"Bills vs. Chiefs: Patrick Mahomes and Kansas City defeat Buffalo to claim the AFC title, keeping their Super Bowl three-peat hopes alive."

 

"Chiefs linebacker Nick Bolton (32) collides with Bills quarterback Josh Allen during the fourth quarter of Sunday’s AFC Championship Game. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)"

Josh Allen and the Buffalo Bills found themselves in a position they would have gladly accepted at the start of Sunday night’s AFC Championship Game.

Trailing the Kansas City Chiefs by just three points, they had possession of the ball with 3:33 remaining—an ideal scenario for a quarterback to become a legend and a team to earn a championship.

However, there’s a reason the Chiefs have built a dynasty. Time and time again throughout this era, they’ve found themselves in high-pressure situations, and almost every time, they manage to make the key plays needed to secure a victory.

The Chiefs' pursuit of a historic Super Bowl three-peat remains intact. The defense delivered a crucial stop inside the two-minute warning, allowing Kansas City to hold on for a dramatic 32-29 victory.

A Kansas City blitz on fourth down pressured Josh Allen into rushing a throw, which fell incomplete to tight end Dalton Kincaid. The Chiefs then took over on downs, securing the win.

The Chiefs will take on the Philadelphia Eagles in Super Bowl LIX on February 9 in New Orleans.

It was yet another unforgettable playoff clash between the Chiefs and Bills. While this postseason has lacked many standout games, the AFC Championship provided one for the books. Despite hopes from many that someone might finally stop the Chiefs’ dominant run, Kansas City did what it does best—making just enough key plays to secure the win and return to the Super Bowl.

KC's Offense Shines in the First Half
While the Chiefs’ offense has Mahomes at the helm, it hasn’t been quite as dominant in recent seasons. Kansas City didn’t score over 30 points in any game this season.

However, the first half of this matchup was a different story. The Chiefs put up 21 points before halftime, starting strong with a solid opening drive capped off by a Kareem Hunt touchdown for a 7-0 lead. The Bills fought back to reclaim the lead, but the Chiefs responded with 14 unanswered points. A remarkable play by Xavier Worthy, who snatched the ball from a defender mid-air, set Kansas City up at the 3-yard line, and Mahomes ran it in on third-and-goal to make it 21-10.

The Bills needed a response before halftime—and they got it. Josh Allen connected with Mack Hollins on a beautiful 34-yard touchdown, with Hollins catching the pass while being interfered with. After a penalty on the extra point, the Bills attempted a 2-point conversion, but Allen’s quarterback sneak was stopped, leaving the score at 21-16.

Despite the deficit, the Bills were still in striking distance, setting the stage for another intense second half between two powerhouse teams.

A Thrilling Fourth Quarter
The third quarter was dominated by defensive play, but the Bills took the lead with a spectacular effort. On fourth-and-goal from the 1-yard line, James Cook was hit short of the goal line but managed to keep himself off the ground and stretched the ball over for a touchdown. The Bills now led 22-21.

That drive also featured a crucial fourth-down conversion, with Allen keeping the ball for a first down. Although Sean McDermott has been more conservative with fourth-down decisions in big games, his bold choices paid off as the Bills entered the fourth quarter with a slim lead.

A fourth-down attempt in the fourth quarter didn’t go as planned for the Bills. Struggling with quarterback sneaks, Allen was stopped on a fourth-and-inches attempt. He was ruled short, and after a review, the call stood despite its close nature. Buffalo turned the ball over on downs.

The Chiefs, known for capitalizing on such opportunities, did exactly that after Allen’s short yardage play. They marched down the field, and Mahomes capped the drive with a 10-yard touchdown run. A successful 2-point conversion put Kansas City ahead 29-22.

Next, it was the Bills' turn. Buffalo went for it on fourth-and-goal, and Allen connected with Curtis Samuel in the back of the end zone for a touchdown, tying the game at 29-29 with 6:15 left.

But Mahomes and the Chiefs weren’t rattled by the situation. They quickly drove into Bills territory, aided by an obvious facemask penalty on linebacker Matt Milano. Worthy made another big play to push the Chiefs to the 10-yard line. However, a crucial sack on first down set them back, leaving them with second-and-goal at the 17-yard line. Two incompletions later, the Chiefs were forced to settle for a field goal, giving them a 32-29 lead with 3:33 remaining. Despite the lead, the door was still open for Allen and the Bills to snatch a win and secure a spot in their third straight Super Bowl.