The Kansas City Chiefs and Buffalo Bills played a playoff game for the ages Sunday night at Arrowhead Stadium in Missouri.
With a trip to the AFC Championship Game against the Cincinnati Bengals on the line, Patrick Mahomes and Josh Allen went tit-for-tat in performances that defied logic.
Let’s just explain it this way. Those covering the game (self included) had multiple drafts written depicting a Chiefs or Bills win — all within the final two minutes of the game. Twenty-five points were scored during that span. Twenty-five!
It started with Allen hitting Gabriel Davis on a 27-yard touchdown pass with 1:54 remaining in regulation. A two-point conversion gave Buffalo a 29-26 lead.
But like clockwork, Mahomes hit Tyreek Hill on a 64-yard touchdown pass just 41 seconds later to give the Chiefs a 33-29 lead and a potential victory.
MAHOMES. TYREEK.
— NFL (@NFL) January 24, 2022
CHIEFS RETAKE THE LEAD. #NFLPlayoffs
: #BUFvsKC on CBS
: https://t.co/bCIjXIlFWh pic.twitter.com/QCPXcRYAT7
Not so fast.
With just 13 seconds remaining in regulation, Allen hit Davis for the wide receiver’s fourth touchdown of the game from 19 yards out to give the Bills a 36-33 win, right?
JOSH ALLEN AND GABRIEL DAVIS' 4TH TD GIVES THE BILLS THE LEAD WITH 17 SECONDS.
— NFL (@NFL) January 24, 2022
: #BUFvsKC on CBS
: https://t.co/bCIjXIlFWh pic.twitter.com/DgdL4Pwvnd
Oh wait, never mind.
Thirteen seconds remaining. Thirteen seconds.
Apparently, that was more than enough for Mahomes and his Kansas City Chiefs. Dude led Kansas City down the field 44 yards on just three plays — culminating in a 49-yard game-tying field goal for kicker Harrison Butker as time expired in regulation.
BUTKER. GOOD FROM 49. TIE GAME. #NFLPlayoffs
— NFL (@NFL) January 24, 2022
: #BUFvsKC on CBS
: https://t.co/bCIjXIlFWh pic.twitter.com/BHVNy9Rkek
Receiving the opening kickoff in overtime, Mahomes then led the Chiefs down the field 75 yards. The drive culminated in an eight-yard touchdown pass from the quarterback to Pro Bowl tight end Travis Kelce.
MAHOMES TO KELCE.
— NFL (@NFL) January 24, 2022
THE @CHIEFS WIN THE GAME OF THE YEAR! #NFLPlayoffs #ChiefsKingdom pic.twitter.com/9eM2Ur15O0
We’re pretty much out of words to explain what happened outside of noting that the Chiefs came out on top by the score of 42-36. So, we’ll leave it up to the masses.
One of the great games ever. Mahomes and Allen combined for 707 passing yards, 137 rushing yards and 7 TD passes. Amazing. #BUFvsKC
— Rich Cimini (@RichCimini) January 24, 2022
Greatest game ever?
— David Canter (@davidcanter) January 24, 2022
Out of breath
— Clarence Hill Jr (@clarencehilljr) January 24, 2022
This is the Hagler-Hearns of playoff games.
— Sam Farmer (@LATimesfarmer) January 24, 2022
I feel simultaneously jealous of and very sorry for people who root for these two teams right now. I promise this makes sense.
— Kevin Clark (@bykevinclark) January 24, 2022
13 secs was too much time for Mahomes!!!
— Robert Griffin III (@RGIII) January 24, 2022
This has to be one of the most memorable days in postseason history, right? So much star power. So much drama. Am I a being a victim of the moment?
— Jeff Darlington (@JeffDarlington) January 24, 2022
This is incredible!
— Gregg Bell (@gbellseattle) January 24, 2022
Love Josh Allen’s reaction to Chiefs making that kick. Like, bring it on. Overtime.
Deadline writers have trashed running and about 5 ledes by this point. Probably have already written 2,500 words.
— Jeff McLane (@Jeff_McLane) January 24, 2022
Let's face it .. no one wanted this game to end anyway
— Deepi Sidhu (@DeepSlant) January 24, 2022
Patrick Mahomes threw for 177 yards … after the two-minute warning
— Will Brinson (@WillBrinson) January 24, 2022
Phenomenal game.
— Dave Birkett (@davebirkett) January 24, 2022
Mahomes didn’t get the chance to touch it in OT vs. Brady in 2018. He did it to Josh Allen tonight.
Great theatre either way.
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