Ciao!
That does it for our live, rolling coverage of the AFC Championship. And wasn’t that fun? I know I enjoyed it. We’ll have plenty of Super Bowl coverage in the coming weeks, including live coverage of the game itself. Until then, thanks to all of you for reading, and wherever you are, good morning, good afternoon or goodnight.
Read all about it
Mahomes – Kelce
“I’m excited to get down to New Orleans to try and make history” says Mahomes, after paying tribute to Allen, who is a “true competitor”.
Kelce does some dancing, asks the crowd to make some noise, while his girlfriend Taylor Swift smiles and prepares for the mother of all benders her boyfriend is about to drag her on.
Updated
Trophy
It’s the trophy nobody wants, except the Chiefs, as it’s named after the teams founder, and the founder of the AFL. Clark Hunt takes dad’s silverware and tells CBS that they’re so excited to lift another Lamar Hunt trophy.
Honestly, it’s all a bit robotic.
“Chiefs Kingdom, we’re heading to New Orleans to make history.” says Clark.
So the Chiefs don’t even have a nation, they have a kingdom. Must be nice!
Andy Reid says it was a heck of a football game. I’d day he’s right.
Updated
Postgame
Well the Chiefs did it, again. That’s their 17th consecutive one possession game win in the regular season and playoffs. I mean, that’s impossible, or it should be. But clearly it’s not, and KC are heading to New Orleans for the 59th Super Bowl.
Mahomes, with superior game awareness, Reid, with his coaching, and gaggle of coaches and coordinators, make up for what his Chiefs do not have, which is quite a lot actually. It doesn’t matter. It never seems to matter.
It’s hard to imagine Philly pulling this off: we’re looking at a true NFL dynasty for the first time in the Super Bowl era. That’s the reality. And one KC fans will be delighted with, and why shouldn’t they be.
For Buffalo? Well, it’s hard to find adjectives to describe what those players, coaches, and and everyone else must be feeling. They had their chance, and it slipped out of the fingers of Kincaid, a play that would have been nothing short of miraculous. But it’s not to be for the upstate NY Bills bunch.
And they didn’t deserve the loss. Nobody deserved it. What a game, five lead changes, and everything you want in a heavyweight game for all the marbles.
Incredible, high stakes sports.
Updated
The play that nearly happened!
Excuse the French, but if Kincaid comes up with this ball it becomes one of the top three plays of the century. But he didn’t, and it’s another absolute killer of a loss for Josh Allen and the Bills franchise. No team deserved to lose this instant classic.
In all seriousness how in the absolute fuck did Dalton Kincaid not catch this? pic.twitter.com/7UblYWe3YD
— The Brohioan (@TheBrohioan) January 27, 2025
Updated
Bills 29-32 Chiefs, FINAL
The Kansas City Chiefs have won the AFC title, again, but the slimmest of margins! Another master class in tightrope walking for Reid, Mahomes and the Chiefs organization. They’re heading to New Orleans!
Bills 29-32 Chiefs, 0:46 fourth quarter
Mahomes to Perine, who makes his first catch of the game on the far sideline and it’s the catch that will clinch it for KC!
Bills 29-32 Chiefs, 1:35 fourth quarter
Hunt is tripped up, it’s 3rd & 9 from the Bills 39. The bills call their final timeout.
Bills 29-32 Chiefs, 1:38 fourth quarter
Pacheco, ahead for, what, one? Timeout no2 for Buffalo.
Looking at the replay on the Allen throw now, Kincaid should have had it. He almost had it. Oh man, that is killer for Bills fans!
Bills 29-32 Chiefs, 1:45 fourth quarter
Mahomes is gonna pass! He’s crazy! They’re crazy! But it’s complete, of course! First down! But Pacheco is out of bounds and he stops the clock.
NO FLAG! CHIEFS BALL! Bills 29-32 Chiefs, 1:50 fourth quarter
Turnover on downs.
The Chiefs are trying to run out the clock. Hunt runs for a yard. Timeout. The Bills have two left.
FLAG? Bills 29-32 Chiefs, 1:54 fourth quarter
OK, here we go!
Josh Allen, with the season on the line, right here. He’s in the shotgun, he’s blitzed and pressured, and chucks it up! Incomplete!
But there’s a flag!
Bills 29-32 Chiefs, 2:00 fourth quarter
Allen, a quick side armed screen to Cooper for five yards. Fourth down and 5! And here we are a the two minute warning.
I like the call, but when we get back, it’s (probably) fourth and season for Buffalo!
I’m losing my breath here, seriously!
Bills 29-32 Chiefs, 2:17 fourth quarter
Allen throws and it’s batted down! What a play!
3rd & 10. The crowd grows louder.
Bills 29-32 Chiefs, 2:21 fourth quarter
Allen back to pass, and now he’s running with daylight! He’s ahead for a first down!
