The Kansas City Chiefs beat the Buffalo Bills 32-29 to advance to the team’s third consecutive Super Bowl appearance. This signifies Kansas City’s fifth all-time Conference Championship victory.
In yet another close game between the Bills’ Josh Allen and the Chiefs’ Patrick Mahomes, Kansas City was able to force a turnover on downs with a little less than two minutes to go in the fourth quarter. KC then picked up two first downs to clinch the victory.
The Chiefs flexed their muscles early with a 90-yard touchdown drive on their first possession of the game. Running back Kareem Hunt scampered into the end zone from 12 yards out for a 7-0 advantage in the first quarter.
Kareem Hunt scores on the Chiefs opening drive!
Hunt (+1100) FIRST TD ✅ pic.twitter.com/4O4MerXrCG
— Action Network (@ActionNetworkHQ) January 26, 2025
After a three-and-out on their first series, Buffalo picked up 40 yards to set up a 52-yard field goal by Tyler Bass to cut the lead to 7-3. That was the longest successful opposing field goal in Arrowhead Stadium playoff history.
A six-play drive was stopped by a mishandled Patrick Mahomes handoff, and the live ball was scooped up by Buffalo. That was Kansas City’s first turnover in nine games.
Bills running back James Cook got open for a 17-yard pass to start the second quarter. A few plays later, he scored a touchdown from six yards out to put Buffalo ahead 10-7 with a little over ten minutes to go in the second quarter.
Patrick Mahomes scrambled for six yards on a 4th and 1 to keep a Chiefs drive alive. That led to an 11-yard touchdown by rookie wide receiver Xavier Worthy and KC reclaiming the lead 14-10. Mahomes went 5/5 passing with 51 total yards on that drive.
On Kansas City’s next possession, Xavier Worthy made an impressive 26-yard catch that was unsuccessfully challenged by Bills head coach Sean McDermott. The reception resulted in a one-yard touchdown run by Patrick Mahomes, making it a 21-10 game with under two minutes to go in the half. Worthy finished the night with six catches for 85 receiving yards as well as 16 receiving yards.
Josh Allen orchestrated a nine-play, 68-yard drive in a little over a minute and a half to narrow the gap to 21-16 at the break after a failed two-point conversion. Allen threw a perfect 34-yard touchdown pass to wideout Mack Hollins and had 64 total yards on that possession.
Later on, Buffalo made it all the way down to Kansas City’s one yard line. On a fourth-down Josh Allen pitched the ball out to James Cook who miraculously reached the end zone to give the Bills a 22-21 lead. Buffalo failed to convert the two-point attempt on the next play.
WOOOOOWWWWWW!!!!
📺: @NFLonCBS pic.twitter.com/0PBpEnXZ3N
— Buffalo Bills (@BuffaloBills) January 27, 2025
In the fourth quarter, Josh Allen was held up at the line of scrimmage on a 4th and inches, giving KC’s defense its first turnover on downs of the evening. Prior to that stop, Buffalo had converted their first three fourth-down attempts.
Patrick Mahomes was sensational as always. He had 245 passing yards and a touchdown. On top of that Mahomes rushed for 43 yards and two touchdowns, the first 2+ rushing TD game of his illustrious postseason career. Mahomes’ second rushing touchdown was followed by a two-point conversion pass to put Kansas City back ahead 29-22.
The Bills were tasked with another 4th and goal from the four yard line with less than seven minutes in the game. Josh Allen answered the call with a touchdown strike to wide receiver Curtis Samuel. That drive tied the game 29-29 with 6:15 to go in the fourth quarter.
The Chiefs put together a field goal drive thanks to a facemask penalty on Buffalo and a 23-yard reception by Xavier Worthy. With that field goal, not only did Harrison Butker move to 14 for 14 on field goals attempted since the start of the 2024 postseason, but KC also took a 32-29 lead with 3:33 to go.
Buffalo got the ball back and quickly found itself attempting its sixth fourth-down conversion of the contest. On a 4th and 5 with 2:00 remaining in the fourth quarter, Josh Allen was forced to throw the ball away after being nearly chased down by a Chiefs defensive lineman. Though the pass was nearly caught, it went through the hands of tight end Dalton Kincaid, giving KC possession and the eventual win.
The Kansas City Chiefs will now face the Philadelphia Eagles in Super Bowl LIX. If they beat Philly, they’ll become the first franchise in NFL history to win three straight Super Bowls.
