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Chiefs Fans Honor Josh Allen by Donating over $173K to Oishei Children's Hospital

Jan 26, 2022
KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI - JANUARY 23: Josh Allen #17 of the Buffalo Bills runs the ball against the Kansas City Chiefs during the second quarter in the AFC Divisional Playoff game at Arrowhead Stadium on January 23, 2022 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by David Eulitt/Getty Images)
KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI - JANUARY 23: Josh Allen #17 of the Buffalo Bills runs the ball against the Kansas City Chiefs during the second quarter in the AFC Divisional Playoff game at Arrowhead Stadium on January 23, 2022 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by David Eulitt/Getty Images)

Kansas City Chiefs fans have donated over $173,000 to the Patricia Allen Fund at Buffalo's Oishei Children's Hospital since Sunday's memorable playoff victory over quarterback Josh Allen and the Bills.

WKBW's Tim Meehan and Pheben Kassahun reported the updated total Wednesday, with many of the donations coming in $13 increments—representing the time left on the clock in regulation before the Chiefs drove for a tying field goal to force overtime.

Brett Fitzgerald, who runs the "Chiefs Kingdom Memes" Facebook page and called for the donations, credited Bills fans for their past charitable endeavors sparking the idea.

"Bills Mafia was the catalyst in this, and we're just following their lead on it," Fitzgerald told WKBW.

In November, Oishei Children's Hospital unveiled the Patricia Allen Pediatric Recovery Wing in memory of the Bills quarterback's grandmother after $1.1 million in donations were made by Bills fans following her death in 2020.

"My family and I cannot even begin to express our gratitude for the support this community has shown us," Allen said. "The dedication and commitment that the staff at Oishei shows families and patients during their time in the hospital absolutely exemplifies what it means to live in the city of good neighbors here in Buffalo. Thank you all so much, and go Bills!"

It's one of several examples of charitable support by Bills Mafia in recent years.

The trend started on New Year's Eve 2017, when the Cincinnati Bengals stunned the Baltimore Ravens in the final seconds of a game during the last week of the regular season, which allowed the Bills to clinch their first playoff berth in 18 years.

Buffalo fans proceeded to donate over $415,000 to the Andy and Jordan Dalton Foundation to thank the longtime Bengals quarterback, who spent the 2021 season with the Chicago Bears.

More recently, Bills Mafia donated more than $108,000 to the Food Bank of Northwest Louisiana after cornerback Tre'Davious White, a Louisiana native, suffered a season-ending torn ACL against the New Orleans Saints on Thanksgiving Day.

Chiefs fans are returning the favor as their team gets prepared to face the Bengals in the AFC Championship Game on Sunday.

Video: Mic'd-Up Travis Kelce Helps Orchestrate Chiefs' 13-Second Drive vs. Bills

Jan 25, 2022
Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce (87) walks off the field after an NFL divisional round playoff football game against the Buffalo Bills, Sunday, Jan. 23, 2022, in Kansas City, Mo. The Chiefs won 42-36 in overtime. (AP Photo/Colin E. Braley)
Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce (87) walks off the field after an NFL divisional round playoff football game against the Buffalo Bills, Sunday, Jan. 23, 2022, in Kansas City, Mo. The Chiefs won 42-36 in overtime. (AP Photo/Colin E. Braley)

Travis Kelce may have a future in coaching once his playing days are over.

The NFL released mic'd-up footage of Kelce helping orchestrate the Kansas City Chiefs' last-minute drive to force overtime in their divisional-round win over the Buffalo Bills.

The Chiefs got the ball back with just 13 seconds remaining and needing a field goal to force overtime. Patrick Mahomes hit Tyreek Hill on a 19-yard pass to open the drive and then Kelce caught a 25-yarder to set up a Harrison Butker field goal as time expired.

The video shows Kelce playing a pivotal role in both offensive plays, telling Hill to run a route behind him on the first play of the drive and then alerting Mahomes of the open seam on his reception.

