Chiefs beat Bills, 32-29, in AFC Championship thriller, advancing to 3rd straight Super Bowl

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (KCTV) - The Kansas City Chiefs and Buffalo Bills exchanged blows for four quarters of an AFC heavyweight bout on Sunday night and it was Kansas City who landed the final punch.

It was the Chiefs defense who made the last stand, forcing an incomplete on a 4th and 5 following the 2-minute warning to get the ball back with a 32-29 lead. The stop ended a back-and-forth offensive affair and sent Kansas City back to its third consecutive Super Bowl, one game away from a never-done-before Super Bowl three-peat. It came with Bills quarterback Josh Allen under duress and a launched that bounced off the hands of tight end Dalton Kincaid for an incomplete .

“I’ve always said it: It’s not about one guy. It’s not about a couple guys. It’s about the whole entire team,” Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes said. “When we needed the defense to get stops, they got stops. Offense, we made plays. That’s why we’re so special.”

Kansas City sealed the game with a 3rd and 9 from Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes to running back Samaje Perine. The 17-yard completion allowed Mahomes to take two kneeldowns and secure another AFC Championship.

“It’s just so hard to get to the Super Bowl and I don’t take it for granted, and to do it again at Arrowhead Stadium was special,” Mahomes said. “You get that trophy on that stage and you look around here and there’s not an empty seat — it’s special.”

The Chiefs took a 21-10 lead with 1:55 remaining in the second quarter when quarterback Patrick Mahomes found the end zone on a 1-yard touchdown run. That score was quickly answered by a 7-play, 73-yard touchdown drive from Bills quarterback Josh Allen, who connected with wide receiver Mack Hollins for a 34-yard touchdown before halftime that cut the Chiefs lead to 21-16.

LIVE GAMEDAY BLOG: Chiefs beat Bills 32-29, advance to 3rd straight Super Bowl

Buffalo bounced back from the 11-point second quarter deficit to answer in the second half by forcing a punt on Kansas City’s first possession of the second half. Following the stop, the Bills scored on a 1-yard James Cook touchdown run but failed on a 2-point conversion, leaving Buffalo with a 22-21 lead.

A 4th and inches stop from the Kansas City defense gave Mahomes the ball back in the fourth quarter and set up a 5-play, 59-yard touchdown drive, capped by a 10-yard touchdown run from Mahomes, his second of the game. Mahomes then connected with wide receiver Justin Watson for a 2-point conversion that gave Kansas City a 29-22 lead.

A Josh Allen touchdown on 4th and goal to wide receiver Curtis Samuel knotted the game at 29-29 with 6:15 remaining in the game.

Kansas City then marched down the field and into the red zone, but settled for a 35-yard field goal by kicker Harrison Butker with just over 3:30 remaining in the fourth quarter. The field goal came after Bills defensive tackle Jordan Phillips sacked Mahomes on 1st and goal.

Mahomes ended the day 18-for-26 with 245 ing yards, a touchdown, and 11 carries for 43 yards and 2 rushing touchdowns. The win for Mahomes was his 17th playoff win of his career, helping him sur legendary quarterback Joe Montana for second-most in NFL history.

Allen finished 22-34 for 237 ing yards, 2 touchdowns and 11 carries for 39 yards.

The Chiefs head to New Orleans for a date with the Philadelphia Eagles in Super Bowl LIX on Sunday, Feb. 9. The matchup with the Eagles is a rematch of Super Bowl LVII, which Kansas City won 38-35 in Glendale, Arizona.

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