A familiar storyline to the latest Bills vs. Chiefs clash
It marked the fifth time in three seasons that the Buffalo Bills and Kansas City Chiefs clashed. And there would be some late fireworks once again.
It was one of the more memorable postseason games in NFL annals. The Buffalo Bills and Kansas City Chiefs combined for four-plus quarters and 78 points in last year’s AFC Divisional Playoffs. Andy Reid’s club would prevail overtime, 42-36, at home on their way to a fourth straight appearance in the conference title game.
Buffalo Bills get the best of the Kansas City Chiefs
On Sunday afternoon in Kansas City, these two franchises renewed acquaintances. Both the Bills and Chiefs owned 4-1 records entering the game. The latter led the league in scoring with 159 points, followed by Sean McDermott’s club (152). Both Josh Allen and Patrick Mahomes were off to tremendous starts. It figured to be a very busy afternoon for the scoreboard operator at Arrowhead Stadium.
There was also a sense of déjà vu. Entering Sunday, the Chiefs were the highest-scoring team in the league with 159 points. Meanwhile, the Bills and San Francisco 49ers were tied in allowing the fewest points in the NFL (61).
Flashback to last year’s playoff clash when Buffalo owned the NFL’s top-ranked defensive unit in terms of fewest yards allowed. More significantly, the team had given up a league-low 289 points. Entering Sunday, only the Niners had given up fewer total yards in 2022.
In last year’s playoff loss, McDermott’s club allowed season highs in points (42) and total yards (552). The Chiefs were able to run for 182 yards and like the Bills, did not commit a turnover. And the Buffalo defense really had few answers for Mahomes, Travis Kelce, and Tyreek Hill (now with the Dolphins).
But on Sunday, it was a revamped Buffalo defense that came up big late in the club’s 24-20 triumph. Yes, the team did give up a season-high 387 total yards. But Kansas City ran for only 68 yards. Mahomes was sacked three times (twice by Von Miller) and picked off twice, the second in the final minute of the contest after Allen and tight end Dawson Knox combined for a 14-yard score with 1:04 to play.
Of course, the Bills did go into Arrowhead Stadium last year during the regular season and won on a Sunday night. It wound up not mattering much come playoff time. And it certainly won’t be a shock if these teams squared off again in January.