Josh Allen and the Buffalo Bills hope the stars continue to align this season as they face the Kansas City Chiefs today for the AFC Championship and the opportunity to play in Super Bowl LIX. Under coach Sean McDermott, the Bills have qualified for the playoffs in seven out of the last eight seasons. Unfortunately for Buffalo, their playoff record is 7-6 during this period, only reaching the conference championship once in those years. That 2021 game ended in a 38-24 loss to the Chiefs. Allen and the Bills hope this year is different.
Magical Season for Allen and the Bills
Allen and the Bills have been on a hot streak this entire season. Buffalo finished the season with a 13-4 record, only losing road games to the Baltimore Ravens, Houston Texans, and Los Angeles Rams and the last game on the schedule against the New England Patriots, where McDermott sat Allen and most of the starters to rest up for the playoffs. They outscored their opponents 525-368 and finished second to the Detroit Lions in total points scored for the season.
As for Allen? His statistics speak volumes. For the season, he was 307-483, with 3,731 passing yards and 28 touchdowns. Add to this his 531 rushing yards, 12 touchdowns, and superior leadership qualities, and you have a quarterback playing at the top of his game. All this should lead to his first MVP award, probably edging out Lamar Jackson.
Chiefs Present a Roadblock
As always, the AFC Championship game this season goes through Kansas City. The Chiefs have participated in the last seven AFC Championship games, including today’s game, and their record is 4-2 in those contests. Six of the seven games have been played in Kansas City’s Arrowhead Stadium. And Andy Reid’s crew has gone on to become Super Bowl champions in three of those seasons.
This version of the Chiefs differed from most of their past successful teams. In the past, they have leaned heavily on quarterback Patrick Mahomes and their aerial game featuring All-Pro tight end Travis Kelce. While Mahomes certainly had a competent season (3,928 passing yards and 26 touchdown passes), and Kelce had a nice statistical season (97 receptions), this Kansas City team was driven by its defense. In fact, Mahomes was left off this year’s AFC Pro Bowl squad, breaking his string of six consecutive appearances.
Chris Jones and the Chiefs’ defense have been key in the team’s quest to retain the crown. This season, the unit finished ninth in the league in yards allowed per game (320.6) and eighth in rushing yards allowed (1,771). Their dominance is never more evident than in last week’s Divisional Championship game against the Houston Texans. The suffocating Kansas City defense harassed Texan’s quarterback, C.J. Stroud, all game long, eventually sacking him eight times in a 23-14 Chiefs win. Defensive end George Karlaftis led the way, recording three of those quarterback takedowns.
Allen and Chiefs and Their Destiny
All season, the Bills and Josh Allen have resembled a team on a quest, searching for their destiny. Allen’s sojourn has particularly resembled a Quoxite-like aura, driven by his desire to be a Word Champion and an MVP. He has appeared unstoppable at times, seemingly willing his team to a victory despite formidable odds. This was never more apparent than in Kansas City’s 30-21 home victory against the Chiefs on Nov. 18 of this season. This match was finally decided by a 26-yard Allen run with 2:17 left in the game. On the play, Allen took off down the right side, bounced off two would-be tacklers, and overpowered another while falling into the end zone.
Allen’s teammate, defensive end A.J. Epenesa, said it best when describing his quarterback’s season,
“It’s electric. It’s almost like guys react, and you’re like, ‘I couldn’t believe it. I couldn’t believe he just did that. But he does it on such a consistent basis. It’s like, do I really not believe it?”
