KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- After losing a pair of games to the Kansas City Chiefs last season (most notably the AFC title game), the Buffalo Bills were eager to prove they had effectively closed the gap between themselves and their old AFL nemesis.
Josh Allen and the Bills got that opportunity as they faced Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs in the latest edition of their burgeoning rivalry at Arrowhead Stadium on "Sunday Night Football."
Buffalo (3-1) entered the showdown fresh off a 40-0 domination of the Houston Texans and touting one of the NFL's best defenses. After a rare two-game skid, Kansas City (2-2) hoped its Week 4 victory over the Philadelphia Eagles signified a return to its winning ways. One thing is for certain: Each team came into the matchup boasting one of the most exciting young QBs in the league.
The Chiefs struck first as Harrison Butker diverted from the theme of the day and made a field goal.
But on the very next drive, Allen showed up in a big way as he swiftly marched the Bills down the field and put them on the board with his first rushing touchdown of the night:
.@JoshAllenQB uses his legs to put the @BuffaloBills on the board! #BillsMafia
β NFL (@NFL) October 11, 2021
πΊ: #BUFvsKC on NBC
π±: https://t.co/6zBjGnL9LY pic.twitter.com/rJSh52HFsn
Not to be outdone, Mahomes answered back with a touchdown of his own early in the second quarter, finding wide receiver Byron Pringle in the end zone to give the Chiefs a 10-7 lead.
Redemption for @pringle_byron. #ChiefsKingdom
β NFL (@NFL) October 11, 2021
πΊ: #BUFvsKC on NBC
π±: https://t.co/6zBjGnL9LY pic.twitter.com/EZzph7GfZj
By the time we had typed the above sentence the Bills had already found the end zone again. Allen used a 35-yard dime to Emmanuel Sanders to put the Bills back on top.
Now this is what you call a DIME. @JoshAllenQB @ESanders_10 #BillsMafia
β NFL (@NFL) October 11, 2021
πΊ: #BUFvsKC on NBC
π±: https://t.co/6zBjGnL9LY pic.twitter.com/mRpdHgZ6F0
With just over a minute remaining in the first half, Allen kept it going and expanded Buffalo's lead to 14 points when he found Dawson Knox for the tight end's fifth touchdown of the season -- a 53-yard touchdown to be exact.
.@JoshAllenQB is on a roll. A 53-yard touchdown to @dawson_knox! #BillsMafia
β NFL (@NFL) October 11, 2021
πΊ: #BUFvsKC on NBC
π±: https://t.co/6zBjGnL9LY pic.twitter.com/c1eJud1LgL
The 89-point offensive shootout between the Cleveland Browns and the Los Angeles Chargers clearly put ideas in their heads.
After a lengthy rain delay (approximately 1 hour and 10 minutes), the second half finally got underway. But first, here's a Josh Allen stat to ruminate on: Sunday marked the second time this season Allen had 250 combined passing and rushing yards and three passing or rushing TDs in the first half. All other players have done it once this season (Kyler Murray).
If there was any fear among Buffalo fans that the long rain delay at halftime might have squashed the Bills' momentum heading into the second half, Micah Hyde's pick-six to put his team up 31-13 quelled it.
Pick-6! How about the @BuffaloBills?! #BillsMafia
β NFL (@NFL) October 11, 2021
πΊ: #BUFvsKC on NBC
π±: https://t.co/6zBjGnL9LY pic.twitter.com/j2ptK5x9tK
And then (Chiefs fans, avert your eyes) Greg Rousseau happened.
The rookie @gregrousseau with the red zone INT! #BillsMafia
β NFL (@NFL) October 11, 2021
πΊ: #BUFvsKC on NBC
π±: https://t.co/6zBjGnL9LY pic.twitter.com/hFgtEkfU7w
Mahomes' interception marked the sixth one he had thrown through Week 5. The Kansas City QB threw six throughout all of last season.
But haven't we lived enough life to know never to count out Mahomes & Co. in the fourth quarter? The 26-year-old used a chest pass to tight end Travis Kelce to make it an 11-point game.
Chest pass to Kelce for the TD. @Chiefs cut the lead to 31-20.
β NFL (@NFL) October 11, 2021
πΊ: #BUFvsKC on NBC
π±: https://t.co/6zBjGnL9LY pic.twitter.com/ryKc8JzEyR
Apparently Allen didn't get the whole "Chiefs in the 4th" memo and had no intention of letting the game get away from him as he connected with Sanders again.
.@JoshAllenQB on fire in the rain π₯ #BillsMafia
β NFL (@NFL) October 11, 2021
πΊ: #BUFvsKC on NBC
π±: https://t.co/6zBjGnL9LY pic.twitter.com/4bRYD0Bs4F
... Allen, clearly unbothered by playing in the elements.
On the back of their QB's four touchdowns, the Bills secured the convincing 38-20 win and not a table in Buffalo was safe.
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