Then Allen is incomplete. 2nd & 10 from the Bills 42.
Bills 29-32 Chiefs, 3:04 fourth quarter
The Bills start at the KC 30. Johnson runs to his right, nothing there. Runs left, nothing there. Taken down for a loss of one.
FIELD GOAL! Bills 29-32 Chiefs, 3:33 fourth quarter
CBS is calling the kick by Butker clutch, but I think the Bills surviving first and goal is clutch.
Buffalo has them right where they want them. It’s in their hands now. Will Buffalo break the Chiefs bid a three straight Super Bowl titles?
Bills 29-29 Chiefs, 3:37 fourth quarter
Mahomes is hit as he throws…incomplete. The drive stalls!
Here comes the field goal unit. It’s a 35-yard attempt.
Bills 29-29 Chiefs, 3:40 fourth quarter
KC running more now, trying to get that clock down. Hunt for three yards.
But now Mahomes puts it in the air! Worthy on a crossing route has it and is running!
KC at the Bills 10 already. Or they were – Mahomes is sacked at the 17. That’s a healthy loss right there.
Now a quick screen pass to Worthy, incomplete. Unforced error.
It’s 3rd & goal from the 17! Put on your seat belts!
Bills 29-29 Chiefs, 5:14 fourth quarter
CBS says the Chiefs have won 16 straight one possession games, including the regular season and the playoffs. Well, here they are again.
Hunt runs for a few and gets a lot more after a Bills face mask. Not smart. The Chiefs are at the Bills 48 already.
And now they’re inside the 40 after a Kelce catch. First down!
How it happened!
It’s the game of game-changing fourth down play calls! Here’s the latest!
CURTIS SAMUEL TD!
— NFL (@NFL) January 27, 2025
BILLS GET 6 ON FOURTH DOWN!
📺: #BUFvsKC on CBS
📱: Stream on @NFLPlus and Paramount+ pic.twitter.com/vymtUabdMo
Updated
TOUCHDOWN! Bills 29-29 Chiefs, 6:15 fourth quarter
Allen is patient, and finally fires to Samuel in the back of the endzone!
The extra point is good and we begin again!
Bills 22-29 Chiefs, 6:20 fourth quarter
KC’s defense ask their crowd for more.
Allen from the shotgun, a timing play to Coleman, incomplete. So now what? It’s 4th & goal.
Of course they go for it. You don’t win titles with field goals!
Bills 22-29 Chiefs, 6:23 fourth quarter
Timeout KC. That’s their first of three available.
Bills 22-29 Chiefs, 6:23 fourth quarter
On second down, Allen with loads of time, moving to his right, and right, and sideline, and throws it away. Third down!
Bills 22-29 Chiefs, 6:56 fourth quarter
The crowd is loud, or they were loud, because Allen finds Hollins, again with another huge play! It’s right down the middle, 32 yards, and it’s first down and goal to go inside the five!
My goodness! Why isn’t this the Super Bowl?
Bills 22-29 Chiefs, 7:56 fourth quarter
On 2nd & 8, Johnson is held for a yard. It’s 3rd & 8!
Bills 22-29 Chiefs, 9:07 fourth quarter
Cook, play action again, and he has even more room. This time, it’s on the far sideline, and he’s going for 23! Bills are on the KC 38!
Talk about a heavyweight fight.
Bills 22-29 Chiefs, 9:49 fourth quarter
My fingers are burning. This is like two football games in one. And with everything on the line. Buffalo begin at the 30.
Play action, and Allen fires, complete, to Cook on the near sideline. Gain of nine.
How it happened!
Just five plays later, KC are back on top. It’s the fourth lead change of this incredible game.
MAHOMES GIVES THE CHIEFS THE LEAD
— NFL (@NFL) January 27, 2025
📺: #BUFvsKC on CBS
📱: Stream on @NFLPlus and Paramount+ pic.twitter.com/I5E5gJTwGn
TOUCHDOWN! Bills 22-29 Chiefs, 10:14 fourth quarter
Now it’s first and goal after Hunt runs to the 10.
Mahomes has it, he’s taking it himself – he’s gonna go, and he’s gone! Touchdown! he went head first into the endzone! Advantage KC!
KC go for two and they have it! Kelce in the back of the endzone! he’s alive, and well!
Bills 22-21 Chiefs, 10:55 fourth quarter
Smith-Schuster is open and has room! It’s a catch and run from the middle of the field to the near sideline. A gain of 29 yards! Ball on the Bills 23!
Updated
TURNOVER! Bills 22-21 Chiefs, 12:55 fourth quarter
The replay ruling is in, and it’s first down, KC! Wow – I don’t buy that. Ball on the KC 40!
Oh, people are going to be talking, a lot, about this.
