The quest for a 3-peat continues as the Kansas City Chiefs win their fifth of seven AFC Championship appearances, beating the Buffalo Bills 32-29 to advance to Super Bowl LIX in New Orleans, Louisiana.
The Chiefs continued an ongoing trend in the AFC playoffs, ending the Bills’ season in heart-ripping fashion. The rivalry between quarterbacks Patrick Mahomes and Josh Allen ceases to be anything other than an entertaining dogfight that comes down to the wire. Sunday evening was no different as the AFC’s top two heavyweights battled for conference supremacy.
First Quarter: Chiefs take an early lead
Buffalo’s offense got the ball first, but nerves seemed to get to Josh Allen as he threw two incomplete passes for a quick three and out. Kansas City’s opening drive displayed the best of the Chiefs’ offense has operated all season as they drove 90 yards down the field with ease.
Kansas City got a big burst at their 47-yard line as Mahomes darted a short pass to wide receiver Ju Ju Smith-Schuster, who turned it into a 31-yard gain to the Buffalo 22. The drive ended with Kansas City taking an early lead as running back Kareem Hunt rumbled through the Bills’ defense for a 12-yard rushing touchdown.
Opening drive TD for Kareem Hunt and the @Chiefs!
— NFL (@NFL) January 26, 2025: #BUFvsKC on CBS
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Buffalo regained their composure the next time on offense and stormed back in the opposite direction. But Kansas City’s defense stepped up on 3rd and 9 at their 39-yard line, stopping a completion from Allen to wide receiver Kahlil Shakir short of the first down and forcing Buffalo to settle for a 53-yard Tyler Bass field goal.
Second Quarter: Patrick Mahomes and Josh Allen get into a shootout
After pouncing on a Mahomes fumble late in the first quarter, Buffalo reached the endzone for the first time to conclude a 12-play, 67-yard drive, as running back James Cook sliced through the defense for a six-yard touchdown. On the Chiefs’ next possession, Mahomes took his offense 59 yards down the field in 13 plays to re-take the lead. On 3rd &4, Mahomes converted with an explosive 16-yard pass to rookie wide receiver Xavier Worthy to advance to the Buffalo 11-yard line.
The rookie Xavier Worthy puts the Chiefs back up!
— NFL (@NFL) January 27, 2025
On the next play, Mahomes connected with Worthy again, this time for an 11-yard touchdown, as the rookie dove for the bottom left pylon as he was going out of bounds. Kansas City turned up the intensity as Buffalo’s offense trotted back onto the field with 4:13 remaining in the first half, forcing three consecutive incomplete passes by Josh Allen.
Kansas City re-took possession of the football. On 3rd & 5, Mahomes converted with a 26-yard bomb to Worthy for a new set of downs at the Bills’ three-yard line. Three plays later, Mahomes ends the drive on a QB keeper for a one-yard touchdown.
Mahomes makes it a two-possession game!
— NFL (@NFL) January 27, 2025
Buffalo responded to Kansas City’s dominance in the first half by traveling 67 yards up the field in 11 plays and closing the second quarter with a 34-yard touchdown reception by wide receiver Mack Hollins. Buffalo attempted to go for two points, but the try was stuffed. Both teams entered their locker rooms with the Chiefs in front 21-16 at halftime.
KC's defense holds strong on the two-point conversion attempt.
— NFL (@NFL) January 27, 2025
Third Quarter: Buffalo scores first points of the second half
In the third quarter, Buffalo forced the Chiefs to go empty-handed after an 11-play possession ended with a 42-yard punt by Matt Araiza. The Bills offense maintained possession for more than seven minutes and scored the only points of the third quarter. Buffalo’s 13-play, 80-yard drive got a huge jolt with a 33-yard run by James Cook to the Chiefs’ 42-yard line. Followed by a 13-yard scramble by Allen six plays later. The possession ended on 4th down, one yard from the goalline. Cook took the handoff and powered his way across for the touchdown. Buffalo also attempted to score on a two-point conversion attempt but failed.
JAMES COOK REACHES FOR THE TD
— NFL (@NFL) January 27, 2025
Fourth Quarter: Buffalo ties the game, but Kansas City takes the win
Buffalo had the ball again to begin the fourth quarter but turned it over on downs as linebacker Nick Bolton sniffed out the QB sneak perfectly and stuffed Allen for no gain on 4th & 1 from the Chiefs’ 41-yard line.
After a seven-yard scramble by Mahomes, the three-time Super Bowl MVP completed a short pass to a wide-open Ju Ju Smith-Schuster, who broke loose for a 29-yard gain to the Buffalo 23. Three plays later, Mahomes ends the drive on a 10-yard scamper to the end zone for the touchdown. Buffalo responded by tying the game up at 29 apiece after Allen guided his team on a 70-yard scoring drive that ended with the all-pro quarterback finding wide receiver Curtis Samuel for a four-yard touchdown completion.
Now, with just 6:11 remaining in the fourth quarter, Mahomes began the Chiefs’ next offensive drive with a six-yard completion to Hunt, which turned into a 21-yard gain after the veteran running back was pulled down by his facemask by linebacker Matt Milano. The 15-yard personal foul moved Kansas City up to the Bills’ 47-yard line. Mahomes followed that play up with an 11-yard pass to tight end Travis Kelce and a 23-yard bomb to Worthy.
Xavier Worthy down to the 10!
— NFL (@NFL) January 27, 2025
The Bills defense stepped up after that, sacking Mahomes for a seven-yard loss and forcing two incomplete passes. However, the Chiefs were still in field goal range, and Harrison Butker kicked in a 35-yard field goal to take the lead with 3:33 remaining.
Buffalo needed to be perfect to re-take the lead and defeat the Chiefs for the first time in the postseason. But that wasn’t that kind of night. After a 13-yard scramble by Allen, the Chiefs’ defense turned up the heat and blitzed the MVP candidate repeatedly. While under extreme pressure, Allen released two incomplete passes and created a crucial 3rd & 10 at their 42-yard line.
Allen finally completed a pass to wide receiver Amari Cooper, but the play only earned five yards. It was fourth down now. Buffalo needed just five more yards to convert a new set of downs. As Allen snapped the ball, the Chiefs’ defense came after him like heat-seeking mistles and forced him to throw a prayer. Tight end Dalton Kincade nearly made an unbelievable diving catch, but the ball fell through his arms to the turf incomplete, ending Buffalo’s season.
The Chiefs make the stop on fourth down!
— NFL (@NFL) January 27, 2025
Kansas City ran the rest of the clock to walk away with a 32-29 victory and is moving on to play for a third-consecutive Super Bowl championship. The Chiefs are now 4-0 against Josh Allen’s Bills in the postseason and continue their winning streak of 17 consecutive one-possession games.
