Chiefs Super Bowl bound once again, top Bills 32-29 in AFC Championship clash

By MATT PIKE

St. Joseph Post

The Kansas City Chiefs and the Buffalo Bills once again put on an instant playoff classic in the AFC Championship at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium on Sunday, but for a fourth straight time it was the Chiefs coming out on top, winning 32-29. 

With the win, Kansas City is now in its third straight Super Bowl.  Now, the AFC champions will try to do something no other NFL team has done: Win all three.

The matchup was back and forth from the get go, the Chiefs getting the first blow on the first offensive drive of the game that went 90 yards in nine plays, ending with a 12 yard rushing score by Kareem Hunt.  In the six playoff games that Hunt has played in his career, he has scored in all six. 

A 53 yard field goal from Buffalo kicker Tyler Bass, yet another of 50+ yards which Bass has not missed from this season, was the only other score in the first quarter, but following a Kansas City fumble on a misplayed handoff between Patrick Mahomes and Isiah Pacheco, the Bills drove 10 plays before James Cook gave them the lead on a six yard run. 

The Chiefs wasted no time answering with a long 11 play drive of their own on the following drive, Mahomes throwing his lone passing touchdown of the game, 11 yards to rookie Xavier Worthy. and after forcing the Bills to punt, Mahomes scored again this time with his legs,  from one yard out, extending the lead to 21-10.

The number 13 when it comes to the Bills, might give the Chiefs some nightmares.  The last time Kansas City and Buffalo clashed in the AFC Championship at Arrowhead, it was Gabe Davis, who wore #13, that had eight catches for 201 yards and four touchdowns.  This time it was Mack Hollins, scoring a 34 yard touchdown pass from Josh Allen near the end of the half to cut the lead to five, and after a failed two point conversion, the two teams went to the halftime break with Kansas City leading 21-16. 

Cook scored the lone touchdown of the third quarter, giving the Bills the lead back, but again Buffalo was unable to convert the two point conversion attempt, leading 22-21.  The Chiefs were forced to punt on the following drive, but then got a big break from their defense, stopping Allen on 4th and 1, and after replay review ruled the MVP favorite short, forced a turnover on downs. 

Kansas City took advantage of the turnover on downs, needing just five plays to do so, ending with Mahomes using his legs and keeping his wheels spinning for a 10 yard rushing touchdown, then completing a two point conversion pass to Justin Watson to make it a touchdown game, putting the ball back in the hands of Allen with 10:14 left in the game. 

The Bills went on to exploit the Chiefs defense on a nine play drive, the biggest play of the drive again being a pass between Allen and Hollins of 32 yards, setting Buffalo up at the four yard line.  Kansas City got a sack on Allen to back the Bills up, but after back to back incomplete passes, Allen found Curtis Samuel in the back of the endzone for a four yard pass, tying up the game after the extra point kick from Bass. 

Getting the ball back with 6:15 remaining in regulation Kansas City drove seven plays before stalling in the redzone, Harrison Butker knocking through a go ahead 35 yard field goal with 3:33 left in regulation, putting the game in the hands of their defense again.  The Bills got a 13 yard run from Ty Johnson, but two incomplete passes and a five yard short route to Amari Cooper, pinned Buffalo at 4th and 5 at the two minute warning. 

Coming out of the two minute warning, Allen was looking deep, but was also faced with pressure by the Chiefs front seven, and George Karlaftis, who had three sacks last week, put enough pressure on Allen to force a long pass off his back leg, that fell through the hands of second year tight end Dalton Kincaid, turning the ball over on downs. 

 Kansas City ran out the remaining clock, getting a first down run from Pacheco, and cementing the game on a 17 yard pass from Mahomes to Samaje Perine. 

Mahomes was 18 of 26 passing for 245 yards with one touchdown, rushing for 43 yards and two scores.  Hunt rushed 17 times for 64 yards and one touchdown.  Worthy was the leading receiver with six catches for 85 yards and a score.  

The Chiefs will get a familiar foe in the Eagles, whom they beat two years ago for the first title in this run. Philadelphia romped to a 55-23 victory over the Washington Commanders earlier Sunday to earn a shot at the champs on Feb. 9 in New Orleans.

You can follow Matt on X @KfeqMatt and St. Joseph Post @StJosephPost.