Updated
REPLAY REVIEW! Bills 22-21 Chiefs, 12:55 fourth quarter
CBS tells us that KC’s defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo told his defense they must stop the run.
Well, yeah!
On 3rd & 3, Buffalo is passing – a little toss to Kincaid is just short. It’s fourth down andf Allen quickly takes the ball – is he across the line? The fans say no! But the replay says yes!
They’re gonna look at it! It can’t possibly get any bigger than this call. And we have to watch commercials (in the US). Come on!
Bills 22-21 Chiefs, 14:43 fourth quarter
OK, so here we go! Let’s start the fourth quarter with a bang! It’s 4th and a short 1.
Allen dives, but did he lose the ball? It was out, but Allen got it back. That is CRAZY! But the end result is a first down! WOW!
Ball at midfield.
Bills 22-21 Chiefs, end of third quarter
Davis fumbles and Davis recovers! That could have derailed all of this.
Then on 3rd & 1, Buffalo are short, with Allen taking it himself. Now what?
Do you really even have to ask that question anymore? Of course, they’re gonna go.
But it will be in the fourth quarter!
Who will join the Eagles in New Orleans? Stick with us to find out!
Updated
Bills 22-21 Chiefs 1:00 third quarter
Bills are running and running and running. Cook, ahead for about six, and then an illegal hands to the face penalty on KC tacks on. Bills, first down on the KC 38.
And now they’re approaching midfield, with another bruising Cook run of about 10!
Bills 22-21 Chiefs 1:56 third quarter
Who had the Bills up in the third quarter and holding the Chiefs scoreless on back-to-back possessions, after the Chiefs bulldozed the Bills for two TD’s in under three minutes.
Not me!
Bills 22-21 Chiefs 1:56 third quarter
Mahomes in the shotgun, He looks to the near sideline, but Brown can’t hold on, and he’s out of bounds anyway. The Bills hold again, KC, three and out! Shakir has the punt and is out of bounds at the 30.
The worm is turning folks.
Serious question: is this the three-peat curse?
Bills 22-21 Chiefs 2:13 third quarter
False start on KC, 3rd & 15! Boo birds in KC!
Bills 22-21 Chiefs 2:13 third quarter
Now Buffalo blitz, and Mahomes is looking for Kelce, hit as he throws, incomplete. 3rd & 10. Huge play here.
Updated
Bills 22-21 Chiefs 2:38 third quarter
Hunt from the 30, nothing doing, no gain.
Look at this!
What a play!
JAMES COOK REACHES FOR THE TD
— NFL (@NFL) January 27, 2025
📺: #BUFvsKC on CBS
📱: Stream on @NFLPlus and Paramount+ pic.twitter.com/Xx3oSfVhul
It’s 12 plays in 7:05 covering 80 yards, mostly on the ground. Impressive!
TOUCHDOWN! Bills 22-21 Chiefs 2:56 third quarter
Allen runs, and then options it to Cook, college style! He leaps extends his hand with the football, and uses the other hand to stay up until he crosses the goal line!
What a play!
The two-point conversion is denied, but the Bills are back on top! What a drive!
Bills 16-21 Chiefs 3:11 third quarter
Knox in the near sideline has a reception and he’s down to the two!
But then Cook, straight ahead, is held at the one!
Now Allen is stuffed. It’s 4th and goal! They’re going!
Bills 16-21 Chiefs 4:36 third quarter
Allen keeps it and has to earn it, he’s hit, but keeps moving forward, and gets to the Chiefs 30. First down!
Seventh play of this drive is the seventh run – this time it’s Johsnon who eats into the Chiefs front – eight yards to the 22!
And now Allen is off after an amazing ball fake! He’s down to the 10! First and goal!
Bills 16-21 Chiefs 6:40 third quarter
It’s 3rd & about three on the KC 35.
Allen in the shotgun, Allen keeps it, but he’s short by about a yard. Will they go? Well, it’s 2025, get with it! It’s virtually automatic now.
Bills 16-21 Chiefs 7:55 third quarter
So now the Chiefs, who looked like they were about to be run over by 14 Chiefs points in under three minutes late last half, somehow have a chance to regain the lead on this drive!
Now Cook is running to his right into green pastures, down the far sideline! Wow! It’s a 33-yard gain to the KC 42! I like the running pivot, they’re game is good! And Allen hasn’t galloped much yet.
Bills 16-21 Chiefs 10:01 third quarter
Mahomes in the shotgun, takes his time, fires and hits Hollywood Brown for his third reception and it goes for 15 yards. Then a pass to Hunt, but he’s wrapped up in the backfield for a loss of two!
And now, a pass that’s tipped by Schuster before falling to the turf.
So it’s 3rd and 11, and Mahomes is running and is tripped up back at the 42! That’s something different, they’re out of field goal range.
