Jan. 27 (UPI) — Coach Andy Reid said his Kansas City Chiefs were “lucky” to win a “game of inches” against the Buffalo Bills, referencing a controversial call that confirmed a fourth-down defensive stand in the AFC title game.
“Literally a game of inches,” Reid told reporters Sunday in Kansas City, Mo. “We were lucky to be on that side of it, where we had the most inches.”
Reid’s comments were in reference to a play that occurred with about 13 minutes remaining in the Chiefs’ 32-29 AFC Championship game triumph.
Quarterback Josh Allen and the Bills led 22-21 when they drove the ball to the Chiefs’ 41-yard line to set up a 4th-and-1 play. Allen leaned over center Connor McGovern and took the snap as the Chiefs defensive line slammed into the Bills offensive line, attempting to deny penetration. Allen appeared to be over the 40-yard line at one point during the run.
The Chiefs’ defense stops them on fourth down!
: #BUFvsKC on CBS
: Stream on @NFLPlus and Paramount+ pic.twitter.com/VwGmEZ3IrW— NFL (@NFL) January 27, 2025
One referee ran from the right sideline and appeared the be prepared to give Allen a good enough spot for a first down, while another approached from a position that indicated he was short of the line. They agreed to rule that Allen was short, but reviewed the play. The referees then confirmed their ruling, resulting in cheers from the home crowd and widespread criticism from others on social media.
“I felt like he gained it by about a third of the football,” CBS rules analyst Gene Steratore, a former longtime NFL referee, said on the broadcast. “That was just my take on the play. Tough, tough play.”
The Bills could have went on to take an eight- or nine-point lead if they scored on the drive that ended with Allen’s running effort. Instead, the Chiefs used five plays to cover 59 yards and found the end zone. Patrick Mahomes ran for a 10-yard score less than three minutes after the defensive stand. He threw a successful two-point conversion pass to wide receiver Justin Watson to give the Chiefs a 29-22 lead with 10:14 remaining.
“I felt like he gained it.” – @GeneSteratore pic.twitter.com/Tfcj2CEzpz— NFL on CBS (@NFLonCBS) January 27, 2025
Allen answered with a 4-yard touchdown toss to wide receiver Curtis Samuel with 6:15 remaining. But the Bills, who tied the score with an extra point, never scored again.
Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker pushed through the go-ahead points with a 35-yard field goal less than three minutes later. The Chiefs’ aggressive defense proceeded to stop force another fourth-down prayer from the Bills with about two minutes remaining. Allen managed to get off a pass while being harassed by defenders, but the ball was dropped by tight end Dalton Kincaid. Mahomes and the Chiefs then ran out the remaining time on the clock, sealing their trip to the Super Bowl.
“This came right down to an inch, literally,” Reid said. “That’s what the stop was. It was back-and-forth. It was going to be back-and-forth. Whoever had the ball last was probably going to come out in the lead and [with] the win.
“But I’m proud of our guys battling.”
Bills coach Sean McDermott and Allen both gave credit to the Chiefs. McDermott also said he disagreed with the call that the Bills were short on their key fourth-down run.
“I thought he had it,” McDermott said of Allen. “Just short of the line was actually the first down. What it looked like to me, when it was sitting next to me, was the first down. It looked like he got to it.
“That’s all I can say.”
The previous play is under review pic.twitter.com/NObGPU7gw8— NFL on CBS (@NFLonCBS) January 27, 2025
The Chiefs are now 4-0 against the Bills in the playoffs in their Mahomes-Reid era matchups, which started in 2021. Allen’s seven playoff wins without a Super Bowl appearance are the most by an NFL quarterback.
The Bills out-gained the Chiefs 374-368, including 147 to 135 on the ground. They also won the time-of-possession and turnover battles. They converted 5 of 14 third-down attempts, compared to a 5 of 9 rate for the Chiefs. The Bills completed their first three fourth-down conversion attempts, but finished with a 4 for 6 clip for the game.
The Chiefs converted their lone fourth-down attempt in the second quarter, which led to a Mahomes touchdown toss to wide receiver Xavier Worthy.
Mahomes completed 18 of 26 passes for 245 yards and a score. He also ran for two touchdowns and lost a fumble. Worthy totaled six catches for a game-high 85 yards. Allen completed 22 of 34 passes for 237 yards and two scores. He ran for 39 yards on 11 carries. Running back James Cook totaled 134 yards from scrimmage and two scores on 16 touches.
The Chiefs will attempt to become the first NFL team to win three-consecutive Super Bowls when they meet the Philadelphia Eagles in Super Bowl LIX on Feb. 9 in New Orleans.
