Bills fluster Patrick Mahomes, reassert themselves as Super Bowl contenders with win over Chiefs
- - Bills fluster Patrick Mahomes, reassert themselves as Super Bowl contenders with win over Chiefs
Jason OwensNovember 2, 2025 at 7:25 PM
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Eight weeks into the season, the shine of a 4-0 start for the Buffalo Bills had worn off.
Consider that luster returned.
In a marquee matchup with a playoff feel, the Bills asserted control early, then held on for a 28-21 win over the visiting Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday.
Buffalo's high-octane offense powered by Josh Allen did its thing against a strong Chiefs defense that had few answers Sunday afternoon. And a beleaguered Bills defense blamed for Buffalo's fall from 4-0 to 5-2 entering Sunday's game repeatedly flustered Patrick Mahomes and limited Kansas City's ground game.
The Bills held Mahomes to a career-worst 44.1% completion percentage. And they held Kansas City runners to 79 yards on the ground.
The end result is a 6-2 record and tiebreaker over the now 5-4 Chiefs that looms large for a potential playoff matchup in January.
Buffalo's pass rush helped limit Patrick Mahomes to the worst completion percentage of his career. (Bryan M. Bennett via Getty Images)Bills take early control, fend off Chiefs rally
The Bills struck first with an opening-drive touchdown and built up a 21-13 halftime lead. While their offense thrived, their defense set the tone. Buffalo forced a first-half turnover on downs, then held the Chiefs to a field goal after Kansas City set up first-and-goal at the 1-yard line at the end of the half.
The Bills then forced a three-and-out on Kansas City's first possession of the second half before Allen's second rushing touchdown of the day gave the Bills a 28-13 advantage late in third quarter.
Chiefs put pressure on late
The Chiefs didn't wilt. Mahomes converted on a fourth-and-17 gamble with a 29-yard pass to Rashee Rice on Kansas City's next possession. The end result was a touchdown and 2-point conversion to cut Buffalo's lead to 28-21, putting pressure squarely back on the Bills.
But that was the last time the Chiefs scored. Kansas City had two more chances to tie the game after forcing a punt with 6:46 remaining. The Bills forced the Chiefs into third-and-10 on their ensuing possession, which resulted in a desperation downfield heave from Mahomes into double coverage.
Rookie Maxwell Hariston came up with an interception to take the ball back for Buffalo.
Joey Bosa gets the pressure and the rookie Maxwell Hairston picks off Mahomes!KCvsBUF on CBS/Paramount+https://t.co/HkKw7uXVnt pic.twitter.com/oMCbSYaFEn
— NFL (@NFL) November 3, 2025
And as he was all game, pass rusher Joey Bosa was there with pressure to force the off-target throw.
But the Bills didn't ice the game from there. They ran all but 22 seconds off the clock on their ensuing possession before Matt Prater's 52-yard field-goal attempt hit the right upright to give the Chiefs one last chance, raising anxiety levels at Highmark Stadium for Bills fans who have had their hearts broken by Mahomes before.
But there was no Mahomes miracle this time. He had two looks from the Buffalo 40-yard line in the game's final seconds. Both efforts fell incomplete, and the celebration was on in Buffalo.
Buffalo defense steps up
The Chiefs and Bills were on markedly different trajectories heading into Sunday. While Buffalo had given up its early-season mantle as Super Bowl favorites, the Chiefs had won three straight to turn an 0-2 start into 5-3, reclaiming their regular position as a force to contend for the title.
But it was Buffalo's defense that flipped that script again Sunday. Anchored by Bosa's pressure, the Bills held Mahomes to a 15-of-34 passing day for 254 yards and the late-game interception. In addition to logging his worst career completion rate, Mahomes did not throw a touchdown.
Bosa, who joined the Bills in the offseason after nine seasons with the Chargers, repeatedly penetrated the Kansas City backfield. The result was one sack, five quarterback hits and multiple pressures. He also tallied two tackles for loss.
A Kansas City rushing attack playing without injured starter Isiah Pacheco (knee), gained little traction. Kareem Hunt tallied 49 yards and a touchdown on 11 carries (4.5 yards per carry) as Kansas City's lead back. But there was little help for the veteran back as the Chiefs mustered just 79 yards (4 yards per carry) against a Bills defense that entered Sunday surrendering 150.3 rushing yards per game, good for 31st in the league.
Allen, meanwhile, completed 23 of 26 pass attempts (88.5%) for 273 yards with a touchdown and no turnovers in addition to his two rushing scores. James Cook paced Buffalo's run game with 114 yards on 27 carries.
The Bills outgained the Chiefs 404 yards to 305 and secured a 34:25-25:15 advantage in time of possession. Mahomes' interception was the only turnover of the game.
The Bills and their fans, of course, are yearning for a repeat performance in the postseason, where the Chiefs have repeatedly had the upper hand. But for a Sunday in early November with a playoff atmosphere, this will certainly do in Buffalo for now.
Source: “AOL Sports”
