Henry McKenna
NFL reporter
ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. – Buffalo Bills coach Sean McDermott and quarterback Josh Allen have seen it too many occasions. They noticed it within the film. And sadly, they noticed it first hand.
When Patrick Mahomes has an opportunity to win the sport, he wins the sport.
That’s what makes it particular.
So the Bills had that in thoughts once they made a tricky name late within the fourth quarter on fourth-and-2 with Buffalo main 23-21 over the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday.
Goal 1: Kick a subject aim and preserve the sport to at least one rating.
Door 2: Take the most important threat and go for it in hopes of constructing a two-possession lead.
They selected Door 2.
In different phrases, they refused to let Mahomes take over.
“Any time you give the ball again to Pat and that offense is down six with the sport on the road, they like their probabilities in that scenario,” Allen stated after the sport. “So we needed to get six or seven (factors) to make it a two-score recreation.”
“They’re simply too good to not go for it proper there,” McDermott stated of the Chiefs.
With 2:27 left on the clock, Allen dropped again however did not like the best way the protection modified (from a pre-snap zone to a post-snap man protection), a deception engineered by probably the most sensible defensive thoughts of soccer. : Steve Spagnuolo. The Chiefs had already intercepted Allen on fourth down earlier within the recreation. And receivers Khalil Shakir and Amari Cooper weren’t open. Then Allen began operating.
On the sideline, Buffalo nook Rasul Douglas was sitting on the bench, as a result of he’s superstitious and thinks that standing will forestall his crew from changing on fourth down. But when Allen took off, Douglas was on his ft.
“As the present went on, I used to be like an airplane as a result of I used to be simply lifting,” Douglas stated.
Meanwhile, Allen was messing round and demolishing defenders. About 5 defenders had an opportunity to get their arms on Allen. Nobody shot him down. Not all the best way to the tip zone. He scored a landing on a 26-yard run. That can be the ultimate rating: 30-21. Invoices win.
“That’s a testomony to (Buffalo’s) intestinal fortitude,” CBS analyst Tony Romo stated on the published.
Of course, payments have executed this earlier than. Allen is 4-1 within the common season in opposition to Mahomes & Co. But Allen is 1-3 in opposition to Mahomes & Co. within the postseason. So it made sense that Mahomes would inform Allen of their postgame handshake, “We’ll do it once more, honey.”
It’s half promise and half praise. But additionally it is partly a menace.
“We’ll do it once more, honey.”
Before we dive into that hypothetical however looming postseason matchup, although, let’s give the Bills flowers.
Up till that time within the common season, nobody had crushed the Chiefs. Allen and McDermott confirmed everybody the way it’s executed. So that is the excellent news for the NFL. You can beat the 2024 Chiefs. But then there’s the unhealthy information. Allen is perhaps one of many few guys who can do this. Maybe the one man. Lamar Jackson? Joe Burrow? They’ve already tried and failed. So I’m undecided the payments set a template for everybody to observe.
Many groups have stored the rating near the Chiefs this 12 months. Seven of their 9 victories have been one-possession video games. Basically, nearly everybody performed shut in opposition to the Chiefs. The Bills, nonetheless, are the primary to beat them.
What made the accounts completely different? Aggressive determination making and whole, elite execution.
No downside, proper?
Their success was actually all about Allen. He managed a 50% success price on his 12 carries for 55 yards and the landing. And then he was additionally affected person within the passing recreation, undermining Spagnuolo’s stingy protection. The Bills QB was 27 of 40 for 262 yards with one passing landing and one interception. Only Burrow and Jackson have thrown for extra yards in opposition to this protection this 12 months. But that was the sport plan too. Buffalo did not essentially need Allen to throw for 300 or 400 yards.
The Bills fought arduous for possession, even when their operating recreation was utterly inefficient. They appeared keen to get into third-and-long — particularly since Allen might convert it frequently (one thing most QBs cannot do) — to ensure they bleed the clock with lengthy drives and preserve the ball away from Mahomes.
When Mahomes had the ball, the Bills managed to get 4 QB hits and two sacks, which contributed to his interception on the primary drive. But greater than something, the Bills took away tight finish Travis Kelce, who had two receptions for eight yards, and receiver DeAndre Hopkins, who completed with three receptions for 29 yards. (Also no downside, proper?) The Bills appeared intent on seeing if Chiefs receiver Xavier Worthy and tight finish Noah Gray might win the sport for Kansas City. And whereas they really seemed succesful within the first half, they disappeared within the second half.
The Bills have been taking part in to win, reasonably than taking part in to not lose.
After the match, McDermott stated the win was “not a press release”. He stated he is already prepared for the Bills’ bye and the subsequent recreation. But within the locker room it wasn’t so easy.
“Coach McDermott’s speech was like, ‘It’s simply one other recreation,’” stated Von Miller, who completed with a sack. “We have been like this. This is a good recreation. This is why we’re right here. When the lights come on, we rise to the event. We needn’t sugarcoat it. We needn’t take the strain off. It was a particular second.”
Era. But that is up to now.
And that remark from Mahomes looms giant: “We’ll do it once more.”
Mahomes is already seeking to the subsequent spherical with Buffalo. It’s prepared.
are they the invoices?
Before becoming a member of FOX Sports as an NFL reporter and columnist, Henry McKenna spent seven years overlaying the Patriots for USA TODAY Sports Media Group and Boston Globe Media. Follow him on Twitter at @henrycmckenna.
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