In a game that mirrored the overtime matchup between the Bills and Chiefs in the divisional round from a couple of years ago, there was a sense of déjà vu on Sunday night. With just over two minutes remaining, Buffalo turned to Tyler Bass for a game-tying field goal attempt.
Facing a 44-yard kick, the outcome became clear moments after Bass made contact with the ball. Unfortunately for the Bills, the kick veered wide right, reminiscent of Scott Norwood’s miss for the Bills in Super Bowl XXV. This miss allowed the Chiefs to run out the clock, securing a 27-24 victory and advancing to the AFC Championship Game.
Tyler Bass took full responsibility for the missed field goal, stating, “It’s completely on me. I’ve got to do a better job of getting through to my target. I’ve got to do a better job of playing it a little bit more left when you have a left to right [wind]. I’ve been here long enough to know that you have to do that.”
However, Bills quarterback Josh Allen offered a different perspective on the game’s conclusion. Allen suggested that had the team executed a couple of plays earlier, the outcome might have been different. He pointed out the lack of big plays by the offense, with the longest play covering just 18 yards. The Bills’ final drive also began with a dropped pass by Stefon Diggs on a deep ball from Allen.
Regardless of where the blame is assigned, the undeniable result is another painful playoff loss for the Bills, as the Chiefs continue to hold the upper hand in critical moments.
