Patrick Mahomes faced a tough day on Sunday as the Kansas City Chiefs lost 28-21 to the Buffalo Bills, ending their three-game winning streak. This marked a rare outing for Mahomes, who is known for his stellar performances. He threw for 250 yards but didn’t score any touchdowns, throwing one key interception and getting sacked three times. His quarterback rating of 57.2 was the lowest it had been in nearly a year.
Despite the setback, the Chiefs made a valiant effort. Kareem Hunt scored a 2-yard touchdown, followed by a successful 2-point conversion from Mahomes to Travis Kelce that brought the score to 28-21 with just over 11 minutes left. They even forced the Bills to punt, putting them back in the game. However, with time running out, a deep pass from Mahomes was intercepted, sealing the Chiefs’ fate.
### Defense Gaps
Kansas City’s defense has struggled this season, ranking 26th in expected points allowed per run. They found it difficult to contain the Bills, who didn’t fall behind and stayed aggressive. Buffalo’s running back, James Cook, rushed for over 100 yards, allowing quarterback Josh Allen to exploit Kansas City’s vulnerabilities, especially with play action. Allen completed a remarkable 23 of 26 passes for 273 yards and a touchdown.
Historically, while the Chiefs have had success against Allen in playoff scenarios, they’ve struggled to consistently manage him in their matchups. As Jesse Newell, a Chiefs beat writer, noted, this game showcased Kansas City’s ongoing issues in defending against effective quarterbacks like Allen.
### Competitive Landscape
With a 5-4 record, the Chiefs are facing a challenging path to the playoffs. They are now trailing the Denver Broncos in the AFC West and are two games back. Their upcoming schedule looks tougher than that of the Bills. With four early losses, even making it through to the playoffs may require they win most of their remaining games.
### Looking Ahead to Recovery
Despite their poor outing, the Chiefs entered last week as one of the healthiest teams. However, injuries piled up during the game, especially on the offensive line, forcing several backups into play. Thankfully, they have a bye week now, which should be a good time for players like right tackle Jawaan Taylor to heal from his ankle injury. Left tackle Josh Simmons has a chance to return after the break as well.
This time off could prove crucial for a team looking to turn things around and make a strong push as the season progresses.
As one social media user put it, “Time to regroup and come back stronger.” The next few games will be vital for the Chiefs to find their rhythm and aim for the playoffs again.
For more insights, you can visit ESPN’s coverage on NFL matchups for additional stats and expert analyses.
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Buffalo Bills, Kansas City Chiefs, NFL
