The Buffalo Bills had to feel tortured by every close Kansas City Chiefs victory. They were unable to gain ground in the race for the AFC’s No. 1 seed despite going 10-2 with a head-to-head victory over the Chiefs. It meant that the pressure was constant; The Bills really couldn’t afford to lose a game.
The Bills are not out of the race for first place and the only bye in the AFC, but their path became much more difficult on Sunday. The Los Angeles Rams, who were 6-6 entering Sunday’s game, ambushed the Bills on Sunday and won 44-42. The Bills lost despite six touchdowns by Josh Allen. He had three passes and three runs. Fox said in his broadcast that Allen is the first player with three passing touchdowns and three rushing touchdowns in a game.
Los Angeles started fast, got a huge punt block for a touchdown and calmly moved the ball over the Bills defense. Buffalo got back into the game, with Allen’s touchdown pass cutting Los Angeles’ lead to 38-35 in the fourth quarter, but the defense couldn’t come up with a critical stop after that and Puka Nacua’s 19-yard touchdown run just after the two- The minute’s warning helped seal the game. The Bills fell to 10-3 and a game and a half behind the Chiefs, who entered Sunday night’s game with an 11-1 record.
The loss doesn’t say much about the Bills. They crossed the country and lost to a well-coached team that is still in the playoff race. It happens.
But it’s the kind of loss that could mean the Bills have to travel to Arrowhead Stadium in January.
The bills dug a hole
Buffalo’s defense should be embarrassed. When your quarterback scores six touchdowns, you shouldn’t lose.
It was clear from the beginning that the Bills were in for a tough game. On the Rams’ first possession, they drove 70 yards in 12 plays, with Kyren Williams scoring a touchdown. The Rams led 10-7 when they made the play that changed the momentum. Rams linebacker Jacob Hummel broke through the middle of the Rams line on a punt, got a clean block and was scooped up by tight end Hunter Long and returned for 22 yards and a touchdown.
It took the Bills a while to recover after that. Los Angeles took a 31-14 lead early in the second half. The Rams had an efficient day on offense. Puka Nacua had a great game with 12 receptions for 162 yards. Buffalo has played well on defense most of the season, but Sean McVay and the Rams offense had answers for them. Buffalo got back into the game with two quick touchdowns to start the fourth quarter, but the Rams made a long drive to eat up most of the clock. The Rams made a big conversion on fourth-and-five with less than four minutes left, with Stafford hitting Tutu Atwell over the middle for a first down.
The Bills put together another scoring drive after that. They had a failed quarterback attempt, and that was costly because Buffalo called its first timeout after that. That gave them only two timeouts after Allen scored, costing them a chance to get the ball back after a botched onside kick.
The Rams needed a win to stay in the NFC West race, with a slim chance of still clinching a wild card spot. They played with the urgency of a team that needed to spring a big surprise.
The Bills also had urgency, they just didn’t play well enough against a Rams team that got hot.
Chiefs increase their lead for first place
The Chiefs create much of their own luck, but they have had opportunities this season. They have been experiencing close games, winning every game this season that was decided by a score. The Bills losing on Sunday is another big help for them.
Kansas City doesn’t need the first seed to get to the Super Bowl, as we saw last season, but it doesn’t hurt. There are still opportunities for the Bills or even the Pittsburgh Steelers (10-3) to catch Kansas City for first place and the bye, but it gets tougher with each loss.
The Bills had won seven straight before Sunday, but were still chasing the Chiefs for the best record in the AFC. Buffalo’s bad day in Los Angeles makes the chase even more challenging.