Kelce was later rewarded for his efforts by hauling in a game-winning touchdown in overtime. 

Steelers Rumors: JuJu Smith-Schuster Has Interest in Joining Chiefs in Free Agency

Jan 25, 2022
PITTSBURGH, PA - SEPTEMBER 19:  JuJu Smith-Schuster #19 of the Pittsburgh Steelers in action against the Las Vegas Raiders on September 19, 2021 at Heinz Field in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.  (Photo by Justin K. Aller/Getty Images)
PITTSBURGH, PA - SEPTEMBER 19: JuJu Smith-Schuster #19 of the Pittsburgh Steelers in action against the Las Vegas Raiders on September 19, 2021 at Heinz Field in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Justin K. Aller/Getty Images)

Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster reportedly has interest in signing with the Kansas City Chiefs when he becomes a free agent this offseason.

According to Aaron Wilson of Pro Football Network, Smith-Schuster nearly signed with the Chiefs last offseason, and he is expected to be in the mix for KC again during the upcoming free-agent period.

Wilson noted that instead of signing a one-year, $8 million contract with $3 million in incentives with the Chiefs last season, Smith-Schuster signed a one-year, $8 million deal to remain with the Steelers in 2021.

Smith-Schuster appeared in just five games during the 2021 regular season because of a shoulder injury, finishing with 15 receptions for 129 yards and no touchdowns.

While it was considered a long shot for him to play at all for the remainder of the season, he managed to make it back for the Steelers' AFC Wild Card Round playoff game against the Chiefs, registering five catches for 26 yards in a loss.

Ben Roethlisberger is the only regular starting quarterback Smith-Schuster has known throughout his career, but with Big Ben likely set to retire, it may be the ideal time for the receiver to move on as well.

The 2017 second-round pick out of USC had some great moments with Roethlisberger, including setting career highs with 111 receptions for 1,426 yards in 2018.

He also set a career high with nine touchdown catches in 2020 to go along with 97 receptions for 831 yards. 

Smith-Schuster was a downfield threat who averaged 13.7 yards per reception in his first three seasons, but his game has since evolved.

With Diontae Johnson and Chase Claypool playing more outside, Smith-Schuster began operating primarily out of the slot, making him a high-volume, low yards-per-catch wideout in 2020.

He was trending in that direction in 2021 as well before getting injured, matching his 2020 mark with just 8.6 yards per catch.

Given that the Chiefs have some explosive weapons in wide receivers Tyreek Hill, Mecole Hardman and Byron Pringle, as well as tight end Travis Kelce, quarterback Patrick Mahomes could benefit from a wideout of JuJu's ilk.

Additionally, both Pringle and Demarcus Robinson are set to become free agents this offseason, meaning Kansas City may need to replace their production.

Smith-Schuster is still just 25 years of age with plenty of football left ahead of him, and landing with an elite offense like the Chiefs could go a long way toward boosting his production and putting him in position for a big contract with Kansas City or another team in the future.

Bills vs. Chiefs Draws Highest TV Rating for NFL Divisional Playoff Game in 5 Years

Jan 25, 2022
Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes looks to pass during the second half of an NFL divisional round playoff football game against the Buffalo Bills, Sunday, Jan. 23, 2022, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)
Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes looks to pass during the second half of an NFL divisional round playoff football game against the Buffalo Bills, Sunday, Jan. 23, 2022, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)

Sunday's thrilling AFC divisional-round game between the Buffalo Bills and Kansas City Chiefs was a huge ratings success. 

Per Pro Football Talk's Michael David Smith, Kansas City's 42-36 overtime win was the most-watched divisional-round matchup in five years with an average audience of 42.7 million viewers. 

According to Smith, the rating peaked at 51.7 million in overtime. 

The most recent divisional-round contest with a higher rating was between the Green Bay Packers and Dallas Cowboys on Jan. 15, 2017. 

The Packers-Cowboys game may have been the best fourth-quarter duel in a playoff game until the Bills-Chiefs game. 

