Mahomes-Allen Push Battle To OT; Chiefs Win, 42-36, To Seal Fourth Straight AFC Championship Appearance
The best of the AFC Divisional Round weekend culminated in a Sunday matchup between the Chiefs' Patrick Mahomes and Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen.
Kansas City went on to defeat the Bills, 42-36, in a thrilling overtime win after both quarterbacks went nearly perfect for four quarters and a sole overtime drive.
Buffalo was keen on stopping Mahomes and the Chiefs from reaching their fourth consecutive AFC Championship Game.
Mahomes and the Chiefs rose to the challenge by leading the offensive attack through three quarters. They scored 14 in the first half off an 8-yard touchdown run by Mahomes and a 2-yard touchdown reception by Byron Pringle.
The Chiefs pushed their lead in the third quarter after Harrison Butker made a 39-yard field goal and Mecole Hardman manuevered through the Bills defense a 25-yard score. 24-13.
Bills receiver Gabriel Davis was the star of the evening after Allen linked up with the wideout for four scores.
Davis caught an 18-yard touchdown in the second quarter and brought the Bills back in the fourth off a 75-yard bomb by Allen.
Davis ended the night with eight catches for 201 yards and four touchdowns.
Per OutKick's Meg Turner, the fourth-quarter connection between Allen and Davis marked the quarterback's longest pass in a playoff or regular-season game.
The final two minutes of this contest were hectic: featuring three lead changes, a crazed fan running on the field and a field goal to send the game into OT.
Bills held the lead within the final two minutes, 29-26, until a 64-yard bolt to the end zone by Tyreek Hill put the Chiefs up, 33-29.
With 1:13 left in regular time, the Bills led a six-play, 75-yard drive that ended with Gabriel Davis' fourth touchdown catch of the game (a postseason record).
Down 36-33, Mahomes was given only 13 seconds to travel from his 20-yard line to set Butker up for a game-tying field goal. Thirteen seconds proved too long as Butker was set up for a 49-yarder, which sailed through with plenty of distance to spare.
36-36. Overtime.
The game ultimately came down to which team received the ball to start the overtime period, and the coin went the Chiefs' way.
Mahomes led the game-winning drive, hitting Travis Kelce in the end zone as Allen watched from the sideline — losing the contest without an opportunity to respond.
Allen completed 27-of-37 passes for 329 yards and four touchdowns.
Mahomes finished with 33-of-44 passing for 378 yards and four touchdowns.
Tyreek Hill recorded 11 catches for 150 yards and a touchdown. Kelce finished with eight catches for 96 yards and the walk-off touchdown.
Kansas City will face off against the Cincinnati Bengals next Sunday in the AFC Championship Game.
Read up on Sunday's NFC Divisional Round recap between the Los Angeles Rams and Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
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