ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. — Josh Allen ran for a 26-yard touchdown on fourth down with 2:17 left, sealing the Bills’ 30-21 win over the Chiefs on Sunday and handing the two-time defending Super Bowl champions their first loss of the season.
James Cook rushed for two touchdowns and Allen threw a 12-yard TD pass to Curtis Samuel for Buffalo (9-2), which closed the gap on Kansas City (9-1) in the race for the AFC’s top seed.
Patrick Mahomes and Chiefs were the NFL’s last undefeated team and finally ran out ways to eke out one-score victories and overcome second-half deficits.
The Chiefs had won 15 straight, including playoffs, since they fell 20-14 to the Las Vegas Raiders on Dec. 17, 2023.
Bills quarterback Josh Allen (17) slips past Kansas City Chiefs cornerback Nazeeh Johnson to score on a 26-yard run during the second half of an NFL football game Sunday, Nov. 17, 2024. AP
The Bills have won six straight and moved closer to their sixth straight AFC East title.
Buffalo has defeated the Chiefs in four straight regular-season meetings, though Kansas City holds the postseason edge, having won the past three matchups dating to 2020.
And it wouldn’t be a surprise if the teams met yet again in January.
The packed stadium erupted in chants of “MVP!” as the videoboard showed replays of Allen’s touchdown.
Bills coach Sean McDermott opted to go for it on fourth-and-2 instead of kicking a field goal for a five-point lead.
Allen faked a pass to his left and then broke up the middle, where he bounced off two Chiefs defenders before crossing the goal line.
Allen played through a sore throwing hand, which was examined on the sideline during the game. He finished 27 of 40 for 262 yards with the TDs passing and rushing and an interception.
The rushing touchdown was the 58th of Allen’s career, moving him into second on the Bills list, one ahead of O.J. Simpson, and seven behind Thurman Thomas.
Allen’s two-touchdown outing also increased his total to 244, tying Jim Kelly for first in team history.
Buffalo’s defense ended Kansas City’s desperate final drive linebacker Terrel Bernard intercepted Mahomes.
After trading leads five times in their last meeting — Kansas City’s 27-24 win in the divisional playoff round in January — the teams traded leads four times in the first half.
Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes (15) is pressured by Buffalo Bills linebacker Von Miller, left, during the first half of an NFL football game Sunday, Nov. 17, 2024. AP
Cook scored twice before halftime and Buffalo took a 16-14 lead into the break, one it never relinquished, after Tyler Bass closed the second quarter by hitting a 33-yard field goal.
The Chiefs had shown resolve in winning their first nine games by a combined 58 points, with four decided on the final play. That included a 16-14 win over Denver last week in which Leo Chenal blocked Wil Lutz’s 35-yard field goal attempt as time expired.
This time there were no late-game dramatics for a Chiefs offense that finished with a season-low 259 yards.