KC punt! Wow! That’s a huge hold for the Buffalo defense. The Bills will begin at their own 20.
Bills 16-21 Chiefs 12:31 third quarter
Hunt, a few yards up the middle to midfield. It’s 3rd & 3.
We're back
The Chiefs are back and moving. A pass interference call on Buffalo’s injury riddled secondary, gives them a first down on their 43.
Stats
Well that was like a whole game of football in one half. I’m kind of a little bit exhausted. I wonder how they feel?
Mahomes: 10/13 132 yards, a passing TD, a rushing TD
Allen: 13/20 150 yards, passing TD
Cook: 23 yards, one rushing TD
Hunt, 41, one rushing TD
Worthy 5/62, one TD
Hollins, 2/41
Total Yards: KC 231, Buffalo 183
Turnovers: KC 1 Buffalo 0
Email!
Neil Zimmerman is upset!
“That Worthy review call is absolute rubbish. Ball clearly hits the turf. Bills fans will be fuming especially with the subsequent touchdown.”
I happen to agree, it’s pretty clear and I do not get it.
Bills 16-21 Chiefs, end of first half
The Chiefs take a knee. Half over.
CBS TV in the US has a chat with Chiefs head coach Andy Reid before he heads in.
“They’re a good offense, so we have to keep challenging best you can, can’t give them the easy ones.”
On going for it on 4th & 1 on their own 39:
“I just trust our guys.”
Oh, yeah, I gathered that much Andy! Thanks!
Bills 16-21 Chiefs, 0:23 second quarter
They’re going!
It’s a tush push, but KC push back! Allen is stuffed!
Yucky call. Dislike! Come on already with the tush push!
Anyway, KC needed seven, they got six, they’ll take it! Huge turn right there.
JOSH ALLEN. MACK HOLLINS.@BuffaloBills get a big TD before the half 🙌
— NFL (@NFL) January 27, 2025
📺: #BUFvsKC on CBS
📱: Stream on @NFLPlus and Paramount+ pic.twitter.com/VR8GOkUP3c
TOUCHDOWN! Bills 16-21 Chiefs, 0:23 second quarter
Allen over the middle and into the endzone – Mack reaches for a ball over his shoulder and makes the catch!
The flag is for pass interference – declined!
Flag on the kick…ball on the one – will they go for two?
Updated
Bills 10-21 Chiefs, 0:29 second quarter
The Bills have two timeouts.
Allen in the shotgun, pumps his leg, takes the snap, looks, looks, looks, scrambles, throws it away. Good coverage.
It’s 2nd & 10.
Bills 10-21 Chiefs, 0:35 second quarter
Cooper has a catch near a first down on the far sideline, then he scoots out of bounds. Then Johsnon, two quick runs, one for a first down, and then four yards. The clock is ticking.
Now Allen to Coleman on the near sideline to the KC 34! He gets out of bounds to stop the clock! They’re in field goal range, but they could really use seven.
Bills 10-21 Chiefs, 1:23 second quarter
Allen almost gets sacked, and then flips it to Shakir for a five-yard gain. Nifty!
Then Coleman has a catch, a yard short of a first down.
Flag!
Defensive pass interference!
First down.
Bills 10-21 Chiefs, 1:48 second quarter
Davids with the return to the 25, where Buffalo will begin this absolutely crucial drive.
Two TD’s…
…in under three minutes. It’s pretty scary. Gut check time for Buffalo.
TOUCHDOWN! Bills 10-21 Chiefs, 1:55 second quarter
Mahomes rolls to his right and there’s enough room to drive a jumbo jet through. He doesn’t need that much room. Touchdown!
There’s a penalty, but it’s on the Bills and it’s declined.
With KC getting the ball at the half, Allen really needs points here.
Mahomes takes it in himself for the TD!! 🙌
— KC Sports Network (@KCSportsNetwork) January 27, 2025
(via @NFL)
pic.twitter.com/moeybk3JVX
Updated
Bills 10-14 Chiefs, 2:00 second quarter
Pacheco down to the one! It’s 3rd & goal. The Chiefs take the clock down to the warning. Big downs coming up.
VERDICT! Bills 10-14 Chiefs, 2:36 second quarter
Complete say the refs, but the replay shows yes, the ball hit the turf on the way down. So that is yet another big call that goes for the Chiefs, and even after review!
So what’s up with that?
REPLAY! Bills 10-14 Chiefs, 2:36 second quarter
So that fight for the ball between Bishop and Worthy, the Bills are challenging the call, saying the ball was down before he got possession. So that would make it incomplete and push the ball back to the Bills 29.
Personally, I didn’t see any ball on any grass, so I don’t think this will go well for Buffalo.
Bills 10-14 Chiefs, 2:36 second quarter
Big pass towards the endzone! Worthy and Bishop have hands on it, and Worthy rips it free! What a catch and rip right there! Plus a defensive holding call on the Bills, declined obviously.
