The Kansas City Chiefs' Late Comeback Attempt Falls Short Against the Buffalo Bills
In a thrilling Week 9 AFC rivalry matchup, the Kansas City Chiefs had a chance to make a late comeback against the Buffalo Bills. With the score at 28-21 in favor of Buffalo, the Chiefs were given one last opportunity after a missed 52-yard field goal by Matt Prater. The kick bounced off the upright and landed on the ground, giving Patrick Mahomes and his team 22 seconds left to mount a game-tying or winning drive.
Mahomes took a couple of shots toward the end zone after the Chiefs gained 18 yards on a pass to Xavier Worthy. His first attempt was a well-thrown pass to Tyquan Thornton, who got his hands on the ball between two defenders. However, safety Cole Bishop managed to knock the ball to the ground. This was one of four pass defenses during a career-best day for the 2024 second-round pick.
Mahomes’ final attempt didn’t reach the end zone as Buffalo’s defensive front pressured him before his throw. That ball was knocked harmlessly to the ground at the 5-yard line, sealing the Bills’ win. Buffalo's defense played a crucial role in containing Mahomes, who completed just 15 of 34 passes for 250 yards with no touchdowns and an interception. Meanwhile, Josh Allen and James Cook provided the team with a spark on offense.
Allen was near-perfect, going 23 of 26 passing for 273 yards and a touchdown while adding two scores on the ground, leading Buffalo to a crucial win over a team that remains its primary obstacle in the AFC race.
Key Takeaways from the Game
The Chiefs Need Help at Running Back
Kareem Hunt was serviceable while replacing the injured Isiah Pacheco, but no other Kansas City rusher had more than seven yards. Pacheco may be back following the team’s Week 10 bye, but it would still behoove the Chiefs to add another running back to their committee. It would go a long way toward supporting Mahomes and the passing game while also preventing opposing teams from selling out to pressure the 30-year-old quarterback.
Maxwell Hairston Emerges as a Weapon for the Bills' Defense
Hairston was a first-round pick out of Kentucky, but the cornerback missed the first six games of the season with a knee injury. He managed to intercept Patrick Mahomes after tracking down his underthrown pass on Sunday, while also showing off his deep speed, running stride-for-stride with Xavier Worthy on a downfield pass. If Hairston can continue to make plays and stay with speed receivers, it will give the Bills an element their defense previously lacked on the outside.
Josh Allen Will Be in the MVP Conversation Again
Allen continues to perform at a high level and was particularly sharp against the Chiefs. He accounted for three of Buffalo’s four scores and 292 yards of their total offense. The 29-year-old has gotten more support this season from James Cook, but he should still put himself in the conversation to be the NFL’s first back-to-back MVP since Aaron Rodgers in 2020 and 2021.
Player Stats
Josh Allen vs. Chiefs
- 23-of-36 (63.8% completion rate)
- 273 passing yards
- 1 passing touchdown
- 0 interceptions
- 123.2 passer rating
- 6 rushing attempts
- 19 rushing yards
- 2 rushing touchdowns
James Cook vs. Chiefs
- 27 rushing attempts
- 114 rushing yards
- 0 rushing touchdowns
- 1 reception (1 target)
- 11 receiving yards
Patrick Mahomes vs. Bills
- 15-of-34 (44.1% completion rate)
- 250 passing yards
- 0 passing touchdowns
- 1 interception
- 57.2 passer rating
- 1 rushing attempt
- 5 rushing yards
Travis Kelce vs. Bills
- 4 receptions
- 66 receiving yards
- 0 touchdowns
- 1 two-point conversion
Rashee Rice vs. Bills
- 4 receptions
- 80 receiving yards
- 0 receiving touchdowns
- 2 rushing attempts
- 6 rushing yards
- 1 rushing touchdown
Highlights from the Game
- Bills knock down two Patrick Mahomes Hail Mary passes to clinch win: Mahomes nearly had a TD completion to Tyquan Thornton with 3 seconds left in regulation, but Cole Bishop helped break the pass up. Then, Mahomes’ second Hail Mary pass failed to get to the end zone before the Bills knocked it down.
- Matt Prater doinks 52-yard field goal off right upright: The Bills weren't able to run out the clock, but positioned themselves for a long field goal with 26 seconds left. Prater's kick was no good, and Patrick Mahomes will have 22 seconds left to get a TD.
- Josh Allen completes pass to James Cook on third-and-3 for first down: The Bills picked up a couple of first downs on their drive and have forced the Chiefs to use all three of their timeouts.
- Maxwell Hairston intercepts Patrick Mahomes deep pass on third-and-10: Joey Bosa got pressure on Mahomes on a third-and-10, which forced the Chiefs quarterback to launch a deep shot in the direction of Xavier Worthy. Mahomes' throw came up just short, as he was not able to fully follow through before Bosa got to him, and Hairston was able to catch it.
Additional Notes
- Michael Hoecht injury update: Hoecht, a key member of the Bills' defensive line rotation, suffered a non-contact Achilles injury on the Chiefs' most recent touchdown drive. He has already been ruled out for the game but is remaining on the sidelines to watch the end of the game with his teammates.
- Chiefs sack Josh Allen on back-to-back plays to force punt: Kansas City's defense sacked Allen on back-to-back plays to force a Mitch Wishnowsky punt.
- Bills leading Chiefs 28-13 after three quarters: Buffalo has outplayed Kansas City through three quarters. The Bills have outgained the Chiefs 355-236 while holding the ball for 26:03, compared to Kansas City's 18:57.
- Bills vs. Chiefs score: Kareem Hunt takes fourth-and-1 carry into end zone for TD: A few plays after the fourth-and-17 conversion, Hunt was able to convert another fourth down. This time, it was just of the short-yardage variety, and he pounded the rock in from the 2-yard line.
- Bills 28, Chiefs 21: Patrick Mahomes hits Rashee Rice for 29-yard gain on fourth-and-17: The Chiefs decided to go for it on fourth-and-long just across midfield. Mahomes had plenty of time in the pocket and was able to find Rice wide open past the sticks for a huge gain.
Final Thoughts
The Bills secured a fifth consecutive regular-season win over the Chiefs, thanks in large part to their strong defensive performance and the stellar play of Josh Allen. While Mahomes had moments of brilliance, the Chiefs ultimately fell short in their late-game efforts. The game highlighted the importance of depth at running back for the Chiefs and the emergence of players like Maxwell Hairston for the Bills. As both teams look ahead to the rest of the season, the AFC race remains tightly contested.
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