The Buffalo Bills were literally one second away from picking up two victories on Sunday
For a couple hours on Sunday afternoon, after Buffalo handled their business against the Colts, it looked like the Bills and the Chiefs could be entering next week's tilt with the possibility of the No. 1 seed in the AFC playoff picture on the line. Unfortunately for the Bills, the Chiefs got a last-second break […]
For a couple hours on Sunday afternoon, after Buffalo handled their business against the Colts, it looked like the Bills and the Chiefs could be entering next week's tilt with the possibility of the No. 1 seed in the AFC playoff picture on the line. Unfortunately for the Bills, the Chiefs got a last-second break that dramatically changed the outlook of the game.
The Broncos, almost inexplicably, gave the Chiefs their biggest test of the season. They held Patrick Mahomes to only one passing touchdown, sacking him four times, while holding the Chiefs to an abysmal 57 rushing yards on the day. Bo Nix and the Broncos gave them all they could handle, setting up what would have been a game-winning 35-yard field goal attempt with one second left. If the Broncos put it up, the Chiefs would have been handed their first loss of the season.
But they didn't.
Expecting the Broncos to beat the Chiefs wasn't anything anyone was thinking heading into Sunday, but the opportunity was there for the Bills and Chiefs to meet up separated by only one loss in the standings.
And then it wasn't.
The Chiefs blocked the kick, keeping their undefeated season alive. Now at 9-0 having already had their bye week, the Bills' two losses makes it an uphill battle to track down Kansas City in the second half of the season, but it's not impossible.
It all starts next weekend, and the injuries are mounting. It remains to be seen if wide receivers Keon Coleman and Amari Cooper will be healthy enough to return for this contest after missing the Colts game, and the status of tight end Dalton Kincaid is very much in doubt after suffering a knee injury diving for an overthrown ball by Josh Allen on Sunday.
If the Bills knock off Kansas City, it'll put their dreams of the No. 1 seed into focus. If they don't, then it seems unlikely anyone will catch the Chiefs to secure the first-round bye and home field advantage throughout the playoffs. This game, by regular season standards, is huge, but it would have been even bigger if the Broncos made that kick.
Follow along all season for all the latest Buffalo Bills news. You can also find me on X @JonHelmkamp.
