The Buffalo Bills may have taken to heart an important lesson about dealing with the Kansas City Chiefs, at least based on their Week 11 game.
The Bills faced a key moment with about 2:30 remaining in the fourth quarter of Sunday’s game at Highmark Stadium in Orchard Park, N.Y. The team held a 23-21 lead while sitting firmly in field goal range on 4th and 2, so they could have theoretically kicked a field goal to go up 26-21 on the Chiefs. Doing so, however, would have given Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City offense the ball back with a chance to drive downfield for a game-winning touchdown.
Bills coach Sean McDermott kept his offense on the field and trusted quarterback Josh Allen to get the first down. Allen did that and then some, taking the ball 26 yards by himself for a touchdown that made it 30-21 and effectively clinched the game.
JOSH. ALLEN. GREATNESS.
📺: #KCvsBUF on CBS/Paramount+
📱: https://t.co/waVpO8ZBqG pic.twitter.com/3HyIoDCaAC— NFL (@NFL) November 18, 2024
This was not an easy decision. Had the Bills been stuffed, the Chiefs would have needed only a field goal to take the lead, and few would have bet against Mahomes driving the offense downfield to get them in range for one with a full two minutes left on the clock.
The Bills know better than most how little time Mahomes needs to put together a clutch drive, and how fine the margins can be in those situations. There are also examples of teams playing it safe against the Chiefs and paying for it later. The Bills were willing to take the risk, and thanks to Allen’s brilliance, it paid off for them.
Sunday’s loss was the Chiefs’ first since last Christmas. One has to wonder if other teams in close games against them might take note of the Bills’ strategy and get a bit bolder, though not everyone has Allen to lean on in that spot.
