The Kansas City Chiefs won a football game in Buffalo, New York by the final score of 17-13. How did this happen? I have no clue.
The Buffalo Bills dominated the line of scrimmage all day, sacking Alex Smith six times and hitting him about 873 times (estimated). Somehow, Alex Smith survived the onslaught, and eventually cracks began to show up in the Bills’ armor.
First, the Chiefs took advantage of the Bills aggressive defense on a fourth down play early in the fourth quarter. Kansas City faked an inside run and instead pitched the ball out to Jamaal Charles on the edge. Charles then did Charles things, taking it to the house on a 41-yard touchdown run.
That play set off a series of events which led to the Chiefs win. Down 13-10 after the Charles touchdown run, the Chiefs got the ball back deep in their own territory. A three and out led to a punt, but Leodis McKelvin was feeling generous. From his own 25, McKelvin attempted to return the punt but could not hang onto the ball after Albert Wilson knocked it loose. Anthony Sherman recovered on the Bills’ 26 and Alex Smith was ready for the kill.
In two plays the Chiefs scored what would ultimately be the game-winning touchdown. First, Jamaal Charles rushed for 18 of his 98 yards on an inside handoff. Smith then took the next play himself, trucking a defender into the end zone for a 8-yard touchdown run.
Once the Chiefs took a 17-13 lead, Ron Parker decided to go into beast mode. Buffalo decided to create a matchup between rookie sensation Sammy Watkins against Parker. It did not end well. Parker broke up four passes in the final meaningful drive from the Bills, who had managed to drive into the red zone.
Prior to Parker’s insane pass defense, he saved the game in the third quarter. In the opening drive of the second half the Bills went on a drive that looked like was going to be the nail in the coffin for the Chiefs. Bryce Brown broke a long run and was on his way to the end zone before Parker tomahawked the ball out of Brown’s hands and out of the back of the end zone. That turnover saved the game for Kansas City.
Ron Parker shall not buy a drink in Kansas City this week.
Good teams win ugly, and this was an ugly victory for Kansas City. But damn it’s going to look beautiful in the standings. After losses by Pittsburgh and Miami, the Chiefs now take a stronger hold of a possible wild card spot, while keeping pressure on the Denver Broncos in the AFC West.
Things now get very interesting over the next five weeks. The Chiefs play the defending Super Bowl champions (Seattle Seahawks), Denver Broncos, and Arizona Cardinals with two games against the Oakland Raiders sprinkled in. How the Chiefs survive the stretch will define their season. If they show the same toughness and grit they did today then this story will have a happy ending.
Game ball goes to Ron Parker, no? GO CHIEFS!