Trailing 28-13 going into the fourth quarter, Dallas scored 18 points to even the score at 31 with 35 seconds remaining. Aaron Rodgers hit Jared Cook for 36 yards on 3rd-and-20 to set up Mason Crosby's game-winning field goal as time expired. 

The Bills-Chiefs contest took things to a completely different level. They combined for 34 points between the fourth quarter and overtime, with 31 of those points coming after the two-minute warning. 

Buffalo began the scoring onslaught when Josh Allen hit Gabriel Davis for a 27-yard touchdown on 4th-and-13 with 1:54 remaining. The Bills added a two-point conversion to take a 29-26 lead. 

Kansas City regained the lead 52 seconds later when Tyreek Hill ran past the entire Buffalo defense after catching a pass for a 64-yard score. Davis caught his fourth touchdown pass of the game with 13 seconds left in regulation to put Buffalo back on top 36-33. 

Patrick Mahomes completed passes to Hill and Travis Kelce to set up Harrison Butker's game-tying field goal as time expired in regulation. 

After winning the coin toss in overtime, the Chiefs capped off the game-winning 75-yard touchdown drive when Mahomes hit Kelce in the end zone. 

The victory sent Kansas City to the AFC Championship Game for the fourth consecutive season. The Chiefs will host the Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday looking to reach the Super Bowl for the third straight year.    

Josh Gordon Reportedly Cut by Chiefs; KC Plans to Sign WR to Practice Squad Contract

Jan 24, 2022
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - NOVEMBER 14: Josh Gordon #19 of the Kansas City Chiefs  warms up prior to  a game against the Las Vegas Raiders at Allegiant Stadium on November 14, 2021 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - NOVEMBER 14: Josh Gordon #19 of the Kansas City Chiefs warms up prior to a game against the Las Vegas Raiders at Allegiant Stadium on November 14, 2021 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)

The Kansas City Chiefs have cut Josh Gordon, according to ESPN's Adam Teicher. However, his time with the franchise might not be coming to an end. 

Kansas City is interested in signing Gordon to its practice squad if he clears waivers, per Teicher. He has been a healthy scratch for both of the Chiefs' postseason games. 

Gordon joined the Chiefs in September after being reinstated by the NFL following an indefinite suspension for violations of the league's policy on substances of abuse. In 12 games, he caught just five passes for 32 yards and a touchdown. 

Before signing with the Chiefs, Gordon hadn't seen the field since 2019 because of his suspension, so it shouldn't be surprising that he struggled. However, it was hard for him to earn a spot in a receiving group that includes Tyreek Hill, Byron Pringle, Mecole Hardman and Demarcus Robinson. 

Kansas City also opted to use Daurice Fountain over Gordon during the team's two postseason matchups because of Fountain's ability to contribute on special teams, making him more valuable. 

Gordon's best season came in 2013 when he caught 87 passes for 1,646 yards and nine touchdowns in 14 games. He hasn't seen similar production since because of multiple suspensions. 

Waiving Gordon opened up a spot on Kansas City's 53-man roster. According to Teicher, the Chiefs plan to activate defensive tackle Khalen Saunders from injured reserve in a corresponding move. He appeared in seven games for the Chiefs before going on IR in November with a knee injury. 

Saunders, a 2019 third-round pick, has appeared in 22 games across three seasons with the Chiefs. He has recorded one sack, 33 tackles and two quarterback hits. After giving up 36 points to Josh Allen and the Buffalo Bills on Sunday, the Chiefs could use Saunders for some added depth.  

Tyreek Hill: Patrick Mahomes Took Another Step into Hall of Fame with Chiefs' Win

Jan 24, 2022
Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes (15) celebrates after throwing a touchdown pass during the first half of an NFL divisional round playoff football game against the Buffalo Bills, Sunday, Jan. 23, 2022, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Ed Zurga)
Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes (15) celebrates after throwing a touchdown pass during the first half of an NFL divisional round playoff football game against the Buffalo Bills, Sunday, Jan. 23, 2022, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Ed Zurga)

Patrick Mahomes is still only in his fourth season as a starting NFL quarterback, but nearly every game shows why he can be an all-time great.

