This was seen as Allen’s best chance to topple the Chiefs and send Buffalo back to the Super Bowl for the first time since it lost four straight from 1991 to 1994 and, like their two playoff meetings, there was only one score.
Kansas City running back Kareem Hunt opened the scoring at Arrowhead, rushing into the end zone from 12 yards out before the Bills reduced the deficit with a field goal.
Mahomes then played a handoff on the Chiefs’ first turnover since they lost 30-21 at Buffalo on Nov. 17, and the Bills took advantage and James Cook drove in a cornerback from six yards out.
Kansas City came right back in front when Xavier Worthy reached for the pylon after taking an 11-yard pass from Mahomes, who then drove into the end zone to extend the home team’s lead.
Bills responded by having Mack Hollins make a perfect catch from Allen’s deep shot for a 34-yard touchdown to make it 21-16 at halftime, then returned to the game on the first drive of the second half, with Cook showing great athleticism to reach over the line.
Then came the first of the key fourth downs in the fourth quarter, and Allen controversially ruled that he was seeking a quarterback steal first.
Five plays later, Mahomes buried a 10-yard touchdown pass and Allen set up a tense finish, making big plays to cooks and hollins before firing a touchdown pass to Curtis Samuel.
Buffalo’s defense held Kansas City to a field goal on the next drive, but they were unable to regain the lead as Dalton Kincaid was unable to catch Allen’s deep ball on fourth down.
