Miami (AFP) – Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs are one win away from an unprecedented third straight Super Bowl title after beating the Buffalo Bills 32-29 in the AFC Championship game on Sunday. The Chiefs will face the NFC champion Philadelphia Eagles in the Super Bowl in New Orleans on February 9.
Chiefs quarterback Mahomes ran for two touchdowns and threw for another as he triumphed again in his duel with Buffalo’s Josh Allen, who threw two touchdowns in another agonizing loss to the Chiefs. Kansas City have now ruined the Bills’ dreams in four of the last five post-seasons—twice in the conference championship.
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After Harrison Butker slotted a 35-yard field goal with 3:33 remaining, Allen had the ball back knowing that a touchdown would send his team to the NFL’s championship spectacular for the first time since 1993. But the Chiefs defense stood firm, and then Mahomes, looking for his fourth Super Bowl win, made the crucial first down to secure the victory.
“I’m just so proud of my teammates and how they responded. That was a great football team, and I’m just lost for words… I’m excited for New Orleans,” said Mahomes. “I think I’ve always said it. It’s not about one guy. It’s not about a couple of guys. It’s about the whole entire team,” Mahomes added. “And when we need the defense to get stops, they got stops. Offense, we made plays. That’s why we’re so special because it’s a team effort.”
Cheered on by Taylor Swift, the pop singer girlfriend of Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce, the home side took the lead in the first quarter with a 12-yard rushing touchdown from Kareem Hunt. The Bills responded strongly with a 53-yard Tyler Bass field goal and early in the second quarter, a six-yard rushing score from James Cook that put the Bills up 10-7.
But then the Chiefs turned on the style with Mahomes showing all his class to find Xavier Worthy with an 11-yard touchdown pass. The quarterback’s one-yard touchdown run put the Chiefs 11 points up. Buffalo’s never-say-die attitude was evident again, however, with Allen connecting with Mack Hollins on a 34-yard score before Cook’s one-yard plunge put Buffalo up 22-21.
A trademark Mahomes touchdown, with a fake pass followed by a powerful run into the corner for a diving touchdown, was followed by a successful two-point conversion with a perfectly floated pass to Justin Watson, and the Chiefs were again up by seven. Once again, Allen responded, finding Curtis Samuel with a 4-yard pass to tie the game up at 29-29. Then came Butker’s kick, and the Chiefs defense did the rest, leaving Allen despondent and Mahomes with a chance of history.
“I have so much respect for Josh, man. He’s a true competitor, a true warrior, a great football player,” said Mahomes. “They always come down to the wire,” he said. “Luckily, we were on the winning side this time.”
Chiefs coach Andy Reid suggested his team now had to focus on beating the Eagles and put aside all the hype that will surround the “three-peat.” “It still comes down to the game and the purity of the game and each play and how you handle it,” Reid said. “And so you don’t get yourself too far out of that box. You just concentrate on the opponent and what you’ve got to get done against them.”
© 2024 AFP
