Chiefs report card: KC needed A-effort to beat Josh Allen, Bills. Didn’t get it Sunday
In a battle of perhaps the two best teams in the AFC, the Buffalo Bills outlasted the Chiefs 24-20 Sunday afternoon at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium.
Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes threw two interceptions, one with a minute remaining, to end the Chiefs’ comeback hopes.
Here is our report card for the game:
KC STAR OF THE GAME
Receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster turned in his best game in a Chiefs uniform, starting with a touchdown that was performance art. He caught a pass across the field from a scrambling Patrick Mahomes, breaking one tackle and eluding two more with a spin move to complete a 42-yard play..
Next: The Chiefs visit the San Francisco 49ers next Sunday. in a game that kicks off at 3:25 p.m. (Central). The 49ers lost at the Atlanta Falcons 28-14 on Sunday to fall to 3-3. The game will be broadcast on FOX (Ch. 4).
REPORT CARD
Passing offense: C
Facing the NFL’s No. 2-ranked defense, Mahomes passed for 338 yards and two touchdowns. His second score, a dart to Mecole Hardman from 3 yards, was Hardman’s first TD since the opener.
A bad decision by Mahomes ended the Chiefs’ first drive. On third-and-goal from the 9, Mahomes was flushed to his right and looked at Marquez Valdez-Scantling, who was double-covered. Mahomes forced it and the ball was picked by Buffalo’s Kaiir Elam.
Of course, if center Creed Humphrey hadn’t been flagged for being downfield illegally a few plays earlier, a Mahomes-to-Valdes-Scantlng TD would have stood.
Mahomes’ second interception, in desperation time, ended the game. As he was for much of the game, Mahomes was under pressure on the last attempt. Von Miller had two of the Bills’ three sacks and put heat on the offensive line throughout the game.
Rushing offense: D
Mahomes was the Chiefs’ leading rusher in both of last year’s games against the Bills. He might have missed a good chance to at least pick up a first down on a third-and-13 in the fourth quarter. Mahomes cut in instead of staying outside and the Chiefs settled for a field goal. Clyde Edwards-Helaire led the Chiefs with 33 rushing yards.
Passing defense: C
In big moments, defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo brought extra pressure. It worked twice — when the Bills moved to the Chiefs’ 3 in the second quarter and safety Juan Thornhill blitzed; and later, when cornerback Joshua Williams and Darius Harris brought pressure together.
Early in the fourth quarter, the Bills gambled on a fourth-and-3 from their 46 and another blitz forced Allen into a bad pass. Chris Jones forced a punt with a sack (did he trip Allen?).
Allen picked on Williams for long touchdown strikes to Gabe Davis and Stefon Diggs, and his third one was the dagger to Dawson Knox.
Rushing defense: B
The Bills went to school on the Raiders’ performance last week. Playing the role of Josh Jacbos, who rushed for 154 on Monday Night Football, was Devin Singletary: The Bills back ran hard for 66 first-half yards and finished with 85. The Bills and Chiefs largely put the game in the hands of their quarterbacks in the second half.
Special teams: B
Here’s hoping Matthew Wright enjoyed his week in the Chiefs’ record book for longest field goal. He boomed a 59-yarder last week against the Raiders, topping the team record by one yard.
On Sunday, on the final play of the first half, Harrison Butker, playing in his first game since the injuring an ankle in the opener, crushed a 62-yarder. Butker was so confident with the boot, he turned and walked away before the ball reached the crossbar. Butker did miss a 51-yarder on the first possession of the second half.
It was a good day for Chiefs punter Tommy Townsend, who averaged 57.7 yards on three attempts.
This story was originally published October 16, 2022 at 6:39 PM with the headline "Chiefs report card: KC needed A-effort to beat Josh Allen, Bills. Didn’t get it Sunday."