The Bills signed Miller because they believed he could be the last piece in their quest for a championship. The Chiefs also defeated Buffalo in the AFC Championship Game during the 2020 season, thus Mahomes had bamboozled them in back-to-back postseasons. Buffalo needed to find a strategy to pressure Mahomes in crucial situations. The Bills’ quarterback has continued to grow as a player, as their offense demonstrated on Sunday. Although Allen offered many thrilling moments, it was his performance in crucial moments that distinguished out in this competition.
Late in the first half, Buffalo was down 7-3 when Allen took his team on a 7-play, 96-yard drive in just 1:13 of play. When Patrick Mahomes put Kansas City in position for Harrison Butker to kick a team-record 62-yard field goal for Kansas City as the half came to a close, Buffalo’s advantage from his 34-yard touchdown toss to Gabe Davis was barely surpassed. When Allen received the ball with 5:31 remaining in regulation, the Bills were trailing 20-17. This time, with 1:04 left, he orchestrated a 12-play, 76-yard drive that finished with his touchdown pass of 14 yards to tight end Dawson Knox.
A couple of years ago, Allen wasn’t prepared to routinely make those plays. When it mattered last season, he converted them, but Buffalo was unable to stop Mahomes. The Bills’ ability to maintain perspective was their finest response to Sunday’s result. They are aware that there is a strong possibility they will require the same kinds of plays in the postseason, potentially once more against the Chiefs.
Allen, who threw for 329 yards and three touchdowns, said, “We’re just trying to be playoff-caliber.” In the NFL, each game is significant. It makes no difference if you are playing a 4-1 or 1-4 squad. When you’re on the field, any team can win on a given Sunday, Monday, or Thursday. We play football professionally because we have to. Everyone is OK. Therefore, we must focus on the coming week.
Allen said that he was unaware of Buffalo’s upcoming opponent because the Bills have a bye week before visiting Green Bay on October 30. He did admit that he was looking forward to some downtime and that playing golf or going fishing was probably on the schedule. A little rest and relaxation won’t hurt since the Bills are off to the quick start every team wants. They are aware that their current success will matter more in the postseason the more success they enjoy now.
Allen didn’t need to mention that this victory was sweeter than others because Buffalo already triumphed in Kansas City in October. That contest was won by the Bills 38-20, a rout similar to the Rams’ thrashing in this year’s season opener and their 35-point victory over the Steelers last week. The viewers of those victories left gushing about what the Bills could be at their peak. After Buffalo’s season ended in Kansas City in January of last year, there wasn’t the same level of conversation.
