Chiefs beat Bills by inches, but prove they are miles apart as quest for historic three-peat continues

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Now we know why it took so long. In an unexplored part of the world of American football, we discover in real time why it is impossible to win three championships in a row.

Almost everything should go well. This is for starters. the Kansas City Chiefs He took that assertion to the brink again Sunday night in the AFC Championship Game.

But what do you expect? In defeating Buffalo 32-29, the Chiefs won for the 12th time this season in a one-possession game without losing. The streak now stands at 17 such games dating back to last season.

This is what they do. This is who they are. Now they’re staring down history two weeks from now in New Orleans. Three-peat didn’t happen College football In the era of wire service (since 1936). Didn’t happen in NFL in Super Bowl Era (since 1966). But as the world now knows a franchise born in Texas, long-suffering here in the Midwest, and now there is a continuing dynasty this Close to Star Trekking professional football.

You know, going where no franchise has gone before — three Super Bowls in a row.

Kansas City is the first team to make it three straight Super Bowl After winning the previous two matches. This is the Chiefs’ fifth Super Bowl championship since 2019. The AFC Championship was their seventh since 2018.

This is a breed by any definition. Just don’t try to replicate what the Chiefs have put together recently.

“You think about all the ups and downs you went through during the season,” Chiefs coach Andy Reid said. “Injuries, all that stuff. Things have to happen the right way. The margin of victory or loss in this league is very small. The parity is unbelievable. This is the way the commissioners and owners wanted it.”

The Chiefs’ win shattered barriers, records and — ultimately — hearts. Ask Buffalo and Central Josh Allen Who are now 0-4 In the playoffs for Patrick Mahomes And the presidents.

“He did everything he could,” his colleague said Vaughn Miller Allen said.

That wasn’t enough, of course. It never seems to be the case for a franchise that has now gone 31 years without a Super Bowl berth. They were close, dominating the third quarter while taking a lead late in the third quarter and tying the game with six minutes left.

Ask Mahomes, who has never thrown for fewer yards in a regular season and never won more games.

Ask that Wise Reed, who won his 301st career game, to bring him within one game of that unprecedented triple-double. Then the Chiefs coach turned street philosopher.

“This came down to literally an inch,” Reed said. “Some of these games are very painful and I have a lot of guts to bother with.”

He wasn’t kidding about his weight or inches. the Bills He converted two fourth-down attempts inside the 5 for the Chiefs into touchdowns in the second half.

But the game turned in Kansas City’s favor early in the fourth quarter when Allen was stopped on fourth-and-1 at the Kansas City 41. Allen’s rush was too close to the first down marker, and a replay was forced. They missed by something like an inch from Reid.

The turnover resulting from the touchdown set the Chiefs up for a short touchdown drive that put them up 29-22. They never fell behind again.

After a fourth-and-4 touchdown pass from Allen that tied the game 29-29 with six minutes left, Mahomes led the Chiefs on what is now known as the mandatory game-winning drive.

Harrison ButkerA 35-yard field goal was the winning score with 3 1/2 minutes left in the game. Coming out of the two-minute warning, the Bills’ season and history were on the line. On fourth-and-goal Buffalo 47 Chiefs defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo made a blitz.

Under pressure, Allen sent a desperate pass to a tight end Dalton Kincaid Which just failed. The Chiefs then punted the final 1:54 in seven plays.

“I love this defense, man,” the tight end said. Jason Kelseya minor player on Sunday at the age of 35. “We trust Spags.”

Because of Spags’ D, it was a Chiefs team that didn’t rely on Mahomes all the time. Most importantly, she didn’t have to rely on Mahomes all the time. The Chiefs had gone an NFL record eight games without a turnover until their quarterback fumbled the ball away in the first half.

To make this run possible, the franchise chose to keep the difference-making defensive tackle Chris Jones With the likes of the former 2022 first-round pick developing George Karlaftis On defensive end. Jones chases the third ring. Karlaftis is tied for second in the playoffs in tackles for loss. He was the player closest to Allen and forced him to make the final desperation throw.

They were traded for aging star receivers DeAndre Hopkins. They signed an undrafted free agent Nico Remigio. It was Remigio who returned a punt 44 yards for the score that put the Chiefs ahead 21-10.

“It is more difficult to be able to stay at the top than to get there,” Remigio said. “they [Chiefs] I got the man formula. They know how to get it done.

“I think that’s the greatest thing about playing for this team. We’re never out of the game.”

The centerpiece cannot be overlooked. Mahomes has now had 12 career drives in his playoff career with his team trailing by eight points or fewer in the fourth quarter and overtime. The result of those 12 drives is — one punt, six red flags and five game-tying field goals.

Yes, everything had to go well for a while.

And the team, which some in the country may have grown tired of, doesn’t care what you think at this stage.

Do the Chiefs (and Mahomes) get all the calls? Since 2018, Kansas City has led the league in penalty yards.

“If they don’t hate you, you’re not the top dog,” cornerback Trent McDuffie He said. “My brother A Patriots fan when Tom Brady There was. I hated the Patriots. “Being in that position to be ‘the one’ that everyone hates is an amazing feeling.”

Seventy days ago, the Bills handed the Chiefs their first loss of the regular season. Allen tore through the Kansas City defense that night for the decisive touchdown that at least gave hope to the whole Bills that they finally got the Chiefs over.

The Bills will have another weekend to think about that. It only takes one more win in Kansas City to make football history, and not only that NFL date.

Who are we to doubt them?