AFC championship game: Buffalo Bills 29-32 Kansas City Chiefs – as it happened

Key events
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Postgame
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Bills 29-32 Chiefs, FINAL
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NO FLAG! CHIEFS BALL! Bills 29-32 Chiefs, 1:50 fourth quarter
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FLAG? Bills 29-32 Chiefs, 1:54 fourth quarter
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FIELD GOAL! Bills 29-32 Chiefs, 3:33 fourth quarter
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TOUCHDOWN! Bills 29-29 Chiefs, 6:15 fourth quarter
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TOUCHDOWN! Bills 22-29 Chiefs, 10:14 fourth quarter
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TURNOVER! Bills 22-21 Chiefs, 12:55 fourth quarter
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REPLAY REVIEW! Bills 22-21 Chiefs, 12:55 fourth quarter
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TOUCHDOWN! Bills 22-21 Chiefs 2:56 third quarter
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We’re back
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Bills 16-21 Chiefs, end of first half
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Bills 16-21 Chiefs, 0:23 second quarter
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TOUCHDOWN! Bills 16-21 Chiefs, 0:23 second quarter
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TOUCHDOWN! Bills 10-21 Chiefs, 1:55 second quarter
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VERDICT! Bills 10-14 Chiefs, 2:36 second quarter
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REPLAY! Bills 10-14 Chiefs, 2:36 second quarter
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TOUCHDOWN! Bills 10-14 Chiefs, 4:13 second quarter
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TOUCHDOWN! Bills 10-7 Chiefs, 10:25 second quarter
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TURNOVER! Bills 3-7 Chiefs, 0:57 first quarter
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FIELD GOAL! Bills 3-7 Chiefs, 3:45 first quarter
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TOUCHDOWN! Bills 0-7 Chiefs, 8:56 first quarter
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We’re off!
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We’re live!
Ciao!
That does it for our live, rolling coverage of the AFC Championship. And wasn’t that fun? I know I enjoyed it. We’ll have plenty of Super Bowl coverage in the coming weeks, including live coverage of the game itself. Until then, thanks to all of you for reading, and wherever you are, good morning, good afternoon or goodnight.
Read all about it
Mahomes – Kelce
“I’m excited to get down to New Orleans to try and make history” says Mahomes, after paying tribute to Allen, who is a “true competitor”.
Kelce does some dancing, asks the crowd to make some noise, while Taylor Swift makes some smiling faces while mentally prepares for the bender her boyfriend is about to drag her on.
Trophy
It’s the trophy nobody wants, except the Chiefs, as it’s named after the teams founder, and the founder of the AFC. Clark Hunt takes dads silverware and tells CBS that they’re so excited to lift another Lamar Hunt trophy.
Honestly, it’s all a bit robotic.
“Chiefs Kingdom, we’re heading to New Orleans to make history.” says Clark.
So the Chiefs don’t even have a nation, they have a kingdom. Must be nice!
Andy Reid says it was a heck of a football game. I’d day he’s right.
Postgame
Well the Chiefs did it, again. That’s their 17th consecutive one possession game win in the regular season and playoffs. I mean, that’s impossible, or should be. But it’s not, and KC are heading to New Orleans for the 59th Super Bowl.
Mahomes, with superior game awareness, Reid, with his coaching, and coaches, make up for what his Chiefs do not have, which is quite a lot actually. It doesn’t matter. It never seems to matter.
It’s hard to imagine Philly pulling this off: we’re looking at a true NFL dynasty for the first time in the Super Bowl era. That’s the reality. And one KC fans will be delighted with, and why shouldn’t they be.
For Buffalo? Well, it’s hard to find adjectives to describe what those players, coaches, and and everyone else must be feeling. They had their chance, and it slipped out of the fingers of Kincaid, a play that would have been nothing short of miraculous. But it’s not to be for the upstate NY Bills bunch.
And they didn’t deserve the loss. Nobody deserved it. What a game, five lead changes, and everything you want in a heavyweight game for all the marbles.
Incredible, high stakes sports.
The play that nearly happened!
Excuse the French, but if Kincaid comes up with this ball it becomes one of the top three plays of the century. But he didn’t, and it’s another absolute killer of a loss for Josh Allen and the Bills franchise. No team deserved to lose this instant classic.
Bills 29-32 Chiefs, FINAL
The Kansas City Chiefs have won the AFC title, again, but the slimmest of margins! Another master class in tightrope walking for Reid, Mahomes and the Chiefs organization. They’re heading to New Orleans!
Bills 29-32 Chiefs, 0:46 fourth quarter
Mahomes to Perine, who makes his first catch of the game on the far sideline and it’s the catch that will clinch it for KC!
