NFL fans received a late Christmas present on Monday. buffalo bills They defeated the Pittsburgh Steelers and were set to face the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC playoffs.
This is the third time in four years that the AFC's two powerhouses have met in the postseason, making it a virtual annual tradition.
The Kansas City Chiefs offense stands at the line of scrimmage before taking the snap against the Buffalo Bills defense on Dec. 10, 2023 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Ryan Kang/Getty Images)
buffalo and kansas city have been the best two teams in the conference for the past few years, and these two organizations hold the longest streak of 10 wins a season.
Sunday night's matchup will be for the right to face or play the Baltimore Ravens in the AFC Championship Game. houston texans. This will be the first road playoff game of Patrick Mahomes' career as Kansas City looks to advance to its sixth straight conference championship game.
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“We've been playing in a lot of big games,” Mahomes said Wednesday, according to ESPN. “I'm excited about the challenges. I grew up watching them.” [Tom Brady-Peyton Manning] And, if possible, we would like to be able to participate in this wonderful game and give some memories to the children who will come after us. ”
Let's take a look at the last two playoff games between the Bills and Chiefs.
2020 AFC Championship Game
The first playoff matchup between two of the NFL's young star quarterbacks went Mahomes' way.
In Buffalo's first championship game since 1994, Mahomes threw for 325 yards and three touchdowns in the Bills' secondary. travis kelsey When Kansas City advanced to the Super Bowl against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Tyreek Hill had over 100 yards receiving in both games.
Josh Allen of the Buffalo Bills watches the first half of a game against the Eagles on November 26, 2023 in Philadelphia. (Mitchell Lev/Getty Images)
Josh Allen In his fourth postseason game, he threw for 287 yards and ran for 88, but Kansas City won 38-24.
The Chiefs would lose to Tom Brady and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Super Bowl LV.
2021 AFC Division Round
The Chiefs and Bills played as one of the great teams. nfl playoff game Jan. 23, 2022 at Arrowhead Stadium. It was wonderful. In fact, the NFL was forced to change its overtime rules.
Mahomes and Allen remained close for five quarters before the Chiefs won. Kansas City took a 26-21 lead midway through the fourth quarter, but things got a little weird.
Allen threw two touchdown passes in the quarter, giving Buffalo a 36-33 lead with 13 seconds left in the game. Kansas City inexplicably found a way to gain 44 yards in 10 seconds, setting up Harrison Butker for a game-tying 48-yard field goal and sending the game into overtime.
Kansas City won the coin toss and marched down the field for the winning touchdown from Mahomes to Kelce. In 2021, a touchdown in overtime ended the game without each team having possession of the ball.
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Patrick Mahomes (left) of the Kansas City Chiefs and Josh Allen of the Buffalo Bills meet after a game on December 10, 2023 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Ryan Kang/Getty Images)
“This time it worked out for us,” Mahomes said after the game. “It's frustrating when two teams are going back and forth and you can't see your opponent go. But all you can do is play as the rules are explained and That’s what we did.”
Chiefs will continue to lose cincinnati bengals in the AFC Championship Game.
The public outcry was overwhelming, and the most outrageous part was that the game was decided by a coin toss.
In March 2022, NFL owners approved new overtime rules to allow both teams possession of the ball. The only way to end the game without either team gaining the ball is for the receiving team to make a safety at the start of overtime.
NFL fans can thank the Bills and Chiefs for going to overtime in the playoffs.
2023 AFC Division Round
The next chapter of the rivalry will have a different look.
Mahomes will be playing in the playoffs for the first time as the Chiefs compete. Orchard Park The right to play in the AFC Championship Game is at stake.
The Bills entered the game with excitement, defeating the Steelers in the first round and winning their sixth straight game. wild card round. Allen had a great performance against the Steelers, throwing three touchdowns, rushing for 74 yards and one score.
No. 17 Josh Allen of the Buffalo Bills speaks with Patrick Mahomes of the Kansas City Chiefs after a game at Arrowhead Stadium on October 10, 2021 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Kevin Savitas/Getty Images)
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Despite the postseason failure against Kansas City, Buffalo has retained the Chiefs' jersey number during the regular season and has won its last three games, including a win over Arrowhead in Week 14. .
“The Bills are a great challenge,” Mahomes said, according to ESPN. “I think everyone understands they got my number a lot of times. We were lucky enough to get them into the playoffs, but earlier this year they got us into the playoffs. We beat them. So we understand that we have to do that. “Especially at their location, we play our best football to win games, but it's not about ending someone's season for us. do not have”
“It’s just about moving forward, trying to survive and find a way to move forward and get to the next round, and whatever it takes this weekend, we’re going to go out there and try to win football games. intend to.”
Kansas City enters this matchup on a three-game winning streak after an unusually difficult season.
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Patrick Mahomes of the Kansas City Chiefs watches from the sideline before a game against the Buffalo Bills at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium on December 10, 2023 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Ryan Kang/Getty Images)
After starting the season 6-1, the Chiefs struggled on offense, losing five of eight games. Mahomes and Kansas City found their groove back in the final two weeks of the regular season and then won outright. miami dolphins last week.
“They were at the top of the mountain, and they know what it takes to get there,” Allen said after Wednesday's walk-through practice, according to the Bills' website. “We haven't done it yet. As a competitor, as a player, it's a dream come true to be in a situation like this.”
Buffalo vs. Kansas City kicks off Sunday at 6:30 p.m. ET.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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