The argument for Chiefs-Bills 2021-22 playoff game as best ever

Last year's AFC Divisional Round game between the Kansas City Chiefs and the Buffalo Bills goes down as one of the best games of all time. There is no argument in that. The Chiefs came from behind to defeat the Bills 42-36 in overtime to advance to the AFC Championship game.

But what is the debate for it being the top game?

There were four lead changes and 31 points scored after the two-minute warning. Besides that, there is plenty to say about last year's game. Here are five reasons it could go down as the greatest game ever played.

The quarterbacks

It was a battle between two of the best QBs in the NFL, and both quarterbacks played exceptionally well. Josh Allen was 27 of 37 for 329 yards and four touchdowns. Patrick Mahomes countered by going 33 of 44 for 378 yards and three TDs. Both quarterbacks also led their teams in rushing, with Allen carrying the ball 11 times for 68 yards and Mahomes taking it seven times for 69 yards and a touchdown.

The controversy

The back-and-forth finale might have ended after the Bills took a 36-33 lead with 13 seconds. But the Bills decided to kick the ball out of the end zone and give the Chiefs the ball at the 25-yard line without any time coming off the clock.

Jim Nantz and Tony Romo discussed this on the CBS broadcast before the kickoff to keep the ball on the ground or keep it short -- make the Chiefs' special teams take some time off the clock. But by doing that, the flip side is that it's possible the ball goes out of bounds, or maybe a Chiefs player takes the deep into Buffalo territory.

There is also an argument that could be made as to why the Bills didn't go for a two-point conversion after their TD. A 37-33 lead would make it so the Chiefs needed a Hail Mary, not just a field goal. The way these offenses were rolling, it's hard to imagine the chance that Harrison Butker would be kicking a game-winning field goal had the Bills not gotten the 2, but that also could be true.

Football IQ

As the Chiefs took possession, several times it was repeated on the sideline that they had three timeouts, so just get as far as possible, go down and call timeout. Travis Kelce told Tyreek Hill to catch the ball and go straight so they could block for him. Several players immediately called a timeout after Hill's 19-yard catch-and-run.

Then, the Chiefs lined up and the Bills called a timeout. Kelce told Mahomes if they do that same defense, he isn't running the route designed for him. He is going down the seam.

Kelce and Mahomes linked up for a 25-yard pass and again, timeouts were called all over the field. That set up Butker's 49-yard game-tying field goal.

Overtime

Not every great game has an extra period (The Ice Bowl, for example). But several do, including this one.

The Chiefs tied the game at the end of regulation and that was great for the fans, nobody seemed to want this game to end; especially given how great the quarterback play was.

Kansas City won the coin toss and took the ball over at the 25-yard line needing a touchdown to end the game. That's exactly what happened, as K.C. went eights plays, 75 yards in 4 minutes, 15 seconds to end the ball game. The Chiefs won it on Kelce's 8-yard grab from Mahomes.

The historical impact

Immediately, people debated how unfair it was that Allen and the Bills offense did not get a chance. After all, the last time the offense left the field it was ahead 36-33. But that wasn't how the game was played.

In the offseason, the rules changed, allowing both offenses to get at least one possession in overtime. These offenses were so great that for now on in the playoffs, no team will be able to drive down the field and score a game-winning drive. The defense must have a say in it, or the offense must do it twice.