Buffalo Bills 29-32 Kansas City Chiefs: Patrick Mahomes beats Josh Allen again as Chiefs reach Super Bowl for third straight year | NFL news

Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs moved within one win in NFL history when they beat Josh Allen’s Buffalo Bills 32-29 in the AFC Championship Game to reach Super Bowl LIX on Sunday.

No team has ever won three consecutive Super Bowls, with the Saquon Barkley-inspired Philadelphia Eagles now waiting as their final hurdle in a rematch of Super Bowl 57 after beating the Washington Commanders in the NFC Championship Game earlier in the day.

Trailing 32-29 with two minutes left, the Bills elected to go for it on fourth-and-five from their own 47 only for Allen to be swarmed by a trademark Steve Spagnuolo blitz with the game on the line. Buffalo’s returning quarterback managed to haul a hopeful pass downfield that tight end Dalton Kincaid was unable to catch as he dived back toward the ball.

It had become another blockbuster of the NFL’s great Tom Brady and Peyton Manning-esque modern quarterback rivalry as Mahomes and Allen went stride for stride again. Mahomes’ rushing touchdown gave Kansas City a 29-22 advantage in the fourth quarter, to which Allen responded with a fourth-down strike to Curtis Samuel to leave the pair tied at 29-29 until Harrison Butker kicked what would prove the winning points with three minutes to play.

The Chiefs have now won 17 straight one-score games – an NFL record – and are also 12-0 in one-score games this season. Mahomes, meanwhile, improves to 4-0 against Allen in the postseason as he leads the Chiefs to a fifth Super Bowl in the last six seasons.

Heads of state

Buffalo Bills

• Passed: Josh Allen, 22/34, 237 yards, 2 TDs
• Urgent: James Cook, 13 carries, 85 yards, 2 TDs
• Recipient: Mack Hollins, 3 catches, 73 yards, 1 TD

Kansas City Chiefs

• Passed: Patrick Mahomes, 18/26, 245 yards, 1 TD
• Urgent: Kareem Hunt, 17 carries, 64 yards, 1 TD
• Patrick Mahomes, 11 carries, 43 yards, 2 TDs
• Recipient: Xavier Worthy, 6 catches, 85 yards, 1 TD

There had been ominous signs in the opening exchanges, as a nervous Allen deflected two near-interceptions in a quick three-and-out to start, before the Chiefs offense looked as slick and as dangerous as it might have done all season.

Their fast start culminated in Kareem Hunt’s 12-yard touchdown run at the end of a nine-play, 90-yard drive that had seen Mahomes connect with JuJu Smith-Schuster on a 31-yard catch-and-run over center of the field.

Buffalo bounced back with a 53-yard field goal by Tyler Bass before forcing the first Chiefs turnover since Week 11 of the regular season — when the Bills beat Kansas City — when Ed Oliver struggled with an errant pass from Mahomes. The hosts had survived a fumble just moments earlier when the ball slipped out of Mahomes’ hand under a sack by Daquan Jones, with AJ Epenesa recovering only for the play to come back on an offsides penalty against Oliver.

Cook was on hand to punish the turnover with a 6-yard touchdown run to cap a 10-play 72-yard drive after Khalil Shakir’s 24-yard reception moved the chains on third-and-13.

But the Chiefs came back through Xavier Worthy’s 11-yard touchdown catch after Mahomes had kept the drive going with a scramble to convert on fourth-and-one.

Worthy was then at the center of controversy when he was adjudged to have come down on a contested catch against Cole Bishop, although he did not appear to have possession when the ball hit the ground. Nevertheless, it was ruled a 26-yard catch on third-and-five, setting up Mahomes’ one-yard touchdown run for a 21-10 lead.

Buffalo then cut the deficit to 21-16 heading into halftime thanks to Mack Hollins’ 34-yard grab in tight coverage from star Chiefs corner Trent McDuffie.

After holding the Chiefs to a punt to begin the third quarter, the Bills notched their third lead change of the game when Cook made an exceptional stretch effort to reach the ball over the goal line for a one-yard touchdown on fourth-and-goal. That put Sean McDermott’s side on top 22-21 after the failed two-point attempt at the end of a 12-play, 80-yard drive that knocked seven minutes off the clock.

McDermott’s decision to go for it on fourth and one was then rewarded by Allen’s two-yard sneak early in the fourth quarter. They elected to go at it again four plays later, with Allen this time — and perhaps harshly — ruled short amid a blinding pile of bodies for a turnover on downs.

The two big quarterbacks continued to go toe-to-toe, and Mahomes capitalized on the turnover with a 10-yard rushing touchdown and two-point attempt to Justin Watson before Allen located Samuel for a four-yard strike on fourth down with 6, 15 left.

Jordan Phillips came to the Bills’ rescue on the ensuing possession with a sack for a loss of seven to derail a drive that had reached the 10-yard line through Worthy’s 23-yard catch-and-run, with Kansas City eventually settling with Butker’s 35-yard field goal to take a 32-29 lead.

From there, it was time for Spags and time for the Chiefs defense to underscore why they have become a crucial component of Kansas City’s dynasty dominance. Spagnuolo called his most exotic blitz of the game to send Allen into retreat before the Arrowhead crowd watched in prayer as Kincaid fell short in his attempt to save a catch down the field.

Over to Andy Reid, who torched the game with a beautifully designed catch-and-run play to Samaje Perine to convert on third-and-nine and cement Kansas City’s spot in the Super Bowl.

What was said?

Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes: “I’m so proud of my teammates and how they responded. It was a great football team that we played. It’s not about one guy or a couple of guys… it’s about the whole whole team. That’s why it’s so special.

“I’m lost for words and excited for New Orleans.”

Chiefs head coach Andy Reid: “Our hats are off to Buffalo. They have a great team and coach McDermott is a phenomenal coach. . . . I’m proud of him. They fell just a little bit short, but we’re happy about it. What a one it was damn game for the fans and for the NFL.”

Sky Sports NFL’s Ndamukong Suh: “Any team going up against the Chiefs has to have a near perfect game, especially in those tight situations and key moments. In those key moments, the Bills just fell short on this particular day. It’s unfortunate and the Chiefs sealed the deal.”

Sky Sports NFL’s Jason Bell: “That’s why this game was so competitive because of Josh Allen, because of his will. Number 17 played a great game, but in the end he just couldn’t seal the deal.”

What’s next?

The 2024 NFL season comes to a close on Sunday, February 9, when the Chiefs and Eagles square off in Super Bowl LIX at Caesars Superdome in New Orleans, live on Sky Sports NFL.