Saw this from a Facebook group:
Before I get to The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly of today’s game against the Bills here are some amazing stats. Before today the Chiefs were 30-6 in their last 36 games in December and January. Patrick Mahomes is the 8th quarterback in history with 12 playoff wins and he’s been a starter for six years. He has never failed to make the AFC title game in his career as a starter. Prior to Mahomes coming to town I’ve only seen the Chiefs in one AFC title game, and that was with Montana against these same Bills. It’s truly remarkable the era we get to live in.
Please check out the news at the end for some exciting stuff coming this offseason when it comes to yours truly and Chiefs content.
The Good
Chamarri Conner was in the game due to injuries. He did a great job poking the ball out in the first quarter. The Chiefs defense stepped up at the end of that drive to hold the Bills to a field goal. In the 2nd half the defense looked like the defense we have become accustomed to, they just totally shut down Josh Allen and the Bills over and over and only allowed 7 points to a very good offense.
Patrick Mahomes was Playoff Pat again today. His early escape and throw to Rice on the 1st drive was something we have seen so many times before. Please never take what he does for granted. His sidekick Travis had a great game as well, hooking up for two touchdowns. They also broke the record for total playoff touchdowns by any combination in history with 16, taking that away from Brady and Gronk.
CEH lately seems to have one amazing play most games, and tonight was no exception. His 28 yard scamper came at a time when we really needed a spark. And speaking of running backs, there are not many in the league I’d prefer over Pachecho who again had over 100 all purpose yards, especially when you consider what a value he is.
MVS had an amazing catch and three others as well. We have been waiting for him to step up and today he finally did.
The Chiefs averaged nearly nine yards per play tonight including eight plays of 20 or more yards, while the Bills had exactly zero.
I literally said watch the punt fake to the family before the Bills tried it and said we should keep the defense on the field. I had absolutely no idea we only had ten players out there and am thrilled we held them.
My wife and daughters did some magic voodoo with our fingers towards the television on the Bills final field goal attempt. We are convinced we made a difference.
Harrison Butker quietly hit every kick he was given. On a night like tonight where we didn’t need Patrick to be the hero late I think it’s important to point that out.
The Bad
The defense was getting gashed the entire first half by the Bills running game. We had no answer for it, especially for the Allen runs once Gay went out who was supposed to be spying him. Nnadi being out may have been a bigger factor than anyone knew. It was interesting how very little was made of the Chiefs injuries but we constantly heard who the Bills were missing all week. Mckinnon and Cook were out for us as well as Nnadi and the players who went down during the game, Gay and Edwards. And we felt the difference right away as well.
The Ugly
We missed an opportunity to initiate a review we likely could have won early on the Allen forward pass. I’d love to know what our process for deciding that is, but it was a big play for the Bills.
Our two worst moments still came down to our receivers. Justin Watson had a drop early on the four yard line that likely cost us 4 points. Mecole Hardman had two fumbles, one of which we lost at the 2 yard line that went into the end zone for a touch back. I’m not sure he should be given the ball again ever with this team. I put blame on Mecole’s 2nd fumble on the coaches as well. Why when we are in short yardage and goal do we not simply hand the ball to Pacheco three times up the middle? I’m also a bit baffled what angle the replay official had on that play. None of the angles we were shown could clearly know when Mecole’s rear hit the ground.
I don’t understand the play call on our 1st play of the last drive of the half. Did we not want to score? And how do we have both tackles end up with a penalty on the same play? Thankfully the penalties were limited otherwise.
The Bills got away with several chippy post possession antics, they must have been really feeling the pressure to win this game.
The bounces of fumbles have not gone our way all year. That said, please just fall on the ball rather than go for the scoop and score. The Chiefs could have had a comfortable lead at the end without several self inflicted mistakes.
“Buffalo entered the game hoping to exorcize a new demon but ended up being haunted by an old one.”
In conclusion it’s on to Baltimore.
Many of you have already friended or followed me on facebook, but this past week a friend of mine suggested I put this and other content on X/Twitter which in the past I’ve only used to follow the free agent gurus to see who we were getting in the offseason. So if you would like to see these articles and other regular content in the coming year please follow me there @ShawnSorter. If you have suggestions for offseason article ideas please message them to me.