This is the Worthy Bowl right now! No wonder KC traded up with Buffalo to get this guy last draft.
Ball on the Buffalo 3.
Bills 10-14 Chiefs, 3:13 second quarter
Allen goes big down the far sideline! Riverboat gambler stuff! Incomplete, in the direction of Coleman.
Three and out for Buffalo. That’s not good. Especially because KC have lots of time here and a great punt return! It’s Remigio, fresh off the practice squad, shaking and baking and moving and grooving and all the rest! When it’s done, it’s down to the Buffalo 29!
A 41-yard return! It looked like this!
REMIGIO WITH THE HUGE RETURN 🏃 pic.twitter.com/Mr75wTjIfi
— Kansas City Chiefs (@Chiefs) January 27, 2025
Bills 10-14 Chiefs, 4:02 second quarter
Allen looks for Samuel on 2nd & 10, he’s open but cannot hang on. Come on man, you’ve gotta make that catch, you’re open with room to run!
So it’s 3rd & 10!
Bills 10-14 Chiefs, 4:06 second quarter
Bills start from their own 30. Allen, hit as he throws, looking for Kincaid, who couldn’t hang on. And a flag – illegal formation, offense. That’s the second one of those today. The Chiefs decline and take the down instead.
Oh, and Mahomes is 9/10 today. His QB rating is 144.2. That’s good by the way.
How it happened!
Eleven plays, 70 yards, 6:12. It seemed faster! That clock barely stopped on that drive, less the two timeouts.
This was all because of that crazy call on 4th & 1 on their own 39. Video game football.
Xavier Worthy gets to the end zone for the TD 🔥pic.twitter.com/rtozblbiNN
— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) January 27, 2025
TOUCHDOWN! Bills 10-14 Chiefs, 4:13 second quarter
It’s Worthy again, he has it and dives towards the pilon – he’s up and in!
The Chiefs are up once more on another healthy drive. Has Mahomes thrown an incomplete pass yet? Good lord.
Bills 10-7 Chiefs, 4:41 second quarter
Mahomes in the shotgun, he has a completion to Worthy for a first down on the far sideline.
And there’s a flag: personal foul, defense. And ouch, that tacks on 15!
Bills 10-7 Chiefs, 4:41 second quarter
Pacheco, and his hell raising runs, I love to watch him go, and he goes for five. So it’s 3rd & 4 from the 28.
Timeout! The Chiefs call their second TO!
It would be something if the Bills could hold KC to a field goal.
Bills 10-7 Chiefs, 5:50 second quarter
Worthy and Mahomes hook up on the near sideline for 10 yards. Then Mahomes is on the other side of the field, firing to Hopkins for 11. Chiefs on the Bills 33 – good response!
This quarter is really moving!
Bills 10-7 Chiefs, 7:34 second quarter
It looks like they will go, or do the try and draw the Bills offside thing.
But no, they go, and Mahomes runs to his right towards the sideline! First down!
Man, that is totally bananas. But they got away with it, because they always do. One of these days, that isn’t going to work.
Bills 10-7 Chiefs, 8:29 second quarter
Hunt runs and is flipped behind the line of scrimmage! Wow! That is wild! And no way they go for it here, right? Well, the Chiefs call their first timeout.
I mean, they’re on their own 39. I don’t recommend it.
Bills 10-7 Chiefs, 9:23 second quarter
OK, the Chiefs start at their 30 and Mahomes is back and firing away, hitting Kelce – there’s a name we haven’t heard yet – for eight yards.
Then Hunt runs for a yard. It’s 3rd & 1!
How it happened!
Yes, it was a run from James Cook that gave the Bills the lead! It looked a lot like this:
LET. JAMES. COOK‼️
— Buffalo Sports Talk (@BUFSportsTalk) January 27, 2025
Bills get a touchdown under the belt.
Exhale. #BillsMafia pic.twitter.com/bN0cupbXsE
It took 10 plays, it went 67 yards, it took 5:32.
TOUCHDOWN! Bills 10-7 Chiefs, 10:25 second quarter
Cook runs down the far sideline and he’s in! The Bills cash in on that muffed exchange between Mahomes muffed handoff and they’re in the lead!
Updated
Bills 3-7 Chiefs, 10:40 second quarter
Now it’s 3rd & long but Allen hooks up with Shakir at the six! The Bills are in the red zone – first and goal to go!
Bills 3-7 Chiefs, 11:20 second quarter
Allen dumps it off to Cook on the far sideline and there’s some room! A healthy 17-yard gain.
Then Allen goes on an adventure – he’s running, pointing, escaping then chucking a fluttering ball towards the endzone that is not high percentage work! It’s broken up, but it doers’t matter – defensive holding on the Chiefs! First down at the Chiefs 38!