The Kansas City Chiefs star led his team to a 42-36 win over the Buffalo Bills on Sunday night, totaling 378 passing yards, 69 rushing yards and four total touchdowns. 

"This is definitely another step for him into the Hall of Fame," Chiefs wide receiver Tyreek Hill said of Mahomes, per Greg Bishop of Sports Illustrated.

The back-and-forth playoff battle featured 25 points scored in the final two minutes of regulation. Mahomes connected with Hill for a 64-yard touchdown pass to give the Chiefs a lead with 62 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter. After the Bills retook the lead with only 13 seconds left, Mahomes needed just two plays to gain the 44 yards needed to set up a game-tying field goal.

Kansas City won the game in the first drive of overtime with Mahomes finding Kelce for the walk-off touchdown.

The Chiefs will now host their fourth straight AFC Championship Game after already earning two Super Bowl appearances and one title since Mahomes became the starter in 2018. With one MVP award and four Pro Bowl selections also already on his resume, the 26-year-old is well on his way to Canton.

Patrick Mahomes: Josh Allen 'Played His Ass Off' in Bills' Playoff Loss to Chiefs

Jan 24, 2022
Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes (15) celebrates with fans as he walks off the field after an NFL divisional round playoff football game against the Buffalo Bills, Sunday, Jan. 23, 2022, in Kansas City, Mo. The Chiefs won 42-36 in overtime. (AP Photo/Colin E. Braley)
Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes (15) celebrates with fans as he walks off the field after an NFL divisional round playoff football game against the Buffalo Bills, Sunday, Jan. 23, 2022, in Kansas City, Mo. The Chiefs won 42-36 in overtime. (AP Photo/Colin E. Braley)

The Kansas City Chiefs took down the Buffalo Bills in an overtime thriller in the AFC Divisional Round on Sunday. The game featured a back-and-forth duel between quarterbacks Patrick Mahomes and Josh Allen.

After getting the win, Mahomes had nothing but good things to say about Allen's performance.

"It was a heck of a game. Josh played his ass off," Mahomes told CBS Sports' Tracy Wolfson. "It was a great game between two great football teams, and at the end of the day, guys like Tyreek [Hill] and Travis [Kelce] made the plays that won us the game."

Allen did everything he could to try to propel the Bills into the AFC championship game. He completed 27-of-37 passes for 329 yards and four touchdowns and added a team-high 68 rushing yards.

He had a strong connection with receiver Gabriel Davis, who finished with eight catches for 201 yards and a historic four scores.

Allen's fourth touchdown pass to Davis gave Buffalo a three-point lead with 13 seconds left in the game, but Mahomes showed off his magic once again.

The Chiefs marched down the field to set up Harrison Butker to kick the game-tying field goal and force overtime. In the extra period, Mahomes and the Chiefs got possession first and scored a touchdown, denying Allen the chance to get back on the field.

Mahomes threw for 378 yards and three touchdowns and ran for 69 yards and another score.

This is the second consecutive season that Kansas City has eliminated Buffalo from the postseason. The Chiefs topped the Bills in last year's AFC title game. Mahomes said he believes this won't be the last time the two teams face each other in the postseason.

"We're gonna play this team a lot of times in games like this," Mahomes said of the Bills. "With that quarterback, with that coaching staff and the players they have, there's gonna be a lot of battles. I'm glad we got this one."