Bills 29-32 Chiefs, 1:35 fourth quarter
Hunt is tripped up, it’s 3rd & 9 from the Bills 39. The bills call their final timeout.
Bills 29-32 Chiefs, 1:38 fourth quarter
Pacheco, ahead for, what, one? Timeout no2 for Buffalo.
Looking at the replay on the Allen throw now, Kincaid should have had it. He almost had it. Oh man, that is killer for Bills fans!
Bills 29-32 Chiefs, 1:45 fourth quarter
Mahomes is gonna pass! He’s crazy! They’re crazy! But it’s complete, of course! First down! But Pacheco is out of bounds and he stops the clock.
NO FLAG! CHIEFS BALL! Bills 29-32 Chiefs, 1:50 fourth quarter
Turnover on downs.
The Chiefs are trying to run out the clock. Hunt runs for a yard. Timeout. The Bills have two left.
FLAG? Bills 29-32 Chiefs, 1:54 fourth quarter
OK, here we go!
Josh Allen, with the season on the line, right here. He’s in the shotgun, he’s blitzed and pressured, and chucks it up! Incomplete!
But there’s a flag!
Bills 29-32 Chiefs, 2:00 fourth quarter
Allen, a quick side armed screen to Cooper for five yards. Fourth down and 5! And here we are a the two minute warning.
I like the call, but when we get back, it’s (probably) fourth and season for Buffalo!
I’m losing my breath here, seriously!
Bills 29-32 Chiefs, 2:17 fourth quarter
Allen throws and it’s batted down! What a play!
3rd & 10. The crowd grows louder.
Bills 29-32 Chiefs, 2:21 fourth quarter
Allen back to pass, and now he’s running with daylight! He’s ahead for a first down!
Then Allen is incomplete. 2nd & 10 from the Bills 42.
Bills 29-32 Chiefs, 3:04 fourth quarter
The Bills start at the KC 30. Johnson runs to his right, nothing there. Runs left, nothing there. Taken down for a loss of one.
FIELD GOAL! Bills 29-32 Chiefs, 3:33 fourth quarter
CBS is calling the kick by Butker clutch, but I think the Bills surviving first and goal is clutch.
Buffalo has them right where they want them. It’s in their hands now. Will Buffalo break the Chiefs bid a three straight Super Bowl titles?
Bills 29-29 Chiefs, 3:37 fourth quarter
Mahomes is hit as he throws…incomplete. The drive stalls!
Here comes the field goal unit. It’s a 35-yard attempt.
Bills 29-29 Chiefs, 3:40 fourth quarter
KC running more now, trying to get that clock down. Hunt for three yards.
But now Mahomes puts it in the air! Worthy on a crossing route has it and is running!
KC at the Bills 10 already. Or they were – Mahomes is sacked at the 17. That’s a healthy loss right there.
Now a quick screen pass to Worthy, incomplete. Unforced error.
It’s 3rd & goal from the 17! Put on your seat belts!
Bills 29-29 Chiefs, 5:14 fourth quarter
CBS says the Chiefs have won 16 straight one possession games, including the regular season and the playoffs. Well, here they are again.
Hunt runs for a few and gets a lot more after a Bills face mask. Not smart. The Chiefs are at the Bills 48 already.
And now they’re inside the 40 after a Kelce catch. First down!
How it happened!
It’s the game of game-changing fourth down play calls! Here’s the latest!
TOUCHDOWN! Bills 29-29 Chiefs, 6:15 fourth quarter
Allen is patient, and finally fires to Samuel in the back of the endzone!
The extra point is good and we begin again!
Bills 22-29 Chiefs, 6:20 fourth quarter
KC’s defense ask their crowd for more.
Allen from the shotgun, a timing play to Coleman, incomplete. So now what? It’s 4th & goal.
Of course they go for it. You don’t win titles with field goals!
Bills 22-29 Chiefs, 6:23 fourth quarter
Timeout KC. That’s their first of three available.
Bills 22-29 Chiefs, 6:23 fourth quarter
On second down, Allen with loads of time, moving to his right, and right, and sideline, and throws it away. Third down!
Bills 22-29 Chiefs, 6:56 fourth quarter
The crowd is loud, or they were loud, because Allen finds Hollins, again with another huge play! It’s right down the middle, 32 yards, and it’s first down and goal to go inside the five!
My goodness! Why isn’t this the Super Bowl?
Bills 22-29 Chiefs, 7:56 fourth quarter
On 2nd & 8, Johnson is held for a yard. It’s 3rd & 8!
Bills 22-29 Chiefs, 9:07 fourth quarter
Cook, play action again, and he has even more room. This time, it’s on the far sideline, and he’s going for 23! Bills are on the KC 38!
Talk about a heavyweight fight.
Bills 22-29 Chiefs, 9:49 fourth quarter
My fingers are burning. This is like two football games in one. And with everything on the line. Buffalo begin at the 30.
