Von Miller was key reason the Bills were able to frustrate Pat Mahomes enough in a win that could decide AFC

The Bills specifically signed Miller for CLUTCH games like this.

When the Bills lost their gut-wrenching game with the Chiefs in last year’s playoffs, they knew they were missing a special ingredient. A pass rusher like, say, Von Miller, who could potentially keep Patrick Mahomes from driving a stake into their heart.

He lived up to that status of “missing puzzle piece” during Sunday’s rematch in Kansas City.

With Mahomes and the Chiefs getting the chance to once again break Buffalo’s heart in the final minute of an instant classic, someone had to make a play. Someone had to force Mahomes off his spot, out of his comfort zone, and into a place where he’d make a mistake that could win the game for the Bills. Because anything less, and the guy in the red No. 15 jersey was probably going to do “it” again.

Enter Miller, who split a double team on the first play of the possession to pressure Mahomes off his spot as the QB rushed a sidearm throw that Taron Johnson picked off:

Oh, man. What a move. Miller’s overall performance, even with the game-ending play, was impressive, too (four tackles, two sacks, two tackles-for-loss, and two quarterback hits).

Here’s how what the superstar edge rusher did to Mahomes on the final few possessions for the Chiefs:

Barring any unexpected circumstances over the next few months, Miller’s incredible performance might also help the Bills to eventual home-field advantage in the AFC. That’s something Buffalo hasn’t possessed since the Jim Kelly era. In the event of a potential rematch with the Chiefs in the playoffs, it probably happens in Western New York now.

The Bills can thank Miller for that.