Top 5 Bills-Chiefs games of all time
As the Kansas City Chiefs gear up to take on the Buffalo Bills in the AFC Championship, here is a reflection on their rivalry that has been in existence since the 1960s.
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The Bills-Chiefs rivalry has never failed to disappoint (Images via IMAGO)
Since 2020, there has been one rivalry in the NFL that fans of the game prioritize watching. Even if they vouch for a different team when the Kansas City Chiefs play the Buffalo Bills in the playoffs, that day, everybody remains glued to their television.
The rivalry between these two teams has escalated over the last five years but historically speaking, Kansas City and Buffalo have always been arch rivals. Since the inception of the Super Bowl, these two teams have battled it out and they have an all-time record of 30-25-1 with Buffalo having the edge over their rivals.
It has been a rollercoaster ride for these two franchises. Their rivalry commenced in 1960-69 and got heated before declining until the 90s. From 1991-2000, the spark was reintroduced, and once again the hype died down by 2002. The rivalry has never been as heated as it is now with Patrick Mahomes and Josh Allen going at each other’s throats year after year.
Take a detailed look at the top 5 greatest matches in the Chiefs-Bills history:
5. 1966 AFL Championship Game
The Kansas City Chiefs were known as the Dallas Texans in the 1960s. The first Super Bowl was played in 1967 and up until this point the Texans and the Bills had faced one another in the regular season numerous times but they had never played each other in the playoffs.
The Dallas Texans beat the Buffalo Bills 31-7 in the 1966 AFL Championship Game and they went on to represent the AFL in the Super Bowl. While Buffalo was sour over its loss, the team’s fanbase gained little respite when the Texans (Chiefs) lost the Super Bowl to the Green Bay Packers.
4. The 1993 regular season game featuring Joe Montana
The Bills dominated in the early 1990s. The team made it to two Super Bowls and they were the undisputed kings of the AFC. However, before the 1993 season, the Kansas City Chiefs made some moves that gave him the edge on paper. The team signed legendary quarterback Joe Montana from the 49ers and added running back Marcus Allen.
The Chiefs entered the season as favorites to win the Super Bowl as after all, they had two Super Bowl MVPs on offense. In their first faceoff against the Bills during the regular season, it was clear that Kansas City’s vision was coming to fruition. The team dominated Buffalo 23-7 and the same was expected of them in the playoffs.
However, this is when things took an interesting turn. The rivals met in the AFC Championship Game but as the third quarter started, Joe Montana wound up suffering a concussion that ruled him out of the game. This led to the team relying on backup David Krieg. Unfortunately, Buffalo wiped the floor with Kansas City and beat them 30-13. Once again, the Bills went on to play in the Super Bowl.
3. 2023 regular season matchup
One thing is certain, whenever the Chiefs and Bills meet during the regular season, the game features the intensity of a playoff matchup. So was the case in the Bills-Chiefs game in Week 14 of the 2023 regular season. The Bills came in motivated to beat their rivals on their home turf and got off to a 14-0 start.
Kansas City managed to orchestrate a comeback and shortly, the score wound up being tied at 17 in the final quarter with 2 minutes left in regulation. Buffalo got the ball and positioned itself in field goal range. A good kick by Tyler Bass resulted in the score improving to 20-17 with Buffalo in the lead.
The game took an interesting turn as the Chiefs chose to run an unconventional play. Patrick Mahomes threw a pass to Travis Kelce and the tight end understood he would not score a touchdown due to the tight coverage ahead of him. However, right next to him was Kadarius Toney and he was open. The tight end threw a lateral pass and Toney caught the ball before he went on to score a touchdown.
Ideally, that should have been the end of the game and KC would have secured the win. Except, Kadarius Toney had lined up offside which meant the play was negated. The Chiefs received a penalty, and Buffalo subsequently went on to win the game.
2. 2023 AFC Divisional Round matchup
There is just something about watching the Chiefs and Bills go at it in the playoffs. The rivals went up against one another in the Divisional Round of the 2023 playoffs and the game had the viewers on the edge of their seats. With a total of five lead changes, the Chiefs went on to score a touchdown that gave them a three-point lead.
Buffalo hoped to best Kansas City by faking a punt on a fourth down play, however, that did not work in their favor. The Chiefs set themselves up at Buffalo’s three-yard line. At this point, it seemed impossible to keep them from scoring another touchdown but fate had other plans. Patrick Mahomes threw the ball to Mecole Hardman but the wideout fumbled the ball and led to a touchback.
Shortly after, Buffalo positioned itself in field goal range. It seemed like they would go on to tie the game and keep their playoff aspirations alive. However, it was a repeat of the final seconds of Super Bowl XXV.
In the big game, Buffalo’s kicker Scott Norwood missed a 47-yard field goal that cost the Bills the game. In this game, it was Tyler Bass who fumbled as he kicked the ball far too right which cost the Bills a chance to put up three points. Eventually, the Chiefs held the Bills off and went on to win the game.
1. 2021 AFC Divisional Round matchup
If there is one game that re-defined the rivalry between these two teams, it has to be the divisional round game in 2021. Just a year after Patrick Mahomes and Josh Allen played their first head-to-head game, it was clear that the Bills were vying for revenge.
Since kickoff, there was not one dull moment throughout the game. Throughout the game, Mahomes and Allen went toe-to-toe and traded touchdowns. There were a total of four lead changes between the two teams. In the last two minutes of regulation, a total of 25 points were scored by both teams.
The game nearly ended and Buffalo thought they secured the win after Josh Allen gave the Bills a three-point lead (36-33) with 13 seconds to go. He threw a touchdown to Gabe Davis but that was not the end. Patrick Mahomes stepped onto the field, calm as a cucumber, and led a 44-yard drive that allowed Harrison Butker to kick a field goal. The result? Overtime.
Kansas City won the toss and wasted no time in scoring a touchdown and winning the game. This game was significant because not only did both quarterbacks play at their best but the result of this game compelled the NFL to make a key change to its rulebook. The NFL changed the overtime rules for the playoffs from the subsequent season and allowed both teams at least one possession to score in overtime.
As these two teams prepare to face each other in the 2024-25 AFC Championship this weekend, it is best to be prepared for a nail-biting thriller!
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Sumedh Joshi
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