“So, we meet once more, Buzz Lightyear … for the final time!”
Time goes by, however some issues stay unchanged. A kind of constants is two-time NFL MVP Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs going through three-time Professional Bowler Josh Allen and the Bills within the playoffs, which can occur but once more in Kansas Metropolis on Sunday within the AFC Championship Recreation.
For the reason that two grew to become their respective groups’ main quarterbacks in 2018, Buffalo and Kansas Metropolis have performed eight occasions, together with 3 times within the postseason. The 2 groups have performed to a 4-4 tie, with the Chiefs going 2-1 in Buffalo and the Payments going 3-2 in Kansas Metropolis. However most significantly, the Chiefs have gained all three of the playoff conferences.
Here is how every of the eight matchups between Mahomes and Allen have performed out.
Oct. 19, 2020: Chiefs 26, Payments 17
The primary matchup came about in Buffalo in a sport that was moved to Monday afternoon (5 p.m. ET) as a result of COVID-19. It was the one time that the 2 quarterbacks performed towards one another on FOX.
Whereas the lead modified arms within the first half, Kansas Metropolis managed the majority of the sport and obtained the victory with little problem, out-gaining Buffalo in complete yards, 466-206. Mahomes completed with a 128.4 passer score, whereas finishing 80.1% of his passes (21-of-26), with operating again Clyde Edwards-Helaire speeding for 161 yards on 6.2 yards per carry.
These two groups would meet once more in a couple of months.
Jan. 24, 2021 (AFC Championship Recreation): Chiefs 38, Payments 24
Buffalo jumped out to a two-score lead, because the Payments obtained a discipline objective on the opening possession and a landing shortly after a muffed punt. The Chiefs then rebounded with three consecutive touchdowns earlier than halftime.
Within the second half, Kansas Metropolis’s offense stored rolling, and Buffalo needed to accept two discipline targets. Allen accounted for 90.1% of the Payments’ complete offensive yardage (287 passing yards, 88 speeding).
Mahomes proved to be an excessive amount of for Buffalo, throwing for 325 yards and three touchdowns, whereas finishing 76.3% of his passes (29-of-38). Chiefs star vast receiver Tyreek Hill and tight finish Travis Kelce mixed for 22 receptions for 290 yards and two touchdowns.
Oct. 10, 2021: Payments 38, Chiefs 20
The Payments seemed just like the workforce that would dethrone the Chiefs, who had gained the AFC in back-to-back seasons (2019 and 2020).
Kansas Metropolis led 10-7 with 10 minutes remaining within the second quarter, however by no means led once more. The Chiefs — nor a roughly one-hour climate delay — may decelerate Allen, who threw for 315 yards and three touchdowns on simply 15 completions, whereas speeding for 59 yards, one landing and pulling off an iconic hurdle. Dawson Knox completed with three receptions for 117 yards and one rating, whereas vast receiver Emmanuel Sanders reeled in two of Allen’s landing passes.
A pick-six of Mahomes by Payments security Micah Hyde within the third quarter gave them an insurmountable 31-13 lead. Mahomes completed the sport with a 70.9 passer score.
Jan. 23, 2022 (AFC divisional spherical): Chiefs 42, Payments 36 (OT)
One of the vital dramatic video games in NFL historical past came about at Arrowhead Stadium.
The Payments started the sport with an opening-drive landing, punching in a rating on fourth-and-goal. Kansas Metropolis answered with a pair of touchdowns, which Buffalo leveled as much as ship the sport to halftime tied at 14-all.
The Chiefs constructed a 23-14 lead within the third quarter, however then Allen and vast receiver Gabe Davis related on a 75-yard landing. And with 1:54 remaining within the fourth quarter, Allen and Davis related once more for a go-ahead 27-yard TD. The Chiefs answered again moments later, as Hill ran round Buffalo’s protection for a 64-yard receiving landing.
However the Payments weren’t accomplished simply but, with Allen and Davis connecting for an additional rating, this time on a 19-yard dime with 13 seconds remaining within the sport.
Recreation over, proper? Not so quick.
After a touchback, Mahomes obtained the ball out to Hill for a 19-yard achieve. Following a timeout, Mahomes discovered Kelce for a 25-yard pickup, and Harrison Butker despatched the sport to additional time with a 49-yard discipline objective. The Chiefs gained the coin-toss and reached the top zone eight performs later as Mahomes hit Kelce for a walk-off, 8-yard rating.
The 2 groups mixed for 974 yards of complete offense. Within the offseason, the NFL carried out a brand new postseason rule dictating that every workforce has to own the ball at the least as soon as in additional time.
Oct. 16, 2022: Payments 24, Chiefs 20
Per ordinary, the 2 groups performed one another all the way down to the wire.
In a sport that featured 4 lead adjustments, it was the Payments going forward for good with 1:04 remaining within the sport, as Allen and Knox related for a 14-yard landing. Allen threw for 329 yards and three touchdowns, with every of these scores going to a distinct pass-catcher. Extensive receiver Stefon Diggs had 10 receptions for 148 yards and a TD.
Buffalo picked off Mahomes twice, with the second coming with 51 seconds remaining within the sport, serving to seal the victory.
Nevertheless, the Payments and Chiefs would not meet once more within the 2022 season.
Is that this the BIlls’ finest shot at beating the Chiefs?
Dec. 10, 2023: Payments 20, Chiefs 17
Losers of 5 of their final eight video games and coming off an additional time loss to the Philadelphia Eagles, the Payments wanted a win, and so they obtained it.
Buffalo jumped out to a 14-0 lead within the first half with a 25-yard landing cross from Allen to Cook dinner, in addition to a 6-yard landing run by the celebrity quarterback. Whereas the Payments solely tacked on two discipline targets the remainder of the way in which, it proved to be simply sufficient for them to squeak out a street victory.
Buffalo proceeded to run the desk and win the AFC East at 11-6.
Jan. 21, 2024 (AFC divisional spherical): Chiefs 27, Payments 24
Remarkably, this sport ended a five-game stretch of the 2 groups going through off in Arrowhead Stadium and was the primary time that they met in Buffalo within the postseason.
It was a comparatively even first half. Allen rushed for 2 touchdowns and the Payments took a 17-13 lead into halftime. The groups traded touchdowns within the third quarter, with the Chiefs then taking the lead on a 4-yard TD run by Isiah Pacheco with 14:20 remaining within the sport.
Shortly thereafter, Buffalo didn’t convert a fake-punt run by Damar Hamlin, however the Chiefs fumbled two performs later, giving the ball again to the Payments. They went three-and-out, nevertheless.
Buffalo out-gained Kansas Metropolis in complete yards, 368-361, and ran the ball successfully all night time (182 speeding yards). The Payments later obtained into place to tie the sport on the opposite facet of the two-minute warning, however Tyler Bass missed a 44-yard discipline objective, and the Chiefs ran out the clock. A newfound ache for Buffalo.
What would one other loss to Patrick Mahomes imply for Josh Allen?
Nov. 17, 2024: Payments 30, Chiefs 21
The lead modified 4 occasions, and the sport was unsure by way of the third quarter, however Buffalo constructed a two-score lead within the ultimate interval and by no means seemed again.
The defining second of the sport got here with 2:27 remaining. Confronted with a fourth-and-2 on Kansas Metropolis’s 26-yard line, Buffalo elected to go for it, and Allen bulldozed by way of the Chiefs’ protection for a 26-yard speeding landing, which put the sport away.
The Payments intercepted Mahomes twice and out-gained the Chiefs in complete yards, 366-259. In doing so, Buffalo delivered the Chiefs their first lack of the season and ended their 15-game successful streak.
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