St. Joseph Post
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Bills quarterback Josh Allen threw for 315 yards and three touchdowns while running for another score, Micah Hyde returned a rare interception by Patrick Mahomes 26 yards for a touchdown and Buffalo (4-1) rolled to a 38-20 victory over the Kansas City Chiefs in a conference title game rematch that was delayed more than an hour by lightning Sunday night.
“I think this is going to be made a bigger deal than it is. We're in Week 5,” Allen said. “Four wins doesn't get you to the playoffs. We ended up with a win. That's our goal each and every week, to come out and be resilient through lightning delays. I'm proud of how our team handled the situation.”
Emmanuel Sanders had two TD catches for the Bills. Dawson Knox had 117 yards receiving and the other one.
“We're going to enjoy it on the plane back. You can tell I'm enjoying it out there; I lost my voice screaming,” Sanders said, “but at the same time, it's not like we won the Super Bowl. It's Week 5. We have to get back to work."
Mahomes finished with 272 yards passing and two touchdowns to go with two interceptions and a lost fumble — three of his team's four turnovers in all. Mahomes also wound up being the leading rusher for the Chiefs (2-3) with 61 yards, as they struggled to get going offensively against a talented Buffalo defense.
It didn't help that running back Clyde Edwards-Helaire left with a knee injury early in the second half. Tight end Travis Kelce also left in the closing minutes after taking a blow to the head on an incomplete pass.
Still, the Chiefs were within 31-20 early in the fourth quarter when Rashad Fenton picked off Allen's pass on a third-down jump ball near midfield. However, Chiefs defensive end Frank Clark was called for roughing the passer, giving the Bills the ball and a fresh set of downs, and they marched downfield for the clinching touchdown.
“We know we have what it takes to be great. We have a lot of great players that have been really good other places,” Mahomes said. “We know we have what it takes. It's a matter of coming together now and finding a way to do that.”
Defensively, the Bills beat the Chiefs over the top for several big plays throughout.
L'Jarius Sneed blew coverage on a 35-yard touchdown pass to Emmanuel Sanders that gave Buffalo a 14-10 lead. Daniel Sorensen also blew coverage on a 61-yard pass to Stefon Diggs that led to a field goal. Sorensen alsp blew coverage on tight end Dawson Knox, which resulted in a 53-yard touchdown reception.
Allen only completed seven passes in the first half. They went for 219 yards and two scores. In total, the Bills finished with 436 yards of offense and averaged over eight yards per play.
“They're embarrassed by it,” Chiefs coach Andy Reid said of the defensive performance. “We have to do better.”
The Chiefs head to Washington this Sunday for a noon central kickoff. The game can be heard on KFEQ Radio (680 AM, 95.3 FM) and Q Country 92.7 FM in St. Joseph.