Buffalo Rumblings
A close game until the closing frame
The Buffalo Bills hosted the Kansas City Chiefs for their annual regular-season game in a high-stakes contest for AFC dominance. The two teams traded blows for much of the game, but Buffalo pulled ahead in the fourth quarter and never looked back.
Kansas City started with the ball at the 30 courtesy of a Tyler Bass touchback. KC started with a little trickery to get the ball to Xavier Worthy for seven yards. Looking to go down the middle of the field, Patrick Mahomes was caught from behind. Trying to heave the ball ahead, the fluttering ball landed in the hands of Taylor Rapp. A.J. Epenesa was flagged for unnecessary roughness. A sigh of relief (and boos) echoed across the stadium as at least it was after the interception counted.
Josh Allen came out trying to quiet a raucous crowd and get the Bills going. Two touches by James Cook (pass and rush) gained a mere three yards. Allen looked deep to the returning Amari Cooper (COOOOOP!) for 30 yards to keep Buffalo on the field. Khalil Shakir gained another first down immediately after with an 11-yard pass with a good chunk of that being RAC. Pressure led to a throwaway, which was followed by a short gain by Cook. Curtis Samuel found some room to run, bringing the ball down to the three-yard line. Cook ran to the right side for the game’s opening score. Tyler Bass returned to the hot seat with a missed point after. The Bills made us want to “shout,” though not always for the same reason.
Kansas City took the field again A tip by Epenesa denied a first-down completion. KC responded with a five-yard Kareem Hunt run to bring up the train whistle (third down). Terrell Bernard dropped Mahomes behind the line for a sack to end KC’s second drive of the afternoon.
Brandon Codrington brought the Matt Araiza punt back for 10 yards. Kansas City was called for illegally going out of bounds, giving the Bills another five yards to start at their own 40. Tight coverage by Kansas City led to an incomplete throw to Cooper. Ray Davis was dropped after a gain of one. On 3rd & 9, Josh Allen made an adjustment on the line after KC tipped their hand on the play call a bit early. Allen was pressured but made a throw on the run to Shakir for 15 yards to cross midfield. Two short gains were followed by good pressure from KC. Allen was barely able to get the ball away to avoid a sack. The Bills kept the offense on the field, but only to try to draw an offside call to make the 4th down a little more reasonable. Taking the delay of game flag, Sam Martin was brought out to punt the ball, which was fair caught at the 12.
Kareem Hunt carried the ball for four yards, followed by a five-yard grab from Deandre Hopkins....