Patrick Mahomes on Chiefs' Wild OT Win over Bills: 'We Believe No Matter What'

Jan 24, 2022
Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes (15) celebrates with fans as he walks off the field after an NFL divisional round playoff football game against the Buffalo Bills, Sunday, Jan. 23, 2022, in Kansas City, Mo. The Chiefs won 42-36 in overtime. (AP Photo/Colin E. Braley)
Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes (15) celebrates with fans as he walks off the field after an NFL divisional round playoff football game against the Buffalo Bills, Sunday, Jan. 23, 2022, in Kansas City, Mo. The Chiefs won 42-36 in overtime. (AP Photo/Colin E. Braley)

Most quarterbacks wouldn't be holding on to much belief if their teams were trailing by three with 13 seconds left and starting a possession at their own 25-yard line, but Patrick Mahomes isn't most quarterbacks.

"We believe no matter what," the Kansas City Chiefs' signal-caller told reporters after Sunday's dramatic 42-36 overtime victory over the Buffalo Bills.

He continued, saying, "If you're not going to go down fighting, then you don't deserve to be here."

While the Chiefs were facing long odds, Mahomes hit Tyreek Hill for 19 yards and Travis Kelce for 25 yards to set up a Harrison Butker field goal that forced overtime. The rest was history, as the Chiefs won the coin toss in overtime and scored a touchdown with Kelce hauling it in to send his team to the AFC Championship Game.

Perhaps the only thing wrong with the game was Josh Allen and the Bills offense didn't get a chance to counter in overtime thanks to the NFL's rules.

The ending sequence capped off perhaps one of the greatest NFL games in league history, especially considering the stakes. Kansas City's field goal with fewer than nine minutes remaining in regulation gave it a 26-21 lead, and the teams traded touchdowns on the next three possessions to set up the 13-second situation.

The first Buffalo touchdown after the field goal came when Allen finished an unbelievable 17-play drive that took more than seven minutes off the clock with a fourth-down strike to a wide-open Gabriel Davis in the end zone. Stefon Diggs hauled in the two-point conversion to give the Bills a three-point lead.

Then Mahomes needed all of 52 seconds to answer with a touchdown when he hit Hill underneath and watched the speedster do the rest to put the Chiefs up four.

Buffalo struck back in 49 seconds with Allen finding Davis again for the receiver's fourth touchdown catch of the game. It looked to be the winning play, but the Chiefs forced overtime and finished it without giving Allen another opportunity.

In all, Mahomes threw for 378 yards, three touchdowns and zero interceptions, while Allen went for 329 passing yards, four touchdowns and zero interceptions. The quarterbacks fittingly led their respective teams in rushing yards as well with Mahomes accounting for 69 yards and a score on the ground and Allen running for 68 yards.

Kansas City's reward is a date with Joe Burrow and the Cincinnati Bengals in the AFC Championship Game, so it may be in for another shootout.

The Bengals defeated the Chiefs 34-31 in Week 17, although that game was in Cincinnati. The rematch will happen in Kansas City.               

Chiefs' Andy Reid Told Patrick Mahomes: 'When It’s Grim, Be the Grim Reaper'

Jan 24, 2022
DENVER, COLORADO - JANUARY 08: Kansas City Chiefs head coach Andy Reid exits the field after defeating the Denver Broncos 28-24 at Empower Field At Mile High on January 08, 2022 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Jamie Schwaberow/Getty Images)
DENVER, COLORADO - JANUARY 08: Kansas City Chiefs head coach Andy Reid exits the field after defeating the Denver Broncos 28-24 at Empower Field At Mile High on January 08, 2022 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Jamie Schwaberow/Getty Images)

After the Kansas City Chiefs' thrilling overtime victory against the Buffalo Bills on Sunday, head coach Andy Reid revealed what he told quarterback Patrick Mahomes when they were facing elimination.

The Chiefs trailed by three with 13 seconds left in the fourth quarter, but Mahomes led them down the field to set up the game-tying field goal and force overtime.

Before Mahomes took the field for the game-tying drive, Reid told reporters that he said to him, "When it's grim, be the Grim Reaper."

For most teams, 13 seconds wouldn't be enough time to get down the field. But Reid's words to Mahomes illustrate the confidence the Chiefs have, even in dire situations.

It took just two passes from Mahomes to get Kansas City into field goal range. Veteran kicker Harrison Butker connected from 49 yards out as time expired to force the extra period. 

