USAT: Bills Wire audio clip

USAT: Bills Wire

Jan 25, 2022

The Buffalo Bills were 13 seconds away from returning to Highmark Stadium to host the AFC championship. - Instead, a crazy confluence of circumstance and some questionable decisions led to the demise of the Bills at the hands of Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs. - While Buffalo were not officially defeated at the end of regulation, it definitely felt as if the end was near, as the Bills improbably allowed Kansas City an opportunity to tie the game in regulation. There’s a ton to unpack with these final moments of the game. - Let’s examine the concluding moments of regulation, how events unfolded, and the possible thoughts of the Bills’ coaching staff: - Preceding events - Buffalo’s defense held strong midway through the fourth quarter, as they kept the Chiefs to a field goal attempt after Kansas City started their possession at Buffalo’s 16-yard-line. Receiver Tyreek Hill returned a punt 46 yards, which setup the Chiefs in prime territory. Buffalo yielded the field goal, keeping the Bills in striking distance. - Buffalo took control of the ball with 8:55 remaining. The offense embarked on a stellar 17-play drive, spanning just over seven minutes. Wide receiver Gabriel Davis smoked the Chiefs secondary and scored a touchdown on a fourth-down attempt. On the two-point conversion, wideout Stefon Diggs made an appearance and reeled in a pass at the back of the end zone. Buffalo was up 29-26 with 1:57 left. - Then, all hell broke loose. Kansas City scored on a fiCve-play, 75-yard drive lasting only 52 seconds. Tyreek Hill broke loose for a 64-yard touchdown reception, a play that we will revisit later. Buffalo, responded with a six-play, 75-yard drive culminating with Davis’ fourth touchdown reception. - - GABRIEL DAVIS. NFL HISTORY - His FOURTH receiving TD of the game - : @NFL | #BillsMafia pic.twitter.com/n2EHx7prlI - — FanDuel Sportsbook (@FDSportsbook) January 24, 2022 - - - Kansas City’s offense would have the ball in their possession for the final time of the season with 13 seconds on the clock. - The final plays of regulation - Buffalo’s last special teams decision with the lead was a quizzical one. The team had several options. - Buffalo could have had kicker Tyler Bass complete a squib kick, ultimately forcing the Chiefs to field the ball and chip away at the clock. - The Bills could have also booted a high kick, hoping the ball lands within 10 yards of the goal line. The Chiefs’ options would be to return the ball and allow precious seconds to tick off the clock or fair catch the ball. - The latter option would give the Chiefs more time on the clock, but a greater distance to get into field goal range. Buffalo decided to kick the ball out for a touchback, taking no time off the clock and giving the Chiefs a starting field position a the 25-yard line. - The next two plays put the Chiefs into field goal range. - First, Kansas City completed a 19-yard pass to Tyreek Hill. Buffalo rushed four defenders. Their cornerbacks were approximately 10 yards off the line of scrimmage. The Bills safeties were standing at Buffalo’s 45-yard-line, 30 yards off the line of scrimmage. Buffalo had no defenders in the middle of the field within 15 yards of the line of scrimmage. - Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes threw a pass five yards beyond the line of scrimmage to Hill, and then he scurried another 14 yards on a play that took only five seconds off the game clock. Mahomes made a quick read as he knew Hill could make some positive gains efficiently. The Chiefs called their first time out of the half. - With the ball at Kansas City’s 44-yard-line, the Chiefs would have to move the ball at least 15 yards on the next play to have a reasonable shot at attempting a field goal. - - 13 seconds. Never forget. (via @NFL) pic.twitter.com/eHEXFgIKYP - — Arrowhead Pride (@ArrowheadPride) January 24, 2022 - - - On the subsequent play, Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce fires off the line with no resistance from Buffalo’s defense. Linebacker Matt Milano shades over the trips side of Kansas City’s formation and cornerback Levi Wallace stays wide at the numbers, leaving a lane for Kelce. - With Buffalo’s secondary and linebackers playing off the line and the defensive end neglecting to chip Kelce, the tight end has a free area to move without any hindrance. Much like the previous play. Mahomes gets the ball out of his hands quickly, allowing his receiver to catch the ball in stride and make positive yards in little time. With Buffalo’s safeties still playing deep, there’s a void where Kelce can rack up some yards after the catch. - Kansas City calls their final time. In the span of 10 seconds, the Chiefs move into field goal range. They roll 44 yards over the course of these two plays. - What influenced Buffalo’s late-game decisions - Kansas City had two offensive plays and a special teams play that seem to stand out. In both cases, it seems that Buffalo has a chance to limit the damage of the play. - In the first instance, wideout Mecole Hardman takes a handoff in the backfield. It seems he will be stacked up, but then he shoots free and scores a rushing touchdown. - - Tony Romo: It was all Mecole Hardman” pic.twitter.com/S8HwAZjV0D - — DawgPost (@Dawg_Post) January 24, 2022 - - - The second play was Tyreek Hills 64-yard touchdown which gave the Chiefs the lead with just over a minute remaining in the fourth quarter. Hill beats Wallace on a crossing pattern and used his speed to outrun Buffalo’s secondary. - - Tyreek Hill Gone pic.twitter.com/aupFPyepu9 - — dariusalford.eth (@IAMDARIUSALFORD) January 24, 2022 - - - In both cases, the Chiefs skill players take small advantages and turn them into blockbuster plays. Hill outran defensive backs Dane Jackson and Jordan Poyer to the corner of the end zone. - Meanwhile, Hardman broke through a small hold and beat Micah Hyde to the corner pylon. With numbers committed to the line of scrimmage, Hardman had an easy path down to the end zone once he broke through Buffalo’s initial defending layer. - On special teams, Buffalo saw how quickly Hill could flip the field. Hill made several Bills special teamers look foolish on this 46-yard punt return. Hill’s speed and ability to change direction in small spaces put intense pressure on the unit. - - .@Cheetah got another opportunity and delivered. #ChiefsKingdom #NFLPlayoffs - : #BUFvsKC on CBS:

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