ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. — Here are my five takes on the Buffalo Bills’ 27-24 divisional-round playoff loss against the Kansas City Chiefs Sunday night at Highmark Stadium:
1. A third Bills season in the last four years comes to an end with a playoff loss against the Chiefs.
That, alone, could serve as the headline for another excruciating early exit from the postseason. Unfortunately for the Bills, there is more to layer on the franchise’s repeated failures in the Super Bowl era.
There is “Wide Right,” the field-goal miss that cost the Bills Super Bowl XXV.
There is “Home Run Throwback,” where a kickoff return for a touchdown (set up by a lateral) followed what should have been a game-winning field goal in a wild-card loss at Tennessee.
There is “Thirteen Seconds,” the meltdown at the end of regulation that allowed the Chiefs to tie a divisional-round game at the end of regulation and proceed to win it in overtime.
Now, there is another “Wide Right,” this one by Tyler Bass from 44 yards with 1:43 left Sunday night that brought yet another bitter end to a playoff game against KC.
“Sucks,” Josh Allen said. “Losing sucks. Losing to them, losing to anybody at home sucks. Here, there, it doesn’t matter. Just, losing sucks. I don’t know what else to say.”
Allen’s sentiment is shared by his teammates, coaches and the Bills’ faithful. This was the kind of game that was difficult, if not impossible, to put into words.
2. The game felt like a heavyweight boxing match, with punches (including many after the plays) were traded the whole night.
That’s what you get with two of the NFL’s best quarterbacks, Allen and Patrick Mahomes, squaring off yet again. It felt like the kind of game that would be decided by which QB or team would be able to make one more play … or one more stop … or would blink and make a mistake, as happened with Bass’ miss.
There were six lead changes up to the Chiefs taking a 27-24 lead on a four-yard touchdown run by Isiah Pacheco early in the fourth quarter. Pacheco was injured when the Bills won at KC during the regular season, triggering the run that led them to a fourth consecutive AFC East crown. On Sunday night, Pacheco had a solid 97 yards and averaged 6.5 yards per carry on 15 attempts.
The usual suspects, Mahomes and Travis Kelce, did their share of damage. Mahomes threw for 215 yards and a pair of touchdowns, both of which went to Kelce, who had five catches for 75 yards.
3. There will be plenty of second-guessing after this one.
Why did Sean McDermott choose to go for a fake punt that failed badly on fourth-and-five from their own 30. Even worse than the decision was letting Damar Hamlin, who has barely played this season, carry the ball. He was stuffed for two yards.
Though the Chiefs’ possession ended with a fumble out of the end zone, giving the Bills the ball at their 20, the strategy still was highly suspect. Why not just leave the offense, the alleged strength of the team, on the field?
4. There will be plenty of conversation about what the Bills did after taking over on what would be their final possession with 8:23 left.
The series began on the Buffalo 20 with an Allen deep shot to Stefon Diggs. The ball went through Diggs’ hands. Diggs struggled to get separation throughout the game, and he had other drops.
Through the drive, it seemed the Bills were uncertain about whether they were looking to go for a touchdown or a field goal. They seemed to meander between those options before settling on Bass’ ill-fated field-goal try.
5. Changes always follow a season, whether it ends with a playoff loss or a Super Bowl win.
The Bills’ roster is in for a significant overhaul that will be mainly driven by the fact the club is unlikely to have enough salary cap room to retain veterans and pursue others.
Familiar names will depart in all areas of the team, thanks in no small part to the fact the Bills chose to kick the can down the road, so to speak, by extending contracts to make cap room for this season.
There also could very well be changes on the coaching staff. I do not expect one to be head coach.
However, offensive coordinator Joe Brady has an interim label and has interviewed for the Atlanta Falcons’ head-coaching position. Does McDermott stick with the dual role of defensive coordinator for another season? Will other staffers move on or be replaced?
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