In overtime, Mahomes led the Chiefs down the field for a touchdown to put the game away. He found Travis Kelce in the end zone for an eight-yard score to give Kansas City its fourth consecutive trip to the AFC Championship.

It was a nearly immaculate performance from Mahomes. He finished with 378 yards and three touchdowns on 33-of-44 passing and added a team-high 69 rushing yards with another score.

He needed to be at his best to win the duel against Bills quarterback Josh Allen, who threw for 328 yards and four touchdowns.

The Chiefs will take on the Cincinnati Bengals next Sunday with a chance to make it to the Super Bowl for the third straight year. Kansas City lost to Cincinnati 34-31 in Week 17 on a last-second field goal by Evan McPherson.

McPherson also kicked the winning field goal in the Bengals' win over the Tennessee Titans on Saturday to earn their first trip to the AFC title game since the 1988 season.

Patrick Mahomes, Chiefs Beat Josh Allen, Bills in OT Thriller to Reach AFC Title Game

Jan 24, 2022
Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes celebrates after beating the Buffalo Bills overtime during an NFL divisional playoff football game, Sunday, Jan. 23, 2022 in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Reed Hoffmann)
Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes celebrates after beating the Buffalo Bills overtime during an NFL divisional playoff football game, Sunday, Jan. 23, 2022 in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Reed Hoffmann)

The Kansas City Chiefs won one of the most electrifying games in NFL history on Sunday as the two-time defending AFC champions beat the Buffalo Bills 42-36 in overtime in the divisional round.

Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes tossed an eight-yard touchdown pass to Travis Kelce for the game-winner.

The two teams combined for 25 points in the final two minutes of regulation.

Down 26-21, the Bills orchestrated a 17-play, 75-yard drive that included two fourth-down conversions.

The second one, on 4th-and-13, led to quarterback Josh Allen finding wide receiver Gabriel Davis for a 27-yard score with 1:54 left after cornerback Mike Hughes slipped in coverage:

Allen then found wideout Stefon Diggs for a two-point conversion to give Buffalo a 29-26 lead.

Undeterred, Mahomes threw a 64-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Tyreek Hill, who sprinted his way past the Bills defense for six.

Following the point-after attempt, the Chiefs went up with 1:13 remaining.

Then it was Allen's turn as the Bills got the ball back with 1:02 left and all three timeouts on tap. Once again, Davis was the star, catching three passes for 59 yards. The last catch resulted in a 19-yard touchdown with 13 seconds left.

Mahomes got the ball back on the Chiefs' 25-yard line with 13 seconds on the clock and three timeouts, and that was more than enough time for him to set up Harrison Butker for the game-tying 49-yard field goal.

The Chiefs' signal-caller hit Hill for 19 yards and Kelce for 25 more, calling timeouts after each completion to set up the kick with two seconds left.

The Chiefs won the overtime coin toss and marched down the field in eight plays for 75 yards, capped by Kelce's sideline grab.

Sunday featured a rematch of the 2020 AFC Championship Game, when the Chiefs beat the Bills 38-24.

The game was far closer this time around and featured standout performances from both sides.

Notably, Davis had an NFL playoff record of four touchdowns alongside eight catches and 201 yards. Allen had 397 total yards (329 passing, 68 rushing) and four passing touchdowns.

Mahomes threw for 378 passing yards and three scores, with Hill catching 11 passes for 150 yards. Mahomes also led the Chiefs in rushing with 69 yards and one score, finishing with 447 total yards.

In the end, an instant classic went to the Chiefs in a game that featured two Super Bowl-worthy teams.

Kansas City will be moving on, though, as it searches for its third straight AFC. title.


