The magical run that was the 2020 Buffalo Bills season has come to an end. Many saw an improvement coming, but no one saw a close run to the promise land and Buffalo has plenty of reason to be proud about this team.
But we still have an AFC Championship game to breakdown. So let’s rip the Band-Aid off get right into it.
Here are five takeaways from the Bills’ 38-24 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC title game:
Bills defense gives up chunks seemingly every play
The Bills got off to a good start. Against the Colts and Ravens in their first two playoffs game that was certainly not the case. It took awhile for the Bills to get rolling, especially on offense, and the Bills did start up 9-0 on Kansas City.
Buffalo’s offense had to keep things closer in this one, no doubt, and while 24 point is pretty good against most, it’s not vs. KC. However, the Bills defense gave up big play, after big play… after big play from that ninth-point on. Not only did that extend drives for the Chiefs’ high-flying offense, it gave themselves less opportunity, too.
First, the Chiefs only punted once. Not an ideal start right there.
It just really felt like an over and over thing, again and again. On the Chiefs’ first touchdown drive alone, Kansas City had six plays of nine-plus yards. The next few scoring drives featured highlight-reel plays like Mercole Hardman’s 50-yard rush and Tyreek Hill’s 71-yard and 33-yard catch and runs. In between those plays there were just too many chunk plays that gave the Bills virtually no chance.
The bleeding was never stopped and while the Bills have great depth in their playmakers, the Chiefs showed what an offense filled with stars really looks like.
Tyreek Hill making a 71-yard run look EASY 🐆pic.twitter.com/fRdGKsqb7s
— Yahoo Sports (@YahooSports) January 25, 2021