Buffalo Rumblings
It looked like the Chiefs would follow a familiar script. Then, Josh Allen happened.
The Kansas City Chiefs came to Highmark Stadium in search of their tenth win against the Buffalo Bills. When they stopped Buffalo on third down with under 2:30 to go in the game, it looked like they’d have a chance at victory. Past precedent suggested that the Bills and head coach Sean McDermott would send on kicker Tyler Bass to try and extend a 23-21 lead to a 26-21 advantage.
Instead, McDermott trusted his offense, quarterback Josh Allen rumbled 26 yards for a touchdown, and the Chiefs were left with a two-score deficit and right around two minutes to spare. A last-ditch heave towards tight end Travis Kelce was intercepted by linebacker Terrel Bernard, and the game ended in a 30-21 Buffalo victory.
The Chiefs played well on Sunday, and the game had just as much tension as we’ve come to expect when these two clubs meet. However, the Bills just had more answers throughout the night, and they picked up a huge victory.
Here’s how our five Chiefs to watch fared this week.
Isiah Pachco’s replacement isn’t just another guy. Hunt has been solid, if unspectacular, this season, averaging 3.7 yards per rush on his way to 509 yards and five touchdowns this season. Against Buffalo on Sunday, Hunt averaged 4.3 yards per rush on his 14 carries, totaling 60 yards on the night. However, and at the risk of sounding like a broken record when I talk about Buffalo’s run defense, Hunt broke one big run — a 17-yard carry — and was otherwise pedestrian (13 carries, 43 yards) on the evening. Buffalo did a great job on most of their run fits, and while they’ll sometimes allow a big one if they’re outflanked or out-beefed in their nickel defense, they continue to show their discipline. Kansas City is a physical squad, but Buffalo matched them blow-for-blow.
I had a weird feeling that head coach Andy Reid was going to try and feature Worthy. The narrative had Kansas City won likely would have centered on how the Bills were beaten by the receiver they gave away to the Chiefs. And, had Worthy been able to haul in a deep pass from quarterbask Patrick Mahomes in the first half, we might be talking about a different outcome. Unfortunately for the Chiefs, Worthy couldn’t find his feet before going out of bounds, and what would have been an explosive play was instead an incomplete pass. Worthy’s overall numbers look pretty good — he ran once for seven yards and caught four passes for 61 yards and a score — but considering that the entirety of his output came in the first half, I’m more impressed with Buffalo’s adjustments than I am Worthy’s performance.
No procedure penalties on Taylor this week, but he was called for a hold that wiped out an 18-yard rush...