Notable Performances

Bills QB Josh Allen: 27-of-37, 329 passing yards, 4 TD; 11 carries, 68 rushing yards

Bills WR Gabriel Davis: 8 catches, 201 receiving yards, 4 TD

Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes: 33-of-44, 378 passing yards, 3 TD; 7 carries, 69 rushing yards, 1 TD

Chiefs WR Tyreek Hill: 11 catches, 150 receiving yards, 1 TD

Chiefs TE Travis Kelce: 8 catches, 96 receiving yards, 1 TD


Football Doesn't Get Better Than This Generational Mahomes-Allen Duel

Three hundred former players reside in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. All of those men can list off incredible accomplishments that landed them in Canton, Ohio, but only a select and special few were true game-changers that shaped the future of the sport.

Seems like we're already witnessing some revolutionary quarterbacks in Mahomes and Allen.

On Sunday, the pair dueled in a game that felt as if it carried more weight than a typical divisional-round matchup.

Sure, all games this late in the season are important, but Allen and Mahomes showed off quarterback play far above their peers. They dodged defenders all night to find receivers, as neither defense had any answers for them.

The two were simply electric, to the point where 25 points were scored in the final 114 seconds.

Sure, there were some defensive breakdowns, but the fact that the quarterbacks were still playing at peak levels late in the fourth quarter despite an exhausting and emotionally draining game can't be understated.

That's not something you see every day. It was special.

Everyone knows both quarterbacks are already excellent, but it feels like these two are going to lead the NFL into its next generation in the 2020s and 2030s.

For starters, they threw the pigskin like former Denver Broncos quarterback John Elway tossed Vortex footballs in the 1990s.

Allen's 75-yard laser to Davis to cut the Chiefs' lead to 23-20 in the third quarter stood out the most:

Quarterbacks don't regularly throw frozen ropes 57 yards down the field on the fly, but Allen is built different.

Meanwhile, Mahomes continued to defy logic with his dazzling array of throw, tossing one sidearmed to Hill:

When he wasn't dropping dimes, Mahomes proved to be too slippery for Buffalo's front seven. At times, it appears a Bills defender would sack Mahomes only to see the quarterback evade a grasp and complete a pass or run for a few yards.

This was most evident when Mahomes ran backward 13 yards in the midst of incoming Bills traffic to somehow find Byron Pringle in the end zone for six after the first half's two-minute warning:

These highlights happened before the two players combined to lead their teams to 31 total points in 1:54 of regulation plus 4:15 of overtime.

That six-plus minute stretch featured the pinnacle of offensive football, with neither attack slowing down. It was as good as football can get, with two legendary quarterbacks executing their team's plans to perfection.

One of the talking points postgame was the Bills not squibbing the ball to run some precious seconds off the clock before Mahomes got the ball in regulation one last time with 13 ticks left.

But think about that for a moment: It's thirteen seconds, or maybe the time it took to read these last two paragraphs.

Mahomes may be a superhuman quarterback, but leading his team down in time to get into field goal range seemed like a stretch.

With a touchback, the Bills could at least prevent a good return that could have led to a better field position.

It turns out that Mahomes found a different gear, though. He didn't even need all 13 seconds, with the Chiefs calling a timeout with three to go.

Once overtime hit, it felt as though the team that won the coin toss was taking this game. Both quarterbacks were on fire, and both defenses were gassed.

In the end, the coin not rolling one more half-rotation may have led to the Bills going home early.

That begs the question of whether both teams should get offensive chances regardless of whether one scores a TD first. Nonetheless, Mahomes and Allen put on an absolute show.

Teams will (and already have) been trying to copy the Bills' and Chiefs' successes, and attempting to find the next Mahomes or Allen will (and has) been commonplace already.

These two appear to stand out from the rest, though, and that's a big win for pro football as the game continues to evolve thanks to the generational talents.

     

What's Next?

The Chiefs will host the Cincinnati Bengals in the AFC Championship Game on Sunday at 3 p.m. ET.

The winner will face the NFC champion in the Super Bowl, which will occur Feb. 13 from Los Angeles' SoFi Stadium.

The San Francisco 49ers will visit the Los Angeles Rams to determine the NFC's representative. That matchup will occur at 6:30 p.m. Sunday.