Bills Lose Controversial AFC Championship to Chiefs: Amid Some Questionable Calls, the Chiefs Beat the Bills 32-29 to Advance to Yet Another Super Bowl

Last Sunday, the Buffalo Bills fell to the Kansas City Chiefs in heartbreaking fashion in the playoffs yet again. The Chiefs, led by superstar Patrick Mahomes, won this AFC Championship game clash 32-29 to advance to their third straight Super Bowl and fifth in the past six seasons. This dominant dynasty, kickstarted by a 24-point comeback against the Houston Texans in the AFC Divisional Round way back on Jan. 12, 2020, en route to a Chiefs Super Bowl win, is seemingly unstoppable.  

On the other hand, the Bills and their superstar quarterback, Josh Allen, went home disappointed again, losing to the Chiefs for the fourth time in the playoffs in the past five years. Allen has strung together a brilliant season after a brilliant season. He should be awarded the NFL MVP trophy in a few weeks, yet cannot get over the hump in the playoffs. The Mahomes-Allen rivalry, while once billed as a repeat of Tom Brady versus Peyton Manning, is now looking more like Steph Curry versus James Harden. 

While the Bills certainly had their mistakes in this game – such as not changing up their short yardage play from a QB sneak to anything else, and Dalton Kincaid’s critical fourth down drop – I would be remiss if I didn’t mention the horrific officiating that helped the Chiefs win this game. A contested pass in the first half was wrested over between Chiefs receiver Xavier Worthy and Bills safety Cole Bishop. It seemed to be controlled by Bishop and hit the ground, yet Worthy was inexplicably given the catch to set them up deep in the red zone, where they soon scored a touchdown to go up 21-10.  

Later, in the fourth quarter, with the Bills up 22-21, perhaps the most controversial play in recent conference championship memory occurred. On fourth and one, the Bills ran a QB sneak, and Allen seemingly got the first down with relative ease, with the official with the best view of the ball giving him the first down. However, the other official on the line overruled him and ruled Allen short of the line to gain. This decision gave the Chiefs the ball back, where they scored to take a 29-21 lead and were on the way to winning the game.  

Lastly, on the Bills’ last chance, down 32-29 and facing a fourth and five, Allen evaded an all-out blitz long enough to have a pass to Dalton Kincaid downfield, which hit his hands and dropped to the grass. There was hope, however, due to a flag on the play, but it was mysteriously picked up. This left many fans to theorize that this phantom flag was just in case the Bills completed the pass, but since it was dropped the officials picked it up. 

I know this sounds like sour grapes, and the Bills still could’ve won the game if they had made some better decisions. However, when one team seems to always have every 50-50 call go their way, it is hard not to wonder if there is anything fishy going on with the NFL. 

Anyways, the Chiefs will play the Philadelphia Eagles, who romped over the Washington Commanders 55-23 in the NFC Championship, in a Super Bowl I’m sure most fans, including myself, are dreading.