansas City Chiefs, Keep Playoff Hopes Alive
The Buffalo Bills and Kansas City Chiefs are most well-known for their explosive offenses, but in Sunday's matchup at Geha Field at Arrowhead Stadium, it was the defenses stealing the show.
Despite blowing a 14-0 second-quarter lead, the Bills held on for a 20-17 victory in a game that they desperately needed to win for their playoff chances.
Buffalo got off to a great start, picking off Patrick Mahomes on the opening drive before Josh Allen scored touchdowns on back-to-back possessions. One of those touchdowns came on a 25-yard pass to James Cook while the other came on a six-yard keeper.
Allen gets ready to pass during Sunday's game.
USA TODAY
After that, though, the Bills' offense cooled down as the Chiefs began to heat up. Kansas City got on the board with a seven-yard rush by Jerick McKinnon, then Mahomes hit Rashee Rice on their first drive of the second half to cut the lead to three.
Eventually, the game turned into an offensive stalemate with neither team able to generate much momentum. The difference came in a Tyler Bass field goal just after the two-minute warning, and the Bills held on to earn a critical win. It didn't come without one more heart attack, though, as Kadarius Toney appeared to score on a lateral from Travis Kelce, but Toney being offside resulted in the play coming back.
Allen completed 23 of 42 passes 233 yards, a touchdown and an interception through the air, plus 32 yards and another touchdown on the ground. Cook was the Bills' leading rusher with 10 carries for 58 yards to go along with five receptions for 83 yards and a touchdown.
On the other end, Mahomes completed 25 of 43 passes for 271 yards, one touchdown and one interception. Kelce led the way receiving with six catches for 83 yards.
Now at 7-6, the Bills remain alive in the extremely crowded AFC playoff picture. They'll look to carry their newfound momentum into another huge game against the Dallas Cowboys next Sunday.
