With a trip to the 2023 AFC Championship game at stake, the Buffalo Bills host the Kansas City Chiefs for the Divisional Round of the NFL playoffs at Highmark Stadium in Orchard Park, New York. It is the first time the Chiefs have played a postseason game on the road since the 2015 playoffs.
First quarter
The Bills started with possession after Kansas City won the opening coin toss, deferring their decision to the second half. The opening drive started at the 31-yard line after a 27-yard return.
The Chiefs’ defense opened up playing aggressively, setting Buffalo behind the sticks when safety Chamarri Conner forced a fumble on wide receiver Stefon Diggs, leading to a penalty for illegal touching on the Bills. However, quarterback Josh Allen overcame it with a third-down scramble, lateraling to gain 16 yards when he needed 17. One play later, a sneak moved the chains.
On the next third down, Allen rifled in a completion to tight end Dalton Kincaid, beating close coverage by safety Deon Bush. The rookie playmaker followed that up with a quick screen that gave Buffalo a first down in the red zone. From there, the Chiefs’ defense stifled plays to running back James Cook — then defensive tackle Chris Jones batted down a third-down pass. Buffalo took the field goal, taking the initial 3-0 lead.
Chiefs’ quarterback Patrick Mahomes came out making plays with his first chance, avoiding a sack then finding wide receiver Rashee Rice for a 26-yard gain on second down. Thenm tight end Travis Kelce found space at the second level to gain 14 yards and advance into Buffalo territory.
From there, the Chiefs shot themselves in the foot, running a screen play incorrectly and turning the big-play opportunity into a loss of yards. The unit had to settle for a field goal attempt, succeeding to tie the game at 3-3.
The Bills began marching with the ball again on their second possession, pacing the drive with an affective usage of James Cook. They worked to the Chiefs’ 17-yard line with an Allen scramble when the first quarter concluded.
Second quarter
Buffalo continued to control the line of scrimmage on offense, running at will to close in on a touchdown. Allen eventually took it in himself from five yards out, giving the Bills a 10-3 lead.
The Chiefs looked to answer by pounding the rock themselves, finding success on back-to-back handoffs to Pacheco to open the possession. Then, Travis Kelce found space down the field to set up inside the Bills’ 30-yard line. Looking for a touchdown pass to Kelce, the two were just barely off on a shot to the end zone. Another incomplete throw to the end zone led to the Chiefs settling for three points, closing Buffalo’s lead to 10-6.
With injuries piling up on the Chiefs’ defense, the reserves stepped up — like Conner making a strong tackle in the run game. On a downfield pass attempt, cornerback Jaylen Watson broke up the completion. Defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo used the blitz to force a short pass on third down, leading to the game’s first punt.
Using a short field, the Chiefs took advantage by continuing to run the ball. Running back Clyde Edwards-Helaire popped free for a 28-yard gain on the drive’s third play, setting up a big moment just outside of the red zone: a wide-open Kelce was found by Mahomes walking into the end zone, giving the Chiefs a 13-10 lead with three minutes to go in the half.
Before the two-minute warning hit, defensive end George Karlaftis chased down an outside run, tackling for loss and setting up second down and long.
Buffalo came out of the quick intermission with fire, gaining 15 yards on a completion to Diggs — then another 15 yards on a dump off to running back Latavius Murray. With time running down, Allen took off to gain 18 yards on a scramble, working to the Chiefs’ 12-yard line before a timeout was taken at 44 seconds.
A few Allen runs later, the Bills were in the endzone, taking a 17-13 lead with only 26 seconds remaining on the game clock.
After a screen pass led to penalties on the Chiefs, the offense conceded, going into halftime with the 17-13 advantage.
Injuries
Safety Mike Edwards stayed on the ground after a collision, breaking up a pass during the first drive of the game. He went to the medical soon after. Later in the game, he was ruled out from return with a concussion.
Linebacker Willie Gay Jr. left the game in the second quarter, ruled questionable to return with the neck injury that popped up on the team’s radar Saturday.
Cornerback Trent McDuffie went down after a play in the second quarter, leaving the field for a stretch of plays. He returned to the lineup after one possession.
Special Teams
Kicker Harrison Butker nailed a 47-yard field goal to cap the team’s first drive of the game. In the second quarter, he made a 29-yard attempt. After the Chiefs’ first touchdown in the second quarter, Butker made the point after.