Mahomes Masterclass: Chiefs Silence Orchard Park to Reach 6th Straight AFC
- The Result: Kansas City defeated Buffalo 27-24 in a Divisional Round instant classic.
- The Record: Mahomes and Travis Kelce surpassed Tom Brady and Rob Gronkowski for the most postseason touchdowns by a duo (16).
- The Heartbreak: Bills kicker Tyler Bass missed a game-tying 44-yard field goal “Wide Right” with under two minutes left.
ORCHARD PARK, NY — Patrick Mahomes didn’t care about the “villain” narrative. He didn’t care about the freezing temperatures or the rowdy Buffalo crowd throwing snowballs at his teammates. He had a job to do, and he executed it with surgical precision.
The Kansas City Chiefs outlasted the Buffalo Bills 27-24 on Sunday night, punching their ticket to a sixth consecutive AFC Championship game. In a game defined by five lead changes, it ended with a hauntingly familiar sight for Bills Mafia: a missed field goal flying wide right.
History Made: The Mahomes-Kelce Connection
While the Bills defense focused on vertical threats, Mahomes leaned on his most trusted ally. Travis Kelce caught two touchdowns, both coming at critical junctures. The first, a 22-yard strike in the second quarter, saw Kelce wide open after a coverage breakdown. The second put the Chiefs up 20-17 and officially moved the duo past Brady and Gronkowski in the NFL record books.
Kansas City’s offensive line paved the way for 146 rushing yards, keeping the chains moving and keeping Josh Allen off the field. Isiah Pacheco ran with his signature violence, punishing Bills linebackers and finishing with 97 yards and the go-ahead score in the fourth quarter.
By The Numbers: Divisional Showdown
- KC Passing: Mahomes: 17/23, 215 Yds, 2 TD
- BUF Rushing: Allen: 12 carries, 72 Yds, 2 TD
- Total Yards: Chiefs 361, Bills 368
- Turnovers: Chiefs 0, Bills 0
What They Said
“Winning on the road in this environment is special. Everyone talked about us playing away from home, but we knew we had the guys to get it done. The job isn’t finished.” — Patrick Mahomes, Chiefs QB
“I’m hurting for Tyler. He’s made big kicks for us. We lost as a team, not because of one play. We had chances to win this game long before that kick.” — Josh Allen, Bills QB
What’s Next: A Date With Baltimore
Buffalo’s season ends in the Divisional Round for the third straight year. For Josh Allen, it is another year of elite play overshadowed by an early exit. The Bills defense struggled to generate pressure, failing to sack Mahomes a single time despite the raucous home-field advantage.
The Chiefs now face their steepest hill yet. They travel to Baltimore to face the top-seeded Ravens. Lamar Jackson is playing the best football of his career, but betting against Mahomes in late January remains a dangerous proposition. The AFC Championship will be a clash of titans, with a trip to New Orleans on the line.