Play action, and Allen fires, complete, to Cook on the near sideline. Gain of nine.
How it happened!
Just five plays later, KC are back on top. It’s the fourth lead change of this incredible game.
TOUCHDOWN! Bills 22-29 Chiefs, 10:14 fourth quarter
Now it’s first and goal after Hunt runs to the 10.
Mahomes has it, he’s taking it himself – he’s gonna go, and he’s gone! Touchdown! he went head first into the endzone! Advantage KC!
KC go for two and they have it! Kelce in the back of the endzone! he’s alive, and well!
Bills 22-21 Chiefs, 10:55 fourth quarter
Smith-Schuster is open and has room! It’s a catch and run from the middle of the field to the near sideline. A gain of 29 yards! Ball on the Bills 23!
TURNOVER! Bills 22-21 Chiefs, 12:55 fourth quarter
The replay ruling is in, and it’s first down, KC! Wow – I don’t buy that. Ball on the KC 40!
Oh, people are going to be talking, a lot, about this.
REPLAY REVIEW! Bills 22-21 Chiefs, 12:55 fourth quarter
CBS tells us that KC’s defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo told his defense they must stop the run.
Well, yeah!
On 3rd & 3, Buffalo is passing – a little toss to Kincaid is just short. It’s fourth down andf Allen quickly takes the ball – is he across the line? The fans say no! But the replay says yes!
They’re gonna look at it! It can’t possibly get any bigger than this call. And we have to watch commercials (in the US). Come on!
Bills 22-21 Chiefs, 14:43 fourth quarter
OK, so here we go! Let’s start the fourth quarter with a bang! It’s 4th and a short 1.
Allen dives, but did he lose the ball? It was out, but Allen got it back. That is CRAZY! But the end result is a first down! WOW!
Ball at midfield.
Bills 22-21 Chiefs, end of third quarter
Davis fumbles and Davis recovers! That could have derailed all of this.
Then on 3rd & 1, Buffalo are short, with Allen taking it himself. Now what?
Do you really even have to ask that question anymore? Of course, they’re gonna go.
But it will be in the fourth quarter!
Who will join the Eagles in New Orleans? Stick with us to find out!
Bills 22-21 Chiefs 1:00 third quarter
Bills are running and running and running. Cook, ahead for about six, and then an illegal hands to the face penalty on KC tacks on. Bills, first down on the KC 38.
And now they’re approaching midfield, with another bruising Cook run of about 10!
Bills 22-21 Chiefs 1:56 third quarter
Who had the Bills up in the third quarter and holding the Chiefs scoreless on back-to-back possessions, after the Chiefs bulldozed the Bills for two TD’s in under three minutes.
Not me!
Bills 22-21 Chiefs 1:56 third quarter
Mahomes in the shotgun, He looks to the near sideline, but Brown can’t hold on, and he’s out of bounds anyway. The Bills hold again, KC, three and out! Shakir has the punt and is out of bounds at the 30.
The worm is turning folks.
Serious question: is this the three-peat curse?
Bills 22-21 Chiefs 2:13 third quarter
False start on KC, 3rd & 15! Boo birds in KC!
Bills 22-21 Chiefs 2:13 third quarter
Now Buffalo blitz, and Mahomes is looking for Kelce, hit as he throws, incomplete. 3rd & 10. Huge play here.
Bills 22-21 Chiefs 2:38 third quarter
Hunt from the 30, nothing doing, no gain.
Look at this!
What a play!
It’s 12 plays in 7:05 covering 80 yards, mostly on the ground. Impressive!
TOUCHDOWN! Bills 22-21 Chiefs 2:56 third quarter
Allen runs, and then options it to Cook, college style! He leaps extends his hand with the football, and uses the other hand to stay up until he crosses the goal line!
What a play!
The two-point conversion is denied, but the Bills are back on top! What a drive!
Bills 16-21 Chiefs 3:11 third quarter
Knox in the near sideline has a reception and he’s down to the two!
But then Cook, straight ahead, is held at the one!
Now Allen is stuffed. It’s 4th and goal! They’re going!
Bills 16-21 Chiefs 4:36 third quarter
Allen keeps it and has to earn it, he’s hit, but keeps moving forward, and gets to the Chiefs 30. First down!
Seventh play of this drive is the seventh run – this time it’s Johsnon who eats into the Chiefs front – eight yards to the 22!
And now Allen is off after an amazing ball fake! He’s down to the 10! First and goal!
Bills 16-21 Chiefs 6:40 third quarter
It’s 3rd & about three on the KC 35.
Allen in the shotgun, Allen keeps it, but he’s short by about a yard. Will they go? Well, it’s 2025, get with it! It’s virtually automatic now.