22 January 2024
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — In another classic game, the Kansas City Chiefs defeated the Buffalo Bills 27-24 in the Divisional Round to advance to the AFC Championship.
Both teams began their offensive drives with field goals with Buffalo taking almost seven minutes off the clock to open the game.
The Bills then used a six-minute drive to take the lead after a five-yard Josh Allen touchdown run.
Kansas City garnered a field goal and then took a 13-10 lead with a 22-yard touchdown pass from Patrick Mahomes to Travis Kelce. That touchdown tied New England Patriots QB Tom Brady and TE Rob Gronkowski (15) for most quarterback-pass catcher touchdown connections in postseason history.
The Bills responded with a three-minute drive that ended with a two-yard TD run to take a 17-13 lead at halftime. Buffalo rushed for 124 yards in the first half.
The Chiefs opened the second half with Mahomes and Kelce setting the record for most QB-pass catcher postseason TDs at 16 on a three-yard TD after a six-play, 75-yard drive that only took a little over three minutes.
That lead change made it a third in the last 6:45 of game time.
Buffalo hit back with an almost eight-and-a-half-minute drive to take a 24-20 lead.
KC took their drive into the early fourth quarter where they took the lead back at 27-24 with an Isiah Pacheco TD run. Pacheco rushed for 97 yards to go with that TD.
After a three-and-out, the Chiefs stopped the Bills on a fake punt and drove down to the three-yard line.
On a WR Mecole Hardman jet sweep, Hardman fumbled the ball through the end zone for a touchback. Hardman was initially called down but a Bills challenge allowed the call to be overturned.
On a key third down with less than six minutes to go, defensive tackle Chris Jones forced and Allen fumble that the Bills recovered after several Chiefs players tried to scoop the ball for a return.
With less than two minutes to go, Bills kicker Tyler Bass missed a game-tying field goal to seal the Chiefs win.
The Bills rushed for 182 rushing yards and Allen finished with 258 total yards and three total touchdowns.
Mahomes finished the game with 215 yards and two touchdowns on 17 for 23 passing. Kelce finished with 75 yards and two TDs on five catches.
WR Marquez Valdes-Scantling delivered two crucial catches for 65 yards.
The Chiefs will go to Baltimore for their sixth straight AFC Championship on Sunday at 2 p.m.