Laddie Morse
“Wide right” will continue to live in Buffalo Bills lore. With 1:44 to go in the game, Bills kicker, Tyler Bass, lined up for a Field Goal try from the Chiefs 44 yard line and he hooked it wide to the right. It was reminiscent of the Bills loss in Super Bowl XXV on January 27 of 1991 when their kicker Scott Norwood hooked a Field Goal try “Wide right” and it’s that same history that raises it’s ugly head for Bills fans. Here’s the wide right kick by Tyler Bass in last night’s game (0:12):
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Part of me feels sorry for the Buffalo Bills because I watched as they lost to the New York Giants — and I’m no Giants fan — back in 1991 when Bill Parcels was their Head Coach. Also, Marv Levy was the Bills HC and he had already been the Chiefs head coach earlier in his career. Ever since then I had hoped that one day the Bills could return and finish their business… I just never expected that it might be at the Chiefs expense. Now, I’m quite happy that they have done it again, and happier yet for this year’s edition of the Chiefs.
The game was an up and down battle with the Bills offense led by Josh Allen getting the better of the Chiefs Defense most of the time. However, the defense for K.C. came up with just enough stops to make the difference in this contest while the Chiefs offense appears to be on a roll that they haven’t been on all season long.
One good example of the Chiefs offense turning in a superior performance is the play of WR Marquez Valdes-Scantling. He had two (2) catches for a total of 62 yards with a long of 32 (0:53).
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That’s worth noting since he has had so many drops this season (only a 50% catch rate) we’ve all been waiting for the other shoe to drop and for him to be cut.
A point of turnaround was a play that involved WR Mecole Hardman when he was passed the ball by Patrick Mahomes on a shovel pass, then Mecole rounded the left end and tried to extend the ball out over the goal line, but ended up fumbling it away and the ball went through the end zone allowing the Bills to take possession. Here’s a look at that play (0:43):
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The game was a close one through out and game announcer Tony Romo reminded us that this was Patrick Mahomes first ever victory in the playoffs away from Arrowhead Stadium and that PM will now have played in every AFC Championship game since he became the Chiefs permanent starter in 2018. The next game for the Chiefs will be in Baltimore against the Ravens and will feature two league MVPs with Lamar Jackson winning one and Patrick Mahomes winning two. Actually, Lamar Jackson will probably end up winning the MVP this season and he’s played well enough to deserve it. That, of course, means both players will have won two MVPs each.
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Player of the Game
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Isiah Pacheco
Pop, as his team mates call him, had 97 yards rushing on 15 carries for an average per run of 6.5. Please remember that Jamaal Charles averaged 5.4 YPC to lead the NFL all time in yards per carry (JC was once nominated to the HoF). Pacheco also added a TD and he was was the reason K.C. could kneel at the end of the game. Pop had made a first down on two Chiefs back-to-back runs and that first down eliminated the possibility that the Bills could get the ball back. All Patrick Mahomes had to do then was to take a knee three times and it was a done deal. Here’s a look at Isiah Pacheco’s TD run (0:10):
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Tweet(s) of the Game
Here’s one of the TDs scored by Travis Kelce in this game (0:17):
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Here’s Kelce’s 2nd TD of the game (0:55):
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Also, here’s the reaction of Taylor Swift to Travis scoring his 2nd TD (0:09):
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One person who was not featured enough in this game was the brother of Travis Kelce… Jason Kelce. He was there and was in the booth with Travis girlfriend Taylor Swift, but he had a great bellow when Travis Scored his 2nd TD. Take a look (0:05):
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Here’s an extended look at Jason Kelce’s behavior after Travis’ TD (0:35):
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Quote of the Game
“Doesn’t matter where Patrick Mahomes plays
he is SPECTACULAR and we need to appreciate
his greatness as it unfolds. He is clutch, he wins
from the pocket and outside the pocket consistently.
We have never seen anything like
Patrick Mahomes in NFL History.”
-Robert Griffin III
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The NFC and AFC Championship Games
The Chiefs will travel to Baltimore to play the Ravens next weekend and that game will be another epic event. In the meantime, the Detroit Lions will travel to play the San Francisco 49er in San Fran next weekend. The #3 seed Chiefs will play the #1 seed Ravens at 2:00 PM ET next Sunday while the #3 seed Lions will travel to play the #1 seed 49ers at 5:30 PM ET later that same day. The Chiefs and Ravens game can be seen on CBS while the Lions and 49ers game can be seen on FOX.
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ESPN’s early predictor looks like this:
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Summary
You’d think that ESPN would learn, because the Bills were 3 point favorites and K.C. won by 3 points. Oh well, sometimes they never learn. Plus, this should get no airtime but, RT Jawaan Taylor didn’t have a penalty in this game. That has to be something… or not. Meaning, it’s hard to pat a guy on the back for doing his job. Right?! BTW, Happy Birthday L’Jarius:
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Was it for LJ’s Birthday or for the Chiefs’ win??? Hehe…
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K.C. you rock! Go Chiefs!
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Laddie Morse — ArrowheadOne
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