The Kansas City Chiefs fell to Josh Allen and the Buffalo Bills in a close game that came down to fourth quarter heroics by the visitors.
Everyone was nearly certain that the Week 6 contest between the visiting Buffalo Bills and Kansas City Chiefs was going to be an epic showdown. Fortunately for the NFL and their overwhelming ratings, both teams delivered on a very competitive battle that was knotted throughout most of the game before Josh Allen and the Bills were able to put the Chiefs away with a strong fourth quarter for a 24-20 win.
The highly anticipated matchup featuring Allen and Patrick Mahomes lived up to its billing even if the defenses involved didn’t allow as many points as expected. In fact, it was Buffalo’s defense that came up big with a game-ending interception by corner Taron Johnson with less than a minute left to seal the victory.
The Bills and Chiefs traded punches in their respective first series, with both eerily ending in turnovers. For the Bills, they had no issues moving the chains to start the game, but a fumble by Josh Allen on an option play in the red zone cost them an early chance for a score. The Chiefs then waltzed down the field with little trouble before they were stalled in the red zone and Mahomes ultimately threw an interception to rookie corner Kaiir Elam in the end zone.
The Bills got the ball back and went right back to work but ended up coming up short in the red zone. They settled for a short 39-yard field goal by Tyler Bass to take the early lead. Things would remain oddly sleepy until just before halftime.
As for the Chiefs, they didn’t fare that much better offensively against the Bills for much of the first half. The Chiefs punted from close to their own goal line after taking over on downs from the Bills on a disappointing 3-and-out drive and they would punt again on their next drive after only managing 10 yards of offense.
Just before halftime, however, the game took a turn. Penalties had the Bills stuck at their own 2-yard line but Josh Allen went on a tear with a minute or so to go and marched the Bills down the field on a handful of impressive throws, including a 34-yard touchdown strike to Gabriel Davis, who was left alone on an island with Chiefs rookie corner Joshua Williams.
With only 12 seconds left, the Chiefs were somehow able to put together two quick plays to get within range for an Arrowhead record-setting 62-yard field goal. Harrison Butker, who returned for the first time in five weeks, drilled it with yards to share.
In the second half, the Chiefs and Bills traded touchdown drives in the third quarter to set up a showdown heading into the fourth. The Bills were looking dangerous, but they ended up turning over the ball on downs—again—at midfield to set up the Chiefs in the final quarter. To the Bills’ credit, they held Mahomes and company to a Butker field goal of 44 yards, which put the Chiefs up by 30, 20-17.
Surprisingly the defenses held strong for most of the fourth quarter. The Chiefs and Bills traded punts to start the quarter despite the importance of the final minutes. Then came the late-game heroics. Josh Allen led an important drive with only a couple minutes left that ended with a Dawson Knox touchdown catch with 1:04 left to play in regulation to put Buffalo up by 4.
Mahomes took over from there and the Chiefs were hoping to march, but key pressure from Von Miller forced Mahomes to take a chance and Bills cornerback Taron Johnson intercepted the ball to close out the game. From there, the Bills only needed to kneel the ball to go to 5-1 on the season.
The Chiefs now head to San Francisco to take on the 49ers in Week 7 before hitting the bye at month’s end.