Later….on 2nd & 6, Shakir has a completion, but he’s then smacked and pushed for a loss. Ouch! So it’s 3rd & 9!
Huge play right here. Allen in the shotgun – quick throw and complete! Cooper has it for a first down!
Finally, on the next play, Allen is stripped! But recovers, somehow, while being tackled. Quite a trick!
Ball at the KC 37.
The kick cometh
Should you be interested in that fine 53-yard kick by Mr Bass…
Bills' kicker Tyler Bass just MADE a 53-yard FG.
— Field Goal Bot (@FieldGoalBot) January 27, 2025
The kick was outdoors at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium.
BUF 3, KC 7 (3:45 - 1st)
Estimated Make Probability: 66%
Level of Difficulty (STUD): 84th Percentile pic.twitter.com/lFjNwRCYWW
Bills 3-7 Chiefs, end of first quarter
Cook on 2nd & 1, a patient run where he bounces and waits for a hole, which he does find, plunging ahead to the Bills 40 and a three yard gallop – first down Buffalo as the quarter comes to a close.
A lot of action!
TURNOVER! Bills 3-7 Chiefs, 0:57 first quarter
Mahomes drops it! The Bills have it! Ed Oliver recovers it for Buffalo and the Bills take over from the 28! That is just what they needed, even if it was kind of an unforced error.
They’ll take it!
Bedford
It doesn’t look good, he’s being driven off. Another hit to the Bills secondary that are already missing Taylor Rapp.
And then the ball slips away from Mahomes and KC recovers but the ball goes backwards quite away! But there’s a penalty on the Bills, so really it never happened.
Now Worthy is running for eight yards, and that’s three straight rushed for 28 yards total. Chiefs at the Bills 23.
It’s the Eagles
What every Giants fan wants to hear: Philly are heading to the show, with some running back guy who is OK, not great. Read all about it.
Bills 3-7 Chiefs, 2:38 first quarter
While I’m posting emails the Chiefs are busy moving across midfield, at blistering pace. it’s thanks to a Mahomes scramble and a Worthy run!
Now there’s a break as Bills corner Bedford suffers a head-to-head with a teammate that was not a fun watch. Hopefully he is OK.
Email!
Tom Hopkins has advice and wonders:
“Come on David, without a working knowledge of Roman numerals you’re putting yourself at a severe disadvantage in terms of both cryptic crosswords and the dates movies were copyrighted. Really, Super Bowl years is the least of your worries. Also, I don’t follow NFL that closely. Do Kansas City really get preferential treatment from officials and, if so, why?”
I don’t think it’s conscious bias but I think there’s some bias, yes. But KC are not the first stars to get the calls in sport.
Liam in China has a joke:
Greetings from Beijing, where it’s -7c and approaching 8am on Monday. Your reference to the bizarre way they number the Superbowls reminded me of that joke:
‘I, for one, is a roman numeral.’
Good joke! Very unusual! Thank you!
FIELD GOAL! Bills 3-7 Chiefs, 3:45 first quarter
Tyler Bass his a big boot and he’s true from 53! Wow!
So the Bills have somewhat of an answer. They showed they can move the ball and recovered well from that horrific first drive. But this isn’t gonna work unless Buffalo’s defense can get some stops.
Let’s see what they learned on those tablets while they waited.
Bills 0-7 Chiefs, 4:06 first quarter
Allen drops the snap! But then he falls right on it! CBS says the Bills haven’t lost a fumble since week four. Good stat!
It’s 3rd & 9. Shakir has a catch on the far side, he juts backwards, trying to find an edge, but he can’t, so Buffalo are short.
Here comes the field goal unit!
Bills 0-7 Chiefs, 5:52 first quarter
Allen is warming up, finding Cooper on a slant for nine yards. It’s 3rd & 1, and the tush push works it’s magic. Allen makes it on the second push within the push. First down! Ball at the KC 40!
Bills 0-7 Chiefs, 6:52 first quarter
All kinds of play changing at the line by Allen, moving pieces, finger pointing and then a completion to Kincaid for 11 yards. It was worth it!
Then Cook gets hammered and only gets a yard rush for it.
On 3rd & 3, Allen kinds Shakir for 12 yards, and the Bills have a first down!
That’ll calm those in Orchard Park just a wee bit. Ball at the Bills 48.
Bills 0-7 Chiefs, 8:51 first quarter
A touch back, then a Cook run for about five yards. But there’s a flag for illegal formation on the Bills. Come on folks! Get it together!
So it’s 1st & 15 now from the 25. Gulp!
How it happened!
Ninety yards, nine plays in just 5:05. Here’s how it ended.
Kareem Hunt was +1100 to be the first touchdown scorer in the AFC Championship 💰 pic.twitter.com/L4G734emoI
— SportsBettingDime (@SBD) January 26, 2025
Now, can Allen throw a few passes towards some of his own players?
TOUCHDOWN! Bills 0-7 Chiefs, 8:56 first quarter
Kareem Hunt, up the middle, and then a quick cut to his right and into the endzone! And just like that, 90 yards, melts away, like butter and a hot knife.
Bills 0-0 Chiefs, 9:41 first quarter
KC’s offense is moving easily, freely, wonderfully. Pacheco runs up the middle for three yards on first down.
Then J.Smith-Schuster is found up the middle, and he runs. AND RUNS! Loads of room and he’s not done until 32 yards later!
Now Hunt runs for eight! to the Buffalo 13. This is WAY too easy.
Bills 0-0 Chiefs, 12:16 first quarter
Right now it’s all Hollywood Brown! Two straight receptions for a total of 20 yards., Then Patrick runs for four, picking up a first down. The Chiefs are on the move, up to their 34.
Bills 0-0 Chiefs, 14:08 first quarter
Allen is just flinging the pill around like it’s nothing! On 3rd & 6 he throws what should have been his second interception, but somehow, it’s not. And that is truly miraculous. So the Bills punt and the Chiefs will start at their 10.
We're off!
The Bills have it first, and Cook runs to his right for about four yards! Then the other Cook, the one in the Chiefs secondary, almost picks off Allen! Whao, that should have been intercepted!
And I quote:
“We know what we’re here to do” says Mr Mahomes in a quick pregame interview for CBS TV here in the United States, when asked about the “three-peat”.
I believe him.
National Anthem
Retired Navy Petty Officer First Class (say that three times fast) Generald Wilson is belting out the National Anthem and is quite convincing. Rock solid version, no issues here. I give it a 7.5. Here’s what it sounded like in 2023 in KC if you feel the need. Just remember to please rise and remove your cap.
Key event
Here they come
The Chiefs are running onto the field, through circa 1950’s, holey, middle-American banners. It’s all very warm and wholesome, and Mahomes and Kelsce looked just great.
Speaking of warm, it’s quite balmy weather-wise in KC compared to what it’s been lately. It’s 31F, -0.5C. So weather will not be a factor tonight.
Red, yellow and zebra
If you think the spotlight will be shining bright on these two teams today, consider the referees. The non-Chiefs football world was disgusted last week after a few calls went the way of KC, with accusations of “pampering” Patrick being hurled towards refs and the league. Is he pampered? Well, most fancy QB’s are. More so than most? Maybe. With all the whining this week, it’s curious to note that the NFL assigned Clete Blakeman to head the officials this evening.
Ryan Miller of the Rochester Democrat and Chronicle notes the following:
“Mahomes is 6-5 in games officiated by Blakeman. It’s his second-worst record among 20 referees who have officiated his games. The five losses under Blakeman’s crew account for 21.7% of Mahomes’ 23 career losses.”
And then there’s this piece to read if you want to pursue more statistical fuel:
I saw a crazy stat yesterday on ESPN that I could not believe
— Warren Sharp (@SharpFootball) January 21, 2025
the last 4 years, over the Chiefs 11 playoff games:
0 games the Chiefs had more penalties
10 games opponents had more penalties
wow
so I compared them to other playoff teams...
READ:https://t.co/PETv5OoHFL
Updated
Eagles fly to the Big Easy
No, it’s not over, but currently the Eagles look set to represent the NFC at the Super Bowl LIX on 9 February, as they’re currently housing Washington 48-23.
By the way, I had to ask the internet what number LIX is. I really love how the NFL refuses to dumb down their Super Bowl years.
“LIX is the Roman numeral for 59. To convert 59 to Roman Numerals, write it in expanded form, i.e. 59 = 50 + (10 – 1), then replace the converted integers with corresponding roman numerals to get 59 = L + (X – I) = LIX.”
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Updated
Three-peats
If you think winning back-to-back Super Bowl games is tough, how about three on the trot? It’s so difficult that it’s never happened. The Chiefs are the ninth team in the Super Bowl era to have a crack at it. Of those eight teams, only the 1976 Pittsburgh Steelers and the 1990 San Francisco 49ers made it to the championship stage. Pittsburgh, who had beaten the Oakland Raiders in back-to-back AFC title games finally succumbed to the silver and black, 24-7, while the Giants famously (for NYG fans) ousted the Niners, in San Francisco with a last second field goal.
Legendary broadcaster Patt Summerall announced “there will be no three-peat” after Bahr connected that afternoon. Can the Chiefs flip that script today?
We’re live!
Hello and welcome to our live coverage of the AFC Championship game, where the Buffalo Bills have schlepped to Kansas City to take on the Chiefs! The winner takes on the winner of the Commanders and Eagles NFC Championship game, which is happening right now, and feel free to hop on over to that until it’s decided. I won’t be offended.
