Game 2: Beat the Blueprint

The matchup we’ve all wanted to see. I’ve said that about a few games, but this one really is the pinnacle. Bills vs. Chiefs. A newfound rivalry created over the last few years, cultivated by two great QBs and head coaches. Always battling it out in any arena, any circumstances, just to try and beat each other. The Chiefs will be aiming to be just the second team in NFL history to win the Super Bowl three consecutive times. Only Jerry Kramer’s Packers in 1966, 1967, and 1968 have conquered that feat. The Bills, who have had a few distasteful finishes with Kansas City in the playoffs, will be trying to spoil their fun. Led by a laser-focused and accurate Josh Allen, this Bills team looks as complete as they ever have. And are looking to make it back to their first Super Bowl since 1994. 1994 was the fourth year in a row Buffalo made it to a Super Bowl. Unfortunately, it was the fourth loss in a row in the Super Bowl for them. There is a lot of history at play here to make for a fantastic AFC Championship game, (just don’t get in the way refs.)

I believe the Bills could win it all. They have such a complete team. They’ve been playing a terrific brand of football all year, and they have not slowed down in the playoffs. They handled Denver with general ease, and then they took on Lamar Jackson and the Ravens. They just made it out alive, by the skin of their teeth. That Ravens team would’ve been as tough of a challenge for KC as the Bills will turn out to be. But, it’s the Bills chance at redemption again. They last faced the Chiefs in 2021, where they lost 27-24. This year may write a little bit of a different ending. The Bills have basically been building their team up to take out their playoff rivals. They haven’t been able to get it done on numerous occasions, but they have a different level of motivation this time around. Let’s start with Josh Allen, who has been playing at an MVP level all year. Then, their great defense, which was not their backbone for the majority of the season but has vastly improved towards the end of the year. They have talent on offense and defense, they know how to play, and they can compete with anyone in the league. I think their key to this game is staying ahead of the Chiefs. Get ahead early, stay ahead, and don’t let the Chiefs get any breathing room. With their winning history, (and penalty history), you can’t let them get any advantage whatsoever. The Bills key will be constant suppression of the Chiefs, always, in all facets. If they can’t, I’m not sure they can take them out.

Now let’s turn to the two-time winning Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs. Looking for that third, they must once again get through Buffalo to make that dream a reality. A constant gnat, an itch you can’t scratch, a memory you can’t recall. All would be synonymous with how the Chiefs feel about the Bills. Even though they beat them on numerous occasions, and won multiple Super Bowls over them, there is still a small feeling like they may have something to prove against this team. The Chiefs won a majority of these games by one score or less, spanning all the way to the beginning of this season. They are led by all infamous Patrick Mahomes, and his band of Swifties. Jokes aside, they have a great team, a great defense, and phenomenal coach and scheme. They have a winning, kind of like how the Patriots were, which is a trademark of a winning franchise. I think for the Chiefs; they have to be better on offense as a whole. They currently rank last out of all playoff teams in total offense. I know it’s been one game, but that’s kind of how the regular season went for them. They can’t get behind to a firepower like the Bills, even at home. Their saving grace is that all losses this year for Buffalo came on the road, so they may get some help there. I’m not sure if it’s going to be enough though. The Bills are ready for this game, and the Chiefs, while winning, have yet to look like the team of old. We shall see come Sunday, but my money will be on the Bills here. 34-28.

POSTGAME:

I’m not sure how Josh Allen does it. How he can, for four years in a row, sit up on stage, and answer questions about how his team lost to the Chiefs again. I’m just not sure how he can do it. His mental strength must be that of a Monk, because I wouldn’t be talking to anyone for a while. It’s got to be heartbreaking. They did everything in their power to win this game. Some wildly absurd calls aside, I don’t think the refs won this game for the Chiefs. Would that fourth down conversion keep them alive, and would they maybe end up scoring? More than likely, yes. But the Bills were unable to keep up with Kansas City most of the game. They were never able to hold a lead in this game for more than two drives. Kind of hard to beat the back-to-back Super Bowl champs that way. We will get analytical shortly, but I just feel bad for Buffalo. They had a phenomenal season, but they were just unable to slay the dragon again.

Josh Allen did Josh Allen things again. No shock there. But he didn’t look like his typical self to start the game. He even seemed a bit jumpy, on edge even. Some throws he’s normal rifle in with precision were missing their mark. Their offense went three and out on their first drive. Very uncharacteristic. They couldn’t score a TD until their third, and while it was only a 4-point game at the time, they did not appear to have started the way they wanted. That momentum slowly built, and they looked their best at the end of the first half, and for the entire 3rd quarter. They would’ve scored on every drive they had in that quarter, if not for one call. Here’s where I draw back to the whole, “the Chiefs get some unfair calls.” Now, on 3rd and 3, Allen hits Dalton Kincaid for two yards, seemingly three after looking at the replay, but the officials mark him a yard short. Ok, no problem. 4th and 1. The Bills run a keep to Josh Allen, who has to fight for the yardage, but ultimately crosses the threshold needed. Two officials come running in from opposite sides of the field. One granting the yardage, the other denying it. Two different spots. They ultimately go with the shorter spot, and the Chiefs are given back the ball. Buffalo then challenges this call, and EVERYONE, gets to see the camera angles. Upon review, it is quite clear that more than ¾ of that football crosses the yard line needed to gain a first down. Quite clear. The announcers say it, the on-air NFL official says it, everyone is saying he crossed the line to gain. But what do the refs come back and say? “The ruling on the field is upheld.” Now, I’m not saying this made or broke the game, but at the same time, that was a huge call. The Bills were in sync, I’m sure they score if granted that conversion. It would be a different game. But the call stood, the Chiefs got the ball and scored again. The game came down to the wire, but it was too much for the Bills to overcome with the time they had. That all-out blitz on 4th down of their last drive sealed it. And while yes, Dalton Kincaid could’ve caught that ball, it was a tough play. I need to make this clear again. I am not blaming the refs for the Bills loss, nor saying the NFL is rigged. I’m once again saying, in what logical world is that not a first down. I’m not sure how to fix it, but something needs to be done. That being said, if the Bills defense could hold out for more than 15 seconds, maybe they wouldn’t be getting dotted up all over the place as well. Yes, the call impacted the game, but it still falls on Buffalo for that loss. Every time.

So, the Chiefs are back again and have a chance to do something for the first time in Super Bowl history, which is win three in a row. They’ve taken everyone down, and all controversy aside, they may do it. Philly is a tough team, but this Steve Spagnuolo led defense is seasoned. They’ve been here before, he’s been here before, this is nothing new to this team. Last time they played the Eagles, they were able to win in a close 38-35 game. This time around, the Chiefs must deal with Saquon Barkley, which is going to be a problem. I think this game will be just as tightly contested as the last one; the Eagles are a much better team now than they were back then. Anyways, it’s not the Super Bowl anyone wanted, but it’s the one we’re getting.