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What we learned about Kansas City Chiefs after first loss of season to Buffalo Bills

The Kansas City Chiefs are unbeaten no more — with the Buffalo Bills riding quarterback Josh Allen’s Superman cape to a victory at Highmark Stadium.

Allen orchestrated the game-deciding drive late in the fourth quarter, putting the Chiefs away with a 26-yard touchdown run in the Bills’ 30-21 home win over the Chiefs on Sunday afternoon.

Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes had just made things interesting. He’d led KC 70 yards in just under 5 minutes, completing a TD pass to tight end Noah Gray to trim Buffalo’s lead to 23-21 with 7:58 left.

Kansas City Chiefs running back Kareem Hunt (29) runs with the ball for a first down against the Buffalo Bills during the first half at Highmark Stadium.
Kansas City Chiefs running back Kareem Hunt (29) runs with the ball for a first down against the Buffalo Bills during the first half at Highmark Stadium.

Allen had the signature moment of his season just after that.

He converted two third downs before Buffalo faced fourth-and-2 on the KC 26 with 2:27 left. With no one open, Allen took off, bouncing off multiple Chiefs defenders before falling into the end zone for a 26-yard touchdown run.

The ensuing extra point meant the Chiefs defense allowed 30 points for the first time since Super Bowl LVII against the Philadelphia Eagles — with that coming some 30 games earlier.

And suddenly, the race for the AFC’s top seed remains wide open as the Chiefs (9-1) and Bills (9-2) are close to each other, with Buffalo earning the all-important head-to-head tiebreaker.

The Bills took a 16-14 lead into halftime following an opening 30 minutes with four lead changes.

Mahomes started slow, tossing an interception on KC’s first drive, before finding a rhythm late.

Kansas City Chiefs head coach Andy Reid looks at his play card during the first half against the Buffalo Bills at Highmark Stadium.
Kansas City Chiefs head coach Andy Reid looks at his play card during the first half against the Buffalo Bills at Highmark Stadium.

Some of that was helped by a connection with rookie receiver Xavier Worthy, who had four catches for 61 yards while adding a 10-yard touchdown reception in the second quarter.

KC’s defense had some good moments but also struggled, for the most part, slowing Buffalo’s pass offense behind Allen. Chiefs cornerback Chamarri Conner had the top highlight, intercepting Allen on fourth-and-3 in the second quarter and returning it 29 yards to set up a Gray 2-yard touchdown.

The Bills averaged a healthy 5.7 yards per play before the intermission while racking up 14 first downs on five possessions.

Mahomes finished 23 for 32 for 196 yards with three touchdowns and two interceptions. It was just the second time all season he threw three TDs in a game.

Gray had two receiving touchdowns — his first two of the season.

The Chiefs will play on the road against the Carolina Panthers at noon Central on Sunday, Nov. 24.