In the meantime, here’s a question for you. Andy Reid is 90-26 in his last seven seasons as head coach of the Chiefs. During that time he is 15-3 in the playoffs including an eight game postseason winning streak. This season, KC won 15 games and lost two, one really: that last loss to the Broncos was a week off. So how is it that a team like this, with two straight Super Bowl victories in the can, is only favored by two points v the Bills? Shouldn’t it be more, considering their track record?
The answer is, as always, the bookies know stuff. And the stuff is, yes, the Chiefs won 15 games, and yes, they find a way to win all the time, with and without the debatable VIP treatment from officials, but this team, they’re really pushing it. They don’t really have enough. They operate at the margins: just look at this statistical season comparison, They are doing it with smoke, mirrors, tremendous coaching and muscle memory.
And this is the narrative that we’ve all been hearing, and there’s a good reason for it: it seems to be true. Here’s a reddit post that says based on point differential, KC should have won 59.73% of their games. Instead, KC won over 88% of their games. This allegedly beats out the 2022 Minnesota Vikings as the most over performing team of all time, at least according to another reddit post. Those Vikings got beat by another over performing team, the New York Giants, who subsequently got destroyed in the divisional round and then fell deep into the abyss.
Now, a week after playing a fake team, KC must play a real one. The Chiefs got lucky by avoiding the Ravens, who are better than the Bills despite their loss in Buffalo last week. That said, Josh Allen also knows how to win with less around him: Buffalo lost their key wideout and some important cogs they could not afford to hang on to. What they have works: Keon Coleman, James Cook and Khalil Shakir.
Basically, KC are due for a whipping, will it be the Bills that stop KC’s playoff win streak? That’s what we’re about to find out. Oh, and I should ask, what do you think? Let me know via “x” or email and we’ll get you in the paper. Otherwise, prepare for the game of the season and stand by for more coverage!
Stick with us!
David will be here shortly. In the meantime, here’s Graham Searles on today’s game:
Story of the season: Just as in 2023, the Chiefs were subpar for much of last year, rolling in the lower gears ready to strike in the playoffs. They remain the best-coached and most well-prepared team in the NFL. Their only stumbling block: the Bills. Josh Allen’s game-sealing touchdown run on fourth and two when the teams met in the regular season was a smudge on an otherwise pristine copybook. So can Buffalo do it again? Can Allen finally make a definitive mark after losing to Mahomes three times in the postseason? The pressure is on in what is sure to be another instant classic.
What Buffalo need to do to win: Run the ball. Kansas City’s defense has a weak spot that can be exploited by James Cook and Allen. The Chiefs have softened up somewhat since limiting the Bills to a respectable 104 rushing yards when they met in Week 11. In their past five games, Kansas City have allowed an average of 150 rushing yards, while the Bills have consistently dominated on the ground, averaging 170 yards in the eight games since beating the Chiefs. Crucially, in the playoffs, the Baltimore Ravens and Denver Broncos – the NFL’s best and third-best run stoppers in terms of total yards allowed in 2024 – each gave up a season-high total against Buffalo. If that is the damage Cook and Allen can do to opponents who specialise in shutting down runners then the duo will most likely cause Kansas City serious trouble.
What Kansas City need to do to win: Put the ball in Xavier Worthy’s hands. In head coach Andy Reid’s scheme, the speedy wide receiver can stretch Buffalo deep down the field. That should give Mahomes an explosive target to unlock a Bills secondary potentially missing star cornerback Christian Benford, who is in concussion protocol. Reid should also work in creative touches for Worthy when the Chiefs have the ball inside the red zone. He brings a crucial playmaking threat to support the more routine, efficient production of Travis Kelce. The Bills have struggled in tight games in the postseason in recent season, and jitters were evident again last week as Lamar Jackson rampaged in the second half. Reid can rely on Worthy to be an X-factor much as Tyreek Hill was in the Chiefs’ epic divisional-round win over Buffalo in 2022.
Key player for the Bills: Spencer Brown, right tackle. Brown has had a fantastic season protecting his quarterback and run blocking. Allen has been sacked only 17 times across his 19 games this season while Brown and his offensive line helped Buffalo score more than 30 points on 13 occasions. Most exciting for the Bills is that the 6ft 8in, 310lbs bruiser was missing from their regular-season win over the Chiefs. When they need to score, they can rely on Brown to do the dirty work that makes Allen shine.
Key player for the Chiefs: Jaylen Watson, cornerback. The difference for Kansas City could be Watson returning to the secondary. The defensive back, who missed the regular-season loss to the Bills, enjoyed a timely warm-up against Houston. The Chiefs’ coverage is exceptional with Trent McDuffie alongside him. They should allow Steve Spagnuolo to focus his defense on more important matters: stopping the run.
