Josh Allen Was A Hero At The Exact Right Time
Credit: Mark Konezny-Imagn Images
The Mahomes-Allen rivalry has written another epic chapter, as the Bills came out victorious in Orchard Park against the Chiefs by a final score of 30-21. Josh Allen was instrumental in handing Kansas City their first L of the season, throwing for 262 yards and rushing for 55 yards and a touchdown that iced Buffalo’s sixth straight victory. Let’s take a closer look at our biggest takeaways.
Josh Allen Played Big In A Big Spot
The Mahomes-Josh Allen rivalry has been defined by which quarterback can be the hero at the right time. On a game-defining play on fourth and two with less than three minutes to go, Allen took the game into his own hands and sealed the victory.
ARE YOU NOT ENTERTAINED?!?!
📺: @paramountplus pic.twitter.com/HjhmBiLbcr
— Buffalo Bills (@BuffaloBills) November 18, 2024
(I am, in fact, entertained.)
Josh Allen’s 26-yard rushing touchdown, which was both his longest rush of the year and the longest rush allowed by the Chiefs this year, could not have come at a better time. Allen did today what Patrick Mahomes has accomplished in more than a few games this season: he didn’t have an exceptional performance, but he led the team to the victory. At the end of the way, the win is all that matters, especially when it’s against a team where the head-to-head advantage is crucial for seeding in the playoffs.
The Defense Did Its Homework
Yes, Patrick Mahomes threw three touchdowns. Yes, two of them were to Noah Gray because nothing about 2024 makes sense anymore. Other than that, the Bills’ defense did a remarkable job at holding the Chiefs’ offense in check enough to give Buffalo the victory.
The #Bills defense to start the game:
5 plays.
3 QB hits.
1 sack.
1 interception.#BillsMafia pic.twitter.com/JSv2uogBAA— Dan Fetes (@danfetes) November 17, 2024
Mahomes also threw two picks in the game, both of which came on the Chiefs’ second play and the Chiefs’ final play, respectively, when he tried to make typical big-time Patrick Mahomes throws. Kansas City’s signal-caller can do incredible things when trying to play hero ball, but it’s also when he’s prone to making his biggest mistakes.
TAYLOR RAPP YOU BEAUTIFUL BOY!!! pic.twitter.com/QhE3MckH0H
— MereKat (@MereKatKat) November 17, 2024
It wasn’t just “limiting” the three-time Super Bowl champion QB. Other than Xavier Worthy, no Chiefs pass catcher had more than 30 receiving yards; in particular, Travis Kelce was limited to eight receiving yards. The defense sacked Mahomes twice, and both sacks came on a third down which forced Kansas City to punt.
Players Stepped Up To Fill Kincaid/Coleman Void
Josh Allen was going to have a limited receiver corps on Sunday afternoon, as Dalton Kincaid and Keon Coleman were absent due to injury. As a result, Khalil Shakir, Curtis Samuel, Amari Cooper, and Dawson Knox all played instrumental roles in a game where the normally-explosive James Cook was heavily limited by the stout Kansas City rush defense. Allen’s lone passing touchdown of the afternoon went to Curtis Samuel for his first touchdown catch of the year.
Buffalo entered the season with numerous question marks surrounding their receiver corps after the departure of Stefon Diggs. Even with their first draft picks from the last two years absent, and despite Amari Cooper being limited to only a couple catches, Josh Allen’s supporting cast came up in a big way against the AFC’s best team. Buffalo showcased their litany of pass-catching options in a crucial manner; upon the returns of Kincaid and Coleman, the quietly deep receiver corps will be even deeper, and the offense will be even more dangerous.
Buffalo Showed They’re the Team To Beat
A lot swung in Buffalo’s favor this weekend. They topped the Kansas City Chiefs in an efficient manner. The Ravens, arguably the AFC’s other most dangerous team, lost to the Steelers in a game that Pittsburgh won in the most Steelers way possible (six field goals, zero touchdowns). All things considered, it might be time for the Bills to consider themselves on the throne in the AFC.
The Bills dominated tonight 💯
Are they the best team in the AFC?#NFL | #Bills | #Football pic.twitter.com/8Bf8qkiykm
— FanDuel (@FanDuel) November 18, 2024
Today’s game against the Chiefs was a big test for the Bills, who are trying to make a statement that they are a team that can finally get over the hump and dethrone Kansas City as kings of the AFC. Not only did they successfully do so, but they notched the victory without Keon Coleman and Dalton Kincaid.
After last season’s heartbreaking defeat to the Chiefs in the AFC Divisional Round, Buffalo came back in full force and topped Kansas City on their home turf. They boast the AFC’s largest point differential by a significant margin (+106), the second best record in the AFC (9-2), and just beat the only team in the conference with a better winning percentage in relatively commanding fashion.
If this is only the beginning, which it very much could be, strap in.
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