It’s far too early to talk about saving anything, realistically, but the Buffalo Bills’ 20-17 win at Kansas City today was at the very least a statement that the Bills have more football left in them, and at the very most a statement that they’re still a playoff contender.
And who the heck knows what to think about the Kansas City Chiefs at this point?
We do know this: Patrick Mahomes has a temper. And this just in: offensive offsides is a thing.
But they beat KC on Sunday, with Tyler Bass hitting a 39-yard field goal with 1:54 left, a 12-play drive.
The Chiefs drove down and apparently scored, a pass from Mahomes to tight end Travis Kelce, then a lateral back from Kelce to Kadarius Toney – who scored, but the score was wiped out with about a minute left because Toney was flagged for being lined up offsides.
As this Associated Press story reports (Bills get go-ahead field goal late, take advantage of Chiefs penalty to hold on for 20-17 win), the replays show that Toney’s foot is absolutely across the line of scrimmage.
Kansas City went on to lose the game, and Mahomes had to be separated from the official on his sideline by teammates. And after the game, both Mahomes and head coach Andy Reid – incorrectly, by the way – whined about the call.
“It’s a bit embarrassing for the National Football League for that to take place,” Reid said.
“Loss for words, man,” Mahomes said. “To end another game and we’re talking about referees, it’s bad for the NFL.”
One might say it’s a bit embarrassing for Super Bowl champions to be complaining about a call that they clearly are incorrect about, in a game they clearly lost.
For once, it seems, the Chiefs didn’t benefit from a penalty, and apparently, they’re so used to it, this is what happens when they don’t.
Remember a few weeks back when we did our mid-season awards? Who did TFB give our “Biggest Whiner” award to… (WHAT’S CAUSING ALL THIS? / By MITCH LUCAS | TFB’s Just-over-halfway-through-the-season awards | The Football Beat)?
Oh, yeah. Pat Mahomes.
At any rate…
The Bills, who have had not quite a nightmarish season but somewhere just this side of it, snapped a two-game losing streak with a huge win at Kansas City, and dealt the Chiefs a big blow in the process. Again, there’s time left in the season on both ends, but the home field advantage race is ongoing as well, and the Chiefs – now themselves mired in a two-game losing streak – are falling way behind in it.
If the season ended today, Baltimore would be the number one seed in the AFC with a 10-3 record, but the Miami Dolphins have yet to play – they host Tennessee on Monday night. Still, Miami only has three losses. If the Dolphins beat Tennessee, they also have a 10-3 record.
Get this: the Chiefs are 8-5 – and the Cleveland Browns are also 8-5.
Back to the Bills.
They don’t really have the luxury of focusing on the home field advantage, as they have dueling with the Chiefs in years’ past. The Bills are fighting for a playoff spot, period, and that fight is likely to continue for the remainder of the season. Their remaining schedule: at home against Dallas next Sunday; at the Los Angeles Chargers on Saturday, Dec. 23; at home against New England on Dec. 31; and at Miami on Jan. 7.
It’s likely that the Cowboys, the Chargers and Miami will all be playing for something in that run – not good for the Bills.
Josh Allen went 23-of-42 for 233 yards and a touchdown (to James Cook) in the win. Cook rushed for just 58 yards on 10 carries.
Mahomes had 271 yards passing, a touchdown to Rashee Rice (who had seven grabs for 72 yards) and an interception.
The Chiefs’ remaining schedule: at New England on Sunday; at home against Las Vegas on Christmas Day; at home against Cincinnati on Dec. 31; and at the Los Angeles Chargers in the regular season finale on Jan. 7.
In the other late afternoon games on Sunday:
- In a game that set offensive football back 45 years, the Minnesota Vikings beat the Las Vegas Raiders, 3-0 (Vikings beat Raiders 3-0 in lowest-scoring NFL game in 16 years).
- The San Francisco 49ers had a bit of trouble for three quarters with rival Seattle, but got another good day from Brock Purdy, who threw for a season-high and career-high 368 yards and two touchdowns, and 145 rushing yards from Christian McCaffrey in a 28-16 win (Samuel scores 2 TDs, Purdy throws for career-best 368 yards as 49ers beat Seahawks 28-16 | AP News).
- How can the Los Angeles Chargers’ season get any worse? Well, if they have to play without quarterback Justin Herbert, who broke a finger in 24-7 loss at home to the late-charging (no pun intended) Denver Broncos on Sunday (Russell Wilson throws 2 TD passes, Justin Herbert injured as Broncos cruise past Chargers 24-7). The Broncos, after an awful start, have won six of their last seven games and are 7-6. The Chargers? They’re 5-8 and leading contenders for the “fire our coach next” sweepstakes. Herbert’s broken finger is his right index finger, his throwing hand, his second broken finger this season (the other